GMA-7's upcoming drama series Contessa, which stars Glaiza de Castro in the title role, has not aired yet on television.
However, netizens are already engaging in fan wars and having heated discussions on social media since there are those who claim that Contessa imitated the recently-concluded ABS-CBN drama series Wildflower, starring Maja Salvador.
This is because both shows have revenge-themed stories, where the lead character seeks justice from the people who wronged her.
In Wildflower, Maja Salvador's character Lily Cruz vows to seek revenge against the Ardientes, the political clan that caused the death of her father. Lily transforms into the seductive and powerful Ivy in her quest to avenge her family.
Jak gave details of the plot of Contessa during his birthday press conference held in December 2017.
He narrated back then, "Si Contessa, played by Glaiza de Castro, nagkaroon ng atraso sa kanya ang mga tao.
"Parang inabuse siya, ginulo ang buhay niya, at maghihiganti siya. Kasama niya ako."
He said about his character, "Ako ay isang Criminology student na nagpu-pulis. Tinulungan ko siya para maghiganti dun sa mga kaaway niya."
At the sidelights of Jak Roberto's virtual date video shoot with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) held last January 31, we asked his opinion regarding these comparisons.
Jak is included in the show as Glaiza's leading man.
He said, "Siguro abangan na lang nila. Hindi ko kasi napanuod yung Wildflower kaya di ako makapag-comment, e.
"Pero siguro, hindi naman. Ewan ko, panuorin nila.
"Kasi di pa naman kami na-e-ere para macommentan ng ganun, na may kagayang show."
In a previous interview with PEP.ph in December 2017, Glaiza dropped hints regarding her character who is seeking revenge.
"Meron siyang minahal na lalaki at sabihin na nating may mangyayaring hindi maganda.
"Gagawin ni Bea ang lahat para iredeem kung ano man ang nawala sa kanya."
Here are some tweets of netizens regarding Contessa and Wildflower:
Read somewhere in FB that Contessa is a copycat of Wildflower because it has the same theme/genre “Revenge”. People,can’t you just wait for it to air before you say those sh*ts. Anw,it wont stop me from anticipating the show bec the lead star is “The Glaiza De Castro”.
— Mich V. (@minchin143) December 23, 2017
ay wow
— +jerseysantiago+ (@jerseysantiago_) December 23, 2017
i have nothing against wildflower
but to say contessa is a copycat
grabe nman
they havent seen it yet kaya la cla k na sabihin un https://t.co/LEyGWKdfPw
I know that Wildflower & Contessa have different story but both of them shouts that its a revenge serye. With that, hindi maiiwasan na macompare ang dalawa. Based sa plot, Contessa is more of The Count of Monte Cristo. https://t.co/YZPQDh6gye
— Majasty Slayvador (@majasuperstar) December 24, 2017
Of course and we take it positively.Agree,comparison is good bec it allows actors and the whole production to be better.Im sure we will prove that Contessa is different from Wildflower once it aired like what you did.
— Mich V. (@minchin143) December 24, 2017
Marami na po ang naipalabas nang revenge themed teleserye bago pa man ang Wildflower. Who would forget the "Babangon Ako At Dudurugin Kita" starred by Yasmien Kurdi and the "La Vendetta." This upcoming "Contessa" offers a new attack on the theme kaya dapat paka-abangan.
— Hadji Rieta (@hadjirieta) December 30, 2017
Eh pagka ganyan na ikinukumpara na agad ang wildflower at contessa hay naku madadala n ng kasikatan ng wildflower ang new serye na contessa dahil s ganyang pagkocompare ang hit serye na wildflower2017-2018 at ang new serye na conessa2018 talagang mapag uusapan ng mga netizens yan https://t.co/VpSjt4pBso
— Katherine Villanueva (@katherinev2000) December 31, 2017
Bakit Wildflower ang nakikita ko sa Contessa ng GMA?
