ABS-CBN, one of the country’s leading broadcasting network, proved its knack for recognizing raw talent once again with the discovery of Mutya Orquia, the fresh face who topbills ABS-CBN’s newest mermaid teleserye, Mutya.
Directed by Erick Salud and Jojo Saguin, Mutya tells the story of a child mermaid who grew up never knowing her real mortal mother, Cordelia (Precious Lara Quigaman), and her merman father, Prince Irvin (Alfred Vargas). Because of what seemed to be an impossible love affair, Cordelia and Prince Irvin got separated because of ill faith, thus driving Irvin to marry another regal mermaid, Nerissa (Nina Jose) who is secretly inlove with Irvin’s cousin, Zale (Ahron Villena).
Horrified upon seeing her mermaid tail, Cordelia’s mother, Delilah (Sandy Ondolong), decided to dispatch Mutya and ordered Tonyo (Jason Gainza), to take the baby far away and have her killed. Tonyo, however, decided to keep Mutya away from Delilah and raise her instead together with his wife, Ester (Tess Antonio), and son (Jairus Aquino).
Growing up, Mutya and her foster family believed that her joint legs is a case of an unknown disability. The story progresses with Mutya’s real parents struggling to find her while she faces hardships trying to blend in the human world despite her mermaid tail.
Originally a graphic novel written by the late Pablo S. Gomez, Mutya recently premiered last Jan. 31 and has received a remarkable audience share, thus beating its competition on its first night of airing.
Following the success of the religious drama May Bukas Pa (topbilled by young actor Zaijan Jaranilla)
and the fantaserye Agua Bendita (which stars Andi Eigenmann with young actress Xyrile Manabat as her younger version), Mutya managed to swim its way through the top, gaining the number one spot in the country’s top 10 most-watched programs in January, with an audience share of 32.6% in its debut airing alone.
For most of its cast, Mutya may be a chance for young actors like Mutya, Jairus, Nina, and other Pinoy Big Brother teen stars to prove their flair for acting; but for returning kapamilyas like Alfred Vargas and Ahron Villena, being offered a promising project like Mutya made them come back to ABS-CBN once more.
After seven years in another network and recently emerging victorious as a Quezon City councilor, Vargas told the press during the media conference of Mutya that he considers the Mutya project as a “perfect comback show” not only in showbusiness, but also in ABS-CBN. Known for his muscular physique, the actor admitted that he had to lose the excess weight which he gained during the election for his role as Prince Irvin in Mutya. He also shared how exciting and hard it was for him to shoot underwater scenes but stressed that it was all worth it because he enjoys taping every scene for the show.
Meanwhile, playing the rebellious cousin of Vargas’s character is Ahron Villena, who got discovered through an ABS-CBN’s noontime show contest, the MTB Idols. Villena recently ended his contract with Survivor Philippines from another network and decided to accept the role of Zale in Mutya. The actor also said during the same conference that he is thankful for a project like Mutya because nothing is greater than the feeling of going back to where he came from.
Last seen in ABS-CBN as a paranoid antagonist in the mini-telenovela, Precious Hearts Romances presents: Somewhere in my Heart, Villena said that he enjoys playing the role of a rebellious merman more because he gets to do scenes underwater and swim—which he enjoys. As a merman, Ahron knows they are required to go topless the whole time. For this, he said that the only thing he finds difficult is shooting topless amid a dropping temperature.
Also making a comeback in acting are former casts of the hit drama series May Bukas Pa—Precious Lara Quigaman, who plays the Mutya’s mortal mother, and Ogie Diaz, who plays the role of Rommel, the comical gay neighbor of Mutya. Along with Quigaman and Diaz are other notable actors that include Pen Medina, Malou Crisologo, Sandy Ondolong, Gary Lim, Tess Antonio, and Jason Gainza.
Mutya replaced the hit television series Noah, topbilled by Piolo Pascual and Zaijan Jaranilla. It is aired every weeknight in ABS-CBN’s primetime slot.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(OCIE Feb 11-17, 2011 RedCarpet pg. 2)
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
