Young screen actresses Barbie Forteza and Kate Valdez play friends-turned-mortal enemies from two different regions on GMA Network’s TV adaptation of the hit 1984 movie by Regal Films, Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday.
Unlike the movie, the lead stars said that the serialized version that premieres today is not much of a comedy but a touching drama. The director even admitted that it was a conscious effort on his part not to watch the film so he could create a version based on the material created by the series’ creative team.
“It’s not strictly drama. It has all the elements of an interesting story, it has comedy, drama, the story is filial, so the story has a lot of layers that we could explore. And it was my intention not to watch the original version para hindi maging biased,” director Mark Sicat dela Cruz said.
The reimagining of the classic film revolves around the friendship Barbie as Ginalyn and actress Kate as Caitlyn.
Barbie shares that she took classes to learn the Waray dialect but what she mostly enjoyed was immersing herself into their culture, “Tinuro sa amin how they live, kung papaano sila magtrabaho para sa family nila.”
“It’s interesting to know that people from Ilocos and Leyte have strong personalities. And that makes me feel inspired to play the role because she’s one empowered young woman. Kilala ang mga Waray na palaban at hindi papatalo. That’s how my character likes to be known for,” she adds.
Kate says she’s happy to be working with Barbie for the first time in this soap, “Actually during our workshop, I already felt how warm as a person Barbie is. She’s like a big sister to me.”
The drama, which also highlights famous tourist destinations from the provinces of Leyte and Ilocos namely the iconic San Juanico Bridge and the thrilling Paoay Sand Dunes, introduces the exciting reunion of seasoned actresses Snooky Serna and Dina Bonnevie.
Snooky, who portrayed the role of Biday’s daughter in the original film, shares what makes this TV adaptation unique from the movie, “In our version, they put a little bit more of drama in it. It’s not a complete copy of the original story. They give it a different twist altogether so we have a different story. Ang pareha lang ay sina Waray at Biday, perennially mortal enemiestalaga sila.”
Dina, who has no trouble speaking Ilocano after marrying a native, reveals why she opted to accept the role of Biday, “After a long time, Snooky and I will be working together again. I really welcomed it because I haven’t done comedy in a long time. Excited ako kasi kakaiba and I won’t have to cry buckets of tears.”
Adding spice to the already fuming feud between the Warays and Bidays are: Migo Adecer as Cocoy, a charming city boy who crosses paths with Ginalyn and Caitlyn; Jay Manalo as Joaquin, a dashing man from Manila who becomes Amy and Sussie’s apple of eye leading to their broken friendship; Teresa Loyzaga as Dorcas, Joaquin’s sophisticated cousin who would do anything to keep their family’s riches to herself; Faith da Silva as Agatha, Dorcas’ spoiled brat daughter; Jean Saburit as Vanessa, doting mother of Cocoy; Tanya Montenegro as Glenda, Amy’s cousin and close confidant from Leyte; Benedict Cua as Benny, a famous charismatic vlogger of Filipino-Chinese descent and Caitlyn’s best friend; and Ms. Celia Rodriguez as Zenaida, Sussie’s elitist and controlling mother who makes Amy’s life a living hell.
Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday also features the special participation of Lovi Poe as young Sussie and Max Collins as young Amy who will be portraying the roles of Dina and Snooky, respectively, during their younger years for the pilot week; together with Jason Abalos as young Joaquin; Pinky Amador as young Zenaida; Mike ‘Pekto’ Nacua as Randy, young Joaquin’s comrade; Yanna Asistio as young Glenda; and Franco Gray Nerona as Joni, young Amy’s friend, and fellow helper in Sussie’s villa.
The show’s creative team is composed of creative director Aloy Adlawan; creative head Richard “Dode” Cruz; creative consultant Jojo Tawasil Nones; headwriter Renato Custodio; writers Tina Samson-Velasco and Erwin Bravo; and brainstormers Wiro Michael Ladera, Liberty Constantino, and Kayla Factolerin.
Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday airs weeknights, after 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad.
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