Strangers ask me why I always get cast as the kontrabida when I have such a “sweet-looking face” that’s not destined for evil. What they don’t know is that my friends have told me more than once that I have a kontrabida vibe about me. Not to say that I’m evil, on the contrary I think I’m very nice (hi, how are you?). I just have a lot of know-how when it comes to being a mean girl. I was Ivy Jung, a half Korean spoiled brat that plotted against Kris Bernal’s character on my first GMA7 show, a very successful afternoon drama called Koreana.

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My crazy mother was played by veteran actress Eula Valdez who I’ve tried to channel in my succeeding kontrabida roles. (Also, who I will be trying to channel as a future hot cougar.)



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I’m currently doing my third show on GMA7, My Beloved, and it’s my third time playing a kontrabida. I’m playing Ginella, the nasty cousin who lives with Sharina (Marian Rivera) and her sister Monica (Jennica Garcia).



My equally cruel mother Elsa is played by Chanda Romero. On a side note, I was so starstruck to have met the woman whose name is used by my gay friends when they complain about their bellies (i.e. “Teh, laki na ng Chanda Romero ko!!”).

I personally requested for a kontrabida role when I first signed with GMA7 in 2010 mostly because I wanted to be set apart from my sister, Maxene, who’s been in showbiz since she was a teenager and she always plays the leading lady in her shows. There are many perks of being the kontrabida, actually. Here are the reasons why I love playing the meanie:



1. Nobody cares about the kontrabida’s personal life. The bidas are always under scrutiny by the media. Their love lives are considered a big deal by the public and, more often than not, this is a big factor in why their personal relationships don’t last. Heck, I keep trying to get the media to focus on my love life via my blog but they just don’t seem to care. Huhuhu. Chos.

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2. There is no pressure to be a role model when you are the kontrabida. Can you picture Kim Chiu smoking a cigarette and dancing in a club with her friends? I’m not saying smoking a cigarette is the best thing ever but if Cherie Gil lights up, the online forums don’t go crazy with paparazzi shots of her and calling her a wreck. By the way, this photo of me smoking was taken weeks ago and I’ve been off the stick for five days already, if anybody cares.



3.  Kontrabidas live in mansions. Our waiting areas are usually in the nicest rooms or in an airconditioned tent in the backyard of the mansion. Leading ladies always play the poor girl roles so taping often takes place in a squatter’s area and it’s very hard to get a lot done when you’re shooting in a highly populated location. Meanwhile, the bad guys are always rich and drinking orange juice.

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4. You don’t cry for hours on end when you’re a kontrabida. I’ve seen a lead actress come in at 7 in the morning and then cry for the entire day because she has to be sad in all her scenes. Can you imagine the emotional torture that entails? Sometimes even when the intense crying scene is over, the bida cannot stop crying and when she finally does, she’s called back on set because her character has to cry another river. All this while still having to look gorgeous. Damn. This is the sole crying scene I had for Koreana. I am not a pretty cryer and I think that’s a crucial part of the bida criteria, so don’t hold your breath.

I don’t mind not being the center of attention, it’s actually less work to just let the bida entertain everybody. When you see showbiz as just work and not something your life has to revolve around then you would understand why I don’t mind not having the fame while still getting a little bit of the fortune.

You can call me a slacker but I just might have to slap you or throw a drink in your face.

My Beloved premieres February 13.


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