When Entertainment Live! co-host Luis Manzano asked Erich Gonzales if she was nervous due to the upcoming premiere of her primetime soap opera Katorse three weeks ago, the actress answered, "parang di na nga ako makahinga ngayon, e." Since then, Katorse has been figuring strongly in both AGB Mega Manila ratings and Taylor Nelson Sofres nationwide ratings.
Last Monday, September 7, it got a whopping 36.7 % rating nationwide. Katorse
ranked fourth in nationwide ratings of Taylor Nelson Sofres that day, beating
every show in GMA's primetime block and ABS-CBN's very own Dahil May Isang
Ikaw. GMA-7's Darna, which ranked fifth, only got 32.3 %.
Still, Erich does not feel complacent despite the strong standing of her
show. In an Entertainment Live! interview with Toni Gonzaga yesterday,
September 12, the Star Magic talent said that while she is happy and thankful,
she is also nervous with the show's success.
"Napakasaya po talaga kasi napakachallenging nung role. Tapos, sobrang
blessed lang talaga ako," she said. Katorse is Erich's first leading
role since being named Star Circle National Teen Quest Grand Questor in
2004. She reprises the role of Dina Bonnevie in this ABS-CBN remake.
Toni asked her, "Ngayon na nakita mo at naramdaman mo ang mainit na
pagtanggap ng tao sa iyong show, kinakabahan ka pa rin ba sa mag eksenang
ginagawa ninyo?"
"Siyempre andun pa rin yung kaba lalo na po ngayon yung sa ratings. Parang
nakakapressure. Pero ang importante sa amin talaga makadeliver ng magandang
show na kapapalutan ng aral ng mga manonood," answered Erich.
What did Erich feel about the 36.7 % nationwide rating posted by Katorse last
Monday?
"Overwhelming po talaga. Kasi ako hindi ko ineexpect yun. I mean wala akong
ineexpect na kahit ano," she said. "Pero yung suporta po ng mga manonood, yung
pagtangkilik po nila. Maraming maraming salamat po talaga. At ito,
nakakainspire na pagbutihin mo lalo yung trabaho mo dahil di ba yung mga
manonood ayaw mo silang madisappoint."
Erich said the entire cast of her Katorse helps her to realistically
portray her character. When asked how she was able to play such a daring role, Erich
said her workshops helped her tackle the role of 14-year-old Nene. "Yung mga
co-actors ko rin, and of course yung director namin. Kasi kahit anong sabihin
nya sa akin, kahit anong hinihingi sa role or sa eksena, bilang artista,
syempre, tungkulin ko na gawin yun," she explained.
When Toni teased Erich's sexy outfits on the show, the young actress
answered the show has a story to offer beyond her more daring look.
"Siguro po marami pong nakakarelate sa mga nanay, yung anak, kasi siguro
wake up call ito para sa mga kabataan na wag sila maging mapusok, wag masyadong
magmadali kasi baka mainlove kayo sa lalaking di naman karapat dapat mahalin."
Erich's humble beginnings also helped her understand her character. In fact,
tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled her saddest birthday celebration
when she was just seven years old.
"Yung seventh birthday ko po kasi talagang winish ko na sana magkaroon ako
ng cake na buo. Dahil wala kaming pera, gumawa ng paraang yung ate ko," she
shared. "Pagdating nya, ayun, [may dala siyang] isang slice ng cake. Iyun na
yung pinagsalusaluhan namin, ng mama ko, ng papa ko, saka ng kuya ko."
"Yung dati, naaalala ko yung hirap ng buhay po namin. So parang in a way,
nakakarelate talaga ako. Pero God is good talaga," she quickly added.
