After five years, Pops Fernandez will be acting for television once again. She joins the cast of ABS-CBN's primetime show, I Love Betty La Fea. She is cast as Paulina, a sexy businesswoman and resort owner who will make life miserable for Betty La Fea (Bea Alonzo). Since her character will stay mostly in the resort owned by Jericho Rosales's character, viewers can expect to see Pops wearing sexy swimwear. As a socialite, she will also engage in a fashion showdown with Daniella (Ruffa Gutierrez).
Pops expressed excitement for her comeback role in
primetime television. Her last TV appearance was in the GMA-7 primetime soap Twin
Hearts (2003).
"Usually kasi ang binibigay sa aking roles dati, usually the sweety-sweety kawawa na umiiyak lang," recalls Pops. "Ngayon, makakaganti na ako! [laughs] Lahat ng angst ko sa buhay ko, mailalabas ko na dito."
Curious reporters asked her to name the source of her angst but she refused.
Does she share similarities with her character Paulina?
"Iba kasi yung hanap ni Paulina sa buhay. Napakayaman niya at gusto niya forever siyang mayaman. For her, love is so not important in her life but money is. Napaka-different niya sa akin! [laughs] I guess dun, maba-base yung pagiging mean niya sa ibang tao, particularly kay Betty."
According to Joel Mercado, head writer of Betty La Fea, the character of Pops will stay for the duration of the show. Viewers can expect to see her in the primetime show any day now.
Joel differentiated the roles of Pops and Ruffa by saying, "Malaki ang difference nila, si Paulina may sex life! May mamamagitan sa kanilang dalawa."
Management is still looking for the actor who will be the leading man of Pops in this teleserye. When asked to give her suggestions, Pops candidly said, "Kahit na sino okay sa 'kin... Pero hindi kayo maniniwala, kasi mahirap kunin: si Brad Pitt. Okay rin ako kay Josh Hartnett."
KAPUSO COVERAGE. After the press conference, The Concert Queen was asked regarding the media coverage of Missing You, her upcoming concert with ex-husband Martin Nievera. (Click HERE to read related story.)
Even though Pops and Martin are both identified with ABS-CBN, producer Jomari Yllana decided to choose GMA-7 as the media partner of the upcoming concert, which will take place at the Araneta Coliseum on February 6.
"Wala naman sa amin yun, siyempre kasi artist lang po kami. Si Jomari yata dapat ang maka-explain niyan," says Pops, who is also the girlfriend of Jomari.
Did he consult her regarding this decision?
"Actually, hindi, kasi nung medyo
may problem, he didn't want me to know. That's really more of his department,
so,nalaman na lang namin nung naayos na."
She reiterates: "Si Jom siyempre ang may final say kasi siya ang producer, e."
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Pops if she had second thoughts about Jom's decision to choose GMA-7 over ABS-CBN.
"We discussed it and he has a valid reason naman why he made this decision. Like I said, I think it's better if he explains it."
Does she support him in this decision?
"Yes, of course. I think, he handled it well. He doesn't want to make the stations fight, or whatever. As a matter of fact, naayos naman n'ya agad," she ended.