— Luigi ImPacho (@ImjanTyronejan) January 2, 2018
They said Contessa is based on the book of Count of Monte Cristo ( classic American novel) Contessa is Spanish for female count. Wildflower pays homage to the book count of Monte Cristo n does not hide that fact . Far? Not at all ok bye
— Abby (@Abby13764239) January 12, 2018
I saw the #Contessa teaser of GMA. Akala ko talaga si Ivy Aguas ng Wildflower nakagreen din kase hinahanap ko nga rin yung sledgehammer baka may sisirain siya. ????????????????
— Almond O'Perry ???? (@AlmondGultch94) January 15, 2018
Ang ganda sana ng labanan kung before news ang Contessa...matatapos na kasi yung Wildflower e palit nung kay Erich
— ARL Macaraig (@enelramacaraig) January 22, 2018
JAK AS GLAIZA'S LEADING MAN. Jak is happy to be chosen as Glaiza's leading man for in Contessa.
According to the 24-year-old actor, he underwent several screen tests with different production units for the show.
"Actually ang haba ng istorya noon, e, bago ko nalaman na ako na yung talagang gaganap dun sa role.
"Nalaman ko na lang noong mismong storycon na kasi nagkaroon ng iba-ibang group muna yung team ng production [ng Contessa].
"Tapos nagulat ako, iba na yung production. Kasi noong nag-screen test ako, iba na yung production na humahawak. Tapos noong sumunod, iba na uli.
"Nalaman ko na lang na sa akin yung role noong pinapunta na ako sa mismong storycon. Kasi nagkaroon ng apat na screening, e. Parang apat na beses kaming nag screening. Hindi pa natuloy yung isa kasi bumagyo.
"So noong nalaman kong ako, Ah okay! Tapos inalam ko yung istorya, kung ano yung gagampanan ko. Tapos noong sinabi sa akin, natuwa ako.
"Tapos nagkaroon kami ng teaser...noong nakita ko yung teaser, nakakakilabot."
The teaser that Jak was referring to was the omnibus plug that GMA-7 aired presenting its new shows for the first quarter of 2018.
The former Meant To Be actor admitted that he initially thought that Contessa will only depict a typical story of revenge.
However, his presumptions changed when they started taping for the show.
"Akala ko kasi, parang katulad ulit ng dati na it’s all about revenge, yung usual soap na laging may maaapi tapos maghihiganti.
"Pero this time, noong shinu-shoot na namin siya, noong tinetape na namin siya, sobrang kakaiba and nakakaexcite dahil maraming twists na bago.
"So ayun, sobrang excited na kami sa kalalabasan ng ginagawa namin ngayon."
As for his role in Contessa, Jak said that it will be very far from the good boy character he played in Meant To Be.
"Yung role ko dito, malayong-malayo sa role ko dati bilang Andoy. Ito, palaban.
"Siya yung knight in shining armor ni Bea, played by Glaiza. Walang pwedeng gumalaw sa kanya, walang pwedeng umagrabyado sa kanya.
"Ako yung humaharap, ako yung nakikipag-away, nakikipagsuntukan. Anak ako ng pulis dito na nag-aaral ng Criminology."
REPLACING IKA-6 NA UTOS? According to the teaser aired in December 2017, Contessa is scheduled to premiere this March on GMA's Afternoon Prime block.
There are those speculating that the show will replace the top-rating show Ika-6 Na Utos, which serves as the flag-carrier of GMA's afternoon block.
Does Jak feel pressure about this?
He answered, "Well, nakakapressure yung nagawa nilang rating kasi sila yung unang soap na umabot ng Saturday tapos yung rating nila sa Saturday, parang rating ng prime-time.
"Kami naman, confident naman kami sa kalalabasan ng show kasi nagtitiwala naman kami sa director at saka si Glaiza, kilala naman natin siya na magaling na aktres. And yung iba pang cast, talagang pinagsama-sama para lang mapaganda yung soap."
Contessa also stars Lauren Young, Tetchie Agbayani, Chanda Romero, Leandro Baldemor, and Bernadette Alysson, as well as real-life cousins Geoff and Gabby Eigenmann.
Meanwhile, Jak aims to bring "kilig" vibes to you, PEPsters, through this virtual date!
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