Twenty-eleven has been a good year for Maja Salvador’s career, and she is grateful.
Maja had several successful projects this year.
From the Emmy-nominated afternoon soap Impostor, A-graded indie film Thelma, a well-loved primetime role in Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, a memorable cameo in My Binondo Girl, and a new endorsement on top of all that.
Plus, she continues to enjoy the adoration of her fans.
They trooped last December 27 to SM Megamall Bldg. B, Upper Ground floor lobby, to meet and greet Maja as she was launched as the newest and, in fact, the first brand ambassador for GE digital cameras.
No wonder the young actress was thankful for this year desspite some setbacks.
"Sobrang, sobrang masaya at napakagandang taon sa akin ng 2011," Maja began in her interview with a select group of media people, including PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
"Yes, may mga nangyaring hindi maganda, pero alam kong kailangan ko yun para mas maging matibay ako, 'di ba?
"Kailangan kong pagdaanan yung mga ganung bagay.
"Para mas maging buo yung pagkatao ko."
THINGS THAT MADE MAJA TOUGHER IN 2011. Early this year, the young actress was involved in a "deadmahan" issue with her cousin, character actress Deborah Sun. (CLICK HERE to read related story.)
The character actress accused Maja of being disrespectful, "plastic" and "fake."
Maja soon patched things up with Deborah. (CLICK HERE to read related story.)
She was also linked to Paul Soriano, the boyfriend of Happy Yipee Yehey co-host Toni Gonzaga and Maja's director in Thelma,something that Toni simply shrugged off.(CLICK HERE to read related story.)
But the most recent controversy was the brawl between Maja's real-life boyfriend, Matteo Guidicelli, and Maja's leading man in Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, Coco Martin, at this year's Star Magic Ball.
Maja was the cause of the brawl, which was broken up immediately by Star Magic elders but which led to speculation that she had been keeping the two men as admirers. (CLICK HERE to read related story.)
The 23-year-old actress was now saying that these trials only made her tougher.
"Hindi naman maganda kung puro magaganda lang lahat yung nangyayari.
"'Di ba, kailangan talaga?
"Sabi ko nga, 'di ba, dun sa Thelma, kailangan mo talagang bumaba. 'Tapos 'pag umangat ka na, umahon ka na.
"Ngayon, eto ka na, mas strong ka na. Mas kaya mo nang harapin," the actress said, gesturing with her hands to simulate rising out of the water.
NOT CHOOSY. In her recent teleserye, Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, Maja played a supporting role as one of Coco's love interests.
Does it bother her that she is not getting many breaks as a lead actress?
"Kasi, sa akin, a... Hindi importante sa akin kung ako yung bidang-bida.
"Kasi, ako, sobrang masaya ako sa Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin.
"Dahil yung character ko dun, kahit papa'no, napansin talaga.
"Minahal talaga ng mga tao yung character naming dalawa ni Coco."
Maja's character in the teleserye, Krista, is born to a rebel group, and would be torn between the twins Alexander, a government soldier, and Javier, a childhood friend in the rebel community. Both are played by Coco Martin.
"So, masaya 'ko.
"'Tapos... yung Impostor, di ba? Kahit na sa pang-hapon siya. Napansin siya [sa] international [scene].
"Kaya, sobrang masaya 'ko," enthused Maja.
Maja must be a believer of the saying, "It's not what you do, but how you do it."
She insists that it is up to the actress to give justice to her role.
"As long as may projects. Sobrang happy na 'ko dun.
"At yun...hindi na 'ko magko-complain.
"Masaya lang dapat.
"At least, di ba.. magandang proyekto at tamang proyekto.
"Nasa sa 'yo lang po yun kung pagagandahin mo pa, kung huhusayan mo pa para tumatak yung character na gagawin mo," continued the 23-year-old member of the Salvador showbiz clan.
UPCOMING PROJECTS. The "Dance Princess" already has some acting projects lined up for her next year.
She will be reuniting with former Nagsimula Sa Puso leading man Jason Abalos in Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin, and returning Kapamilya actor Patrick Garcia.
"Yun, a, magandang istorya siya," referring to PHRP: Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin.
"Yung hindi lang siya basta tungkol sa istorya ng pag-ibig.
"Yung past, yung mga magulang namin, na pwede rin pa lang mangyari yun sa 'min, yung nangyari sa kanila.
"Na, kaya ba naming ipaglaban yun? Kahit mali na yung pag-ibig na ipinaglalaban mo?"
The young actress is also excited about her indie film with boyfriend Matteo.
"First quarter din, ipapalabas yung movie namin ni Matteo, na indie film din siya [distributed] under Star Cinema. My Cactus Heart ang title.
"Sa wakas, finally, ipapalabas na!" beamed Maja.
"Parang isang taon na namin siyang ginagawa, and yun po, ipapalabas na."
In this film, Maja will be playing the role of a girl who is afraid to love.
"A, cute kasi yung kuwento nung movie namin.
"Talagang kuwento ng isang babae na matinik ang kanyang puso, na walang nakakalapit... yung ganun!"
The mystery lies in what made her shy away from romantic relationships.
"At...parang yung istorya niya, 'di ba matinik yung puso niya? Never pa siyang nagkaroon ng boyfriend.
"Pero ang tanong, bakit ganun? Bakit hirap siyang magkaroon ng boyfriend?"
MUM ABOUT HER LOVELIFE. When it comes to her own lovelife, the young actress wants to keep mum.
"Sa lovelife po? Maintain lang. Tahimik lang," Maja smiled again.
She said she was not one to share her personal life with the public.
"Kung, a... Depende naman po.
"Ako kasi, kilala nyo naman ako. Hindi ako sanay tuwing tinatanong ako tungkol sa boyfriend ko.
"Kasi, hindi naman na siya part nung trabaho ko.
"Na, as in, ipaglantaran yung mga ginagawa namin, yung detalye ng relationship namin.
"Kung masaya ba kami o ano, 'di ba?" Maja said.
The Appari-born actress says she wants to keep this part of her life private.
"Parang, sa akin lang, regalo nyo na lang 'yan. Ibigay nyo na lang sa amin," Maja told the press.