Yam Concepcion does not mind being the replacement of Erich Gonzales in the upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye, Love Thy Woman.
In the series starring Kim Chiu and Xian Lim, Yam will play Dana Wong, Kim's half-sister and Xian's fiance.
The role was originally intended for Erich, who attended the show's story conference last April 2019.
However, in July 2019, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) reported that Erich decided to back out of the show. Erich pointed out that her character was being turned into a kontrabida, which was not discussed with her during the pitching.
On August 2019, Love Thy Woman producer Dreamscape Entertainment officially confirmed Erich's resignation, and that she will be replaced by Yam Concepcion.
During the media conference for the iWant series Uncoupling held on December 17, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Yam about taking over Erich's supposed role.
Yam said that she actually does not feel like she was the second choice for the role.
"I don't mind kasi it's a project.
"Actually, di ba, si Erich yata ang umalis?
"So, technically, I don't think I'm the second choice because ako yung pinili nilang una to replace her.
"So, nakakataba rin ng puso na ipinagkatiwala sa akin ni Sir Deo [Endrinal, business unit head] yung project na ito."
On July 30, days before the official announcement that Yam was taking over Erich's role, Dreamscape Entertainment posted a photo of their meeting with Yam for Love Thy Woman.
During the December 17 interview with PEP.ph and other reporters, Yam revealed how she got the role of Dana Wong.
She explained, "Actually, pumunta sila sa VIVA, yung team nila ang pumunta sa VIVA. Nagmeeting, iprinesent nila yung story sa akin.
"Actually, hindi ko pa nga alam na si Erich yung original noong pinuntahan nila ako.
"Nagpakipot muna ako, siyempre, pero game na ako!
"Siyempre project, pero nagpakipot muna ako, 'Give me the script muna, basahin ko muna.'
"So, anyway, the next day, I told them."
According to the 31-year-old actress, who had the breakthrough role of Jade in Halik, she saw this as an opportunity to learn from veteran actors who are part of the cast.
Yam was particularly excited to work with Eula Valdes, whom she considers to be her idol.
Yam continued, "Why not? I mean this is siyempre, under Dreamscape, first time ko magtrabaho sa Dreamscape, Probinsyano pa.
"And why not? This is a good opportunity also. Makakatrabaho ko yung mga batikang aktres na si Eula Valdes, idol kong number one because of Pangako Sa 'Yo, Christopher de Leon, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Sunshine Cruz. Wow! Mga bigating artista.
"I'm sure this will be a good experience for me and I'll learn a lot also.
"And yun bago na naman, bagong environment, bagong project, bagong character, so I think this will help my growth as an actress."
While Yam did not directly say that Dana Wong is the show's kontrabida, she revealed that viewers might hate her new character more than Jade in Halik, where she played the mistress of Sam Milby.
"Hindi naman sinabi na magiging kontrabida pero I'll probably cause the chaos in the story," admitted Yam.
"I think she's pretty bad, sa pagkakakilala ko kay Dana Wong.
"Kasi third week na kaming nagte-taping. Ano ba tong character? Krung krung din, mas baliw pa kay Jade! Pero ito, mayaman naman siya kaya iba na naman."
Love Thy Woman was presented to advertisers during the Christmas trade launch of ABS-CBN last November 2019. It is expected to air in 2020.
YAM CONCEPCION IN UNCOUPLING
Before Love Thy Woman airs on ABS-CBN, Yam will be seen in the latest digital series of iWant titled Uncoupling.
In this light comedy six-part series, Yam is paired with Joseph Marco, whom she first worked with in the 2014 prime-time series Pure Love.
In Halik, Yam was cast as the mistress. This time, in Uncoupling, she brings life to Alex, a woman who just "uncoupled" or ended her relationship with her husband Carlo (Joseph).
The "uncoupling" process involves the two of them living separate lives while keeping their family intact.
Carlo gets a new girlfriend, while Alex goes on dates while trying to move on from the separation.
Yam knows that her Alex character is completely different from the homewrecker Jade.
She quipped, "Siyempre, nakakamiss din maging mistress!
"Nakakamiss din, sobrang grabe yung investment yung character ko kay Jade, so iba siya.
"Iba rin itong bagong baby ko na si Dr. Alex kasi bawat character na ibinibigay po sa akin, I take care of it, parang mga baby ko.
"So this one, she's different, medyo funky siya na nakakatawa na normal na tao na nagmahal."
Did she have a hard time adjusting to the role?
Yam admitted, "Noong una kasi, parang sanay ako sa mabibigat na eksena.
"Kaya si Direk, parang nagsasabi na, 'Medyo tone down mo muna, medyo huwag masyado mabigat, light lang, huwag masyado intense.'"
Uncoupling is directed by Dwein Baltazar, who also helmed the iWant original series Past, Present, Perfect?
Dwein was named Best Director at the FAMAS Awards 2019 for her movie Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus.
Uncoupling, which can be streamed on the iWant app beginning on December 20, is produced by Big Reveal Digital, the digital arm of the RSB Scripted Format department, headed by Ruel Santos Bayani.