After playing supporting roles in several teleseryes at ABS-CBN, Close-Up to Fame runner-up Bangs Garcia finally gets the chance to play the lead in the upcoming afternoon soap opera Magkano ang Iyong Dangal?

Bangs, or Valerie Garcia in real life, first tried acting in the defunct 2007 youth-oriented show Gokada Go! where she got her screen name today. She transformed into a sexy actress in the 2008 action-drama series Palos. She also appeared in the recently concluded teleserye Katorse and Kambal Sa Uma.

HAPPY AND NERVOUS. During the press visit to the set of the show at Marikina Riverbanks yesterday, January 8, Bangs Garcia said she felt both happy and nervous about her first lead role.

"Natuwa ako at ninerbiyos kasi wala pa akong gaanong tiwala sa sarili ko na kaya kong gawin. Mayroong time na parang I came to the point na parang gusto kong mag-back out," she told PEP [Philippine Entertainment Portal] and other members of the press.

However, Bangs wasn't about to let nerves get in the way of fulfilling her dreams.

"Siyempre, di ba, matagal ko itong pinangarap, e. Bakit ko gagawin 'yon? Parang napaka-loser ko naman. So, paninindigan ko 'to and prinomise ko na lang sa sarili ko that I will try my best na hindi ko ma-disappoint especially sina Direk Chito [Roño]. Siyempre, award-winning director ang kaharap namin so nakakahiya naman kung hindi ko magawa ang best ko.

"Lalong-lalo na si Ma'am Charo [Santos, ABS-CBN president] na nagtiwala sa akin sa show na ito, and si Ms. Mariole [Alberto of Star Magic] and Mr. M [Johnny Manahan of Star Magic], na lagi akong ine-endorse sa kanila."

LESS AGGRESSIVE SEXY ROLE. Compared to her last projects, which required her to maintain a strong sexy image, Bangs said Carmela, her character in Magkano, would be less aggressive.

"Ang una ninyong maiisip, di ba, liberated? Pero ang pagkakaiba nito, makikita ninyo ako na sobrang iba sa usual characters na ginagampanan ko. Kasi, kung ang mga tao lagi akong nakikitang glamorosa, lagi nila akong nakikitang strong ang character ko, feisty, this time, sobrang probinsyana ako—walang makeup, talagang walang fashion sense.

"Pero sa banding huli, unti-unti rin akong gaganda, magiging glamorosa. And definitely, I think, mas magiging sexy ako dito compared sa Palos, kasi mas grabe ang mga sexy scenes ko.

"Ang chacter ko, sexy siya at maganda siya pero hindi siya aware. Innocent sexy siya, may sexiness pa rin siyang itinatago, may appeal pa rin kahit di niya alam na sexy siya.  So, in a different way nga nila ako makikita na sexy this time, hindi agresibo."

Bangs appreciates it when her director frankly tells her what she's doing wrong so she can do a better job.

"Parang pressured ako na sobrang galing ng director namin.  Although, noong nag-first taping kami noong Monday, medyo kampante na ako kasi nakita ko na kung paano siya [mag-work]. Mabait din naman si Direk Chito.  At sa sobrang galing niya, kahit na may hindi ka magandang ginawa, sasabihin niya kung paano niya gusto.  'Yon ang dapat kasi, di ba, matututo ako sa kanya."

SECOND CHOICE. Bangs is aware that Magkano ang Iyong Dangal? was not supposed to be her project.  This show was initially offered to Roxanne Guinoo, with whom she previously had a misunderstanding. 

"Nalaman ko lang ito noong first taping day na sa kanya pala talaga 'to mismo dati. I haven't talked to her pa, I haven't asked her kung ano ang nangyari.  'Tapos, lahat 'yong tinaping namin noong Monday kasi, 'yon din ang tinaping nila last time—exact same scene.  So, doon ko nalaman na talagang sa kanya pala talaga ito," related Bangs.

Bangs said she did not mind being the second choice for the role. What is important, she said, is "blessing pa rin 'to kasi it's still work. At saka hindi siya basta work, at saka hindi lang to basta-bastang work kasi it's my first own show. Parang it's a greater responsibility for me. At saka hindi ko naman kasalanan na it fell on my lap.  I'm just fortunate na in-answer ni Lord ang prayers ko.  Ayun, at least matutulungan ko lalo ang famiy ko."