Eva Fonda finally comes her way to television tonight
on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.
The TV adaptation of the 1976 film Eva Fonda is the first canned teleserye of ABS-CBN, which is one of the reasons why it took a while before management decided to air it.
Director Frasco Mortiz explained, "Maraming factors po talaga pagdating sa pagpapalabas ng mga soaps. Siyempre, management prerogative pa rin 'yan kung ano ang gusto nilang ipalabas."
Executive producer, Ms. Linggit Tan, reasoned out, "Kasi, ABS-CBN, we want to try out canning first. Ito 'yong isa sa aming teleserye na nabuo na namin, tapos na yung series bago i-air. So, tinapos muna namin ang taping, tapos na siya, then, in-edit naming. 'Tapos nang na-view na ng management, nagustuhan na kaagad."
Despite this, Direk Frasco assured the media that this nine-week series is really worth the wait not only because of its star-studded cast but also of the story that they slightly changed to suit the new generation of viewers. One of the changes made is the occupation of the lead character Eva-in the original film, she was a bar dancer; in the TV adaptation, she's already turned into a model.
Aside from this, the original director of Eva Fonda, Pablo S. Gomez, was part of the creative team; while its original lead character, Alma Moreno, was included in the cast.
He said, "Actually, si Direk Pablo [Gomez] po, part po siya
ng creative team namin. Hinango lang po
namin ang name from the movie, based po siya doon. Pero ibang-iba na po ang istorya nito sa pelikula ni Ms. Alma
Moreno noong '70s. Pero sinama po namin
siya [Alma] sa show, parang naging mentor po siya ni Cristine Reyes, tinuruan
siya kung paano maging mabuting model.
We paid homage to her by casting her as a model-turned-manager ni Eva."
CRISTINE'S FIRST LEAD ROLE. Another interesting thing to look forward to in this soap opera is the acting skill of 19-year-old actress Cristine Reyes. Eva Fonda is her first lead role since she transferred from GMA-7 to ABS-CBN.
Direk Frasco recalled how his father, Direk Edgar "Bobot" Mortiz, noticed the talent of Cristine when he first saw the young actress in a show in Guam.
He told the media, "Binuo po ang Eva Fonda with Cristine po talaga in mind for the title role. Noong time po na 'yon, feeling po ng father ko, may maibibigay pa si Cristine na bago sa ABS-CBN. Parang isang bagay na hindi pa nakikita ng mga manonood."
The young director was also proud of what Cristine was able to give to the show.
He described, "Para sa akin, napakagaling po na artista ni Cristine. Kasi, prior to her transfer to ABS-CBN, madalang ko po siyang napapanood sa kabila. Hindi po siya talagang tumatak sa akin as an actress. Pero noong nag-workshop po siya, nakita ko po ang talent niya as a person and as an actress. Bumagay sa kanya ang role in the sense na may mga sexy scenes na kinakailangan naming gawin dito pero hindi po siya bastusin, hindi malaswang tingnan."
With this, the former StarStruck alumna was grateful that her new mother station gave her a chance to show her talent in acting. "Dito sa ABS-CBN, nabigyan po ako ng pagkakataon na ipakita 'yong talent ko, na hindi ako nabigyan ng pagkakataon sa kabila. Pinagkatiwalaan ako ng ABS-CBN para sa mga projects na binigay nila sa akin. At doon sa pagtitiwala nila, siyempre, hindi ko sila bibiguan kaya binigay ko ang best ko, ginalingan ko talaga."
Cristine is joined by some of the respected actors such as Mark Gil, Al Tantay, Dick Israel, Jean Saburit, Sylvia Sanchez, and Rustom Padilla. Young actors such as Baron Geisler, Joross Gamboa, Hazel Ann Mendoza, Princess Ryan, Janna Dominguez, and Jason Abalos also join the new Kapamilya in her first lead role.
The story of Eva Fonda is about a young lady whose
beauty becomes a curse. Eva and her
mother Edeng (Sylvia Sanchez) were filled with dreams including a plan to
finish school to give her family a better life. However, a psychotic guy (played by Baron) took advantage of
Eva's innocence and shattered those dreams. It also caused a gap between Eva
and her longtime boyfriend Joel (Jason Abalos).
She decides to start anew by going away to a new place and accepting odd jobs.
She then befriends Patty (Rustom) who helps her get a job in Japan where she
becomes famous.