Ivana Alawi is finally headlining her own teleserye two years after she signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN.
Titled A Family Affair, the drama series also stars Gerald Anderson, Sam Milby, Jameson Blake, and Jake Ejercito.
This big break for Ivana on television has been long overdue.
In 2020, Ivana decided to back out from playing the lead in the teleserye Ang Lihim Ni Ligaya, citing the pandemic as her reason. The project was shelved as a result.
Now that pandemic restrictions are easing up, Ivana has returned to acting.
She said during her solo mediacon on May 24, 2022 via Zoom, “Actually, ever since naman, gustong gusto kong gumawa ng teleserye with ABS-CBN, yung timing lang talaga.
“The last show that I was supposed to do, biglang dumating yung pandemic, yung COVID and I was keeping my family safe.
“Pero ngayon kasi parang may vaccine na and very strict ang protocols ng ABS-CBN especially with the tapings, I feel safe naman kaya gustung-gusto ko din gumawa ng teleserye.”
Amid all the challenges brought about by the pandemic and the ABS-CBN shutdown, Ivana remain happy being a Kapamilya.
She said, “Kasi very important talaga ang ABS-CBN sa akin, it’s very close to my heart, it’s my dream network.”
She also chose to believe that everything happened for a reason.
“Ayun nga, in God’s perfect time kasi yun nga, dumating na yung COVID, pandemic, nag-lockdown tayo so I learned more things habang naka-lockdown.
“So I try to look at things personally na parang kapag may nangyayari, may dahilan si God.”
Before signing up with ABS-CBN, Ivana started her career in GMA-7 via an episode of Magpakailanman. She joined StarStruck VI in 2015, but she did not make it to the Final 14.
In 2017, Ivana was cast in the prime-time series FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.
In 2019, she became part of the teleserye Sino Ang Maysala.
Now, Ivana is excited about the airing of A Family Affair, where she plays the role of CherryRed.
The project, produced by Star Creatives, is directed by Jerome Chavez Pobocan and Raymund Ocampo.
ABS-CBN has yet to announce the airing date of A Family Affair.