Carmina Villarroel is happy to be reunited with director Jerry Lopez Sineneng after many years of not working with each other.
Direk Jerry, whose transfer from ABS-CBN to GMA-7 was announced in late 2021, is making his debut drama series in the Kapuso network via the upcoming prime-time series Widows’ Web.
The last project of Carmina and Direk Jerry was the Kapamilya afternoon series May Isang Pangarap, which aired nine years ago.
During the virtual media conference of Widows’ Web on February 17, 2022, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Carmina about working again with Direk Jerry, this time in GMA-7.
She replied, “Yes, nagulat ako and super thankful and blessed kasi ang first show ni Direk Jerry dito sa GMA, siyempre ako pa iyong nakasama.
“So, sobrang privileged naman ako doon kasi, katulad ng sinabi ni Direk Jerry, nakatrabaho ko na siya in the past and that was a long time ago.
“So I’m so happy and thrilled and still excited to work with him again.”
Before they had their lock-in taping in November 2021, Carmina sent a message to Direk Jerry welcoming him to GMA-7.
Carmina related, “Kaya nga bago mag-taping, nag-message pa kami.
“Di ba, Direk, nag-message tayo sa Facebook, na wine-welcome ko siya sa GMA, and we’re both excited.
“Actually, ngayong nagte-taping pa rin kami, noong nakita namin iyong some of the scenes that we did, ay grabe, mas lalo akong na-excite!
“Direk, oh my gosh, sobrang ang ganda. Ang galing.”
ACCEPTING ANOTHER OFFBEAT ROLE
Widows’ Web, which premieres on February 28, 2022, on GMA Telebabad, is dubbed the first “suspenserye” of GMA-7.
The story follows the mysterious death of Alexander Sagrado III (Ryan Eigenmann), with the women in his life tagged as suspects.
Carmina plays the role of Barbara Sagrado-Dee, Alexander’s older sister. She is one of the suspects.
From her kontrabida role in the afternoon series Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat, the 46-year-old star shifts to playing something offbeat.
She said, “Actually, with my role here as Barbara, hindi naman siya iyong major kontrabida. It’s just that iba lang siya, iba lang ang kanyang pag-uugali.
“But hindi naman talaga siya iyong talagang kontrabida, medyo may iba lang siyang ugali.”
Just by reading the synopsis, without knowing her co-stars or anything about the show, she admits that she immediately said yes.
Carmina explained, “How can I say no to this project? First of all, una siyang suspenserye ng GMA. How can I say no to this project?
“When this was offered to me, wala pa akong alam kung sino iyong cast, pinabasa lang sa akin iyong synopsis.
“I said yes to it right away without knowing lahat. The story itself captured my attention kasi gusto ko iyong ganun.
“Every time I do something new or every time I do a new project, gusto ko iyong na-e-excite pa rin ako.
“With this project, sobrang na-excite ako kasi exciting siya, ‘tapos ang dami ko ring mga first time nakatrabaho sa show na ito. So how can I say no?”
Also part of the lead cast are Ashley Ortega as Jackie Salgado, the wife of Alexander; Vaness del Moral as Hillary Suarez, Jackie’s friend; Pauline Mendoza as Elaine Inocencio, the woman who will investigate the truth behind the crime after her boyfriend Frank (played by Edgar Allan Guzman) is wrongly accused of killing Alexander.