This 2019, Angel Locsin is celebrating her 12th year with ABS-CBN.
It may be recalled that in 2002, Angel started her career with rival station, GMA-7, via the youth-oriented series, Click.
She was being groomed to be GMA-7's next big star, after top-billing shows such as Mulawin (2004) and Darna (2005).
In mid-2007, Angel surprised her fans when she decided to leave the Kapuso network, and transfer to ABS-CBN.
Her network transfer on August 10, 2007, was big news at the time.
Since then, she has remained a premier talent of the Kapamilya network for almost 12 years.
When PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) reminded her of this, the 33-year-old actress exclaimed, "12 na pala, akala ko 10 lang!"
PEP.ph then asked the Kapamilya actress why she never entertained the thought of transferring to other networks.
Angel explained, "Kasi they’re very loyal sa akin, e. Di ko naramdaman na hindi genuine yung concern nila sa akin.
"I don't know, maybe, kapag nararamdaman mo kasing may loyalty rin sa 'yo yung tao, binabalik mo yung loyalty, e.
"So ganun lang din sa akin and hangga't kailangan ako, andito pa naman ako."
In a span of 11 years, Angel was tapped to play lead roles in four ABS-CBN teleseryes: Lobo (2008), Only You (2009), Imortal (2010), and The Legal Wife (2014).
She also had a five-month stint in the prime-time series, La Luna Sangre (2017), starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.
Angel was also a part of the defunct sitcom Todamax, and a judge in the fifth and sixth seasons of Pilipinas Got Talent.
On her 12th year with ABS-CBN, Angel returns to prime-time as the lead actress of The General's Daughter.
PEP.ph, along with select entertainment reporters, had a sit-down interview with Angel before her solo press conference for The General's Daughter yesterday, January 10, at ABS-CBN's 9501 Restaurant.
During the general press con, Angel recalled how her acting style was influenced by an actress whom she referred to as her "Nay," short for nanay or mother.
"Ang hindi ko makakalimutan si Amy Austria sa Mulawin.
"Noon, nagvo-voice over kami...tapos umiiyak siya.
"Sabi ko, 'Nay, bakit ka umiiyak, e, V.O. [voiceover] lang naman ito?
"Sabi niya, 'Anak, kasi alam ng tao kung dinadaya mo sila. Alam ng tao kung binabasa mo lang ang script at ine-etchos mo lang sila. Kailangan maramdaman nila ang emosyon mo because that is your responsibility.'
"Dun ako nagkaroon ng interes...ganun niya kamahal ang trabaho niya."
For this reason, the star was inspired to hone her craft as an actress. This also paved the way for her to change her mentality when it comes to work.
Angel admitted, "Ako, pera-pera lang naman ako nung umpisa, e.
"Nung pumasok ako, hindi ko talaga naiintindihan yung passion sa pag-aartista.
"Ako, gusto ko lang makaipon."
The former Kapuso star discovered a way of analyzing her scenes.
"Nakita ko habang ino-observe ko siya, mayroon siyang kodigo everyday. May sarili siyang breakdown.
"Sinusulat niya kung saan nanggaling ang emosyon niya, saan pupunta kaya pag tinawag siya sa set, alam niya kung ano yung pinanggalingan niya, alam niya kung ano ang pupuntahan niya.
"Alam na rin niya ang linya niya. Alam na niya kung anong mangyayari sa eksena.
"Siya yung unang nag-inspire sa akin na pag-aralan itong trabaho na mahal na mahal ko.
Angel cherished this lesson and used this system when she became a Kapamilya.
"Nung nag-transfer ako sa ABS-CBN, ginagawa ko rin siya.
"Ngayon, hindi na uso kasi may mga revisions. Dito sa The General's Daughter, mayroon akong kodigo.
"Pero sa iba, dahil on the set, nire-revise ang script, hindi ko na ginagawa. May ibang technique na ako.
"Dun nagsimula yung passion ko.
"Bata ka, e, gusto mo lang maka-ipon.
"Para kang bata na nagkaroon ng chance na mapunta diyan kaya mag-ipon ka.
"Ganun yung pakiramdam ko noon."
TELESERYE COMEBACK
During her sit-down interview, Angel admitted that she is nervous about her return to prime-time television.
She said, "Oo, di ako magpapaka plastic, siyempre.
"[May] fear but hindi anxious, hindi ganun. I think healthy na kind ng fear na pag wala ka noon, nakakatakot.
"Kailangan mo maramdaman yun talaga at siguro, yung takot ko ngayon, higit kumpara sa mga dati. Kinakabahan naman ako always pero ito, higit e kasi it’s been five years, naninibago."
Prior to her sit-down interview, Angel had a guest appearance in one of the programs of ABS-CBN's radio channel, DZMM. This was also broadcast on TV via Teleradyo.
Since she has not guested on this show for a long time, Angel was comfortably wearing her tsinelas, thinking that there was a table that would hide her feet from televiewers.
Much to her surprise, there was no table on the set. She then had to ask someone to bring her shoes to wear.
She said about this, "Yung mga ganung bagay na dati comfortable ka na, yung alam mo na paano yung sistema, ngayon may bago ulit akong natututunan.
"So in a way, mas less boring, hindi na siya yung parang routine na pinagdadaanan mo usually."
Angel opened up about her apprehensions for her upcoming prime-time series.
"Natatakot ka, kinakabahan ka, five years kang hindi lumabas.
"Hindi madali na every lalabas ka, comeback. Parang hindi ko alam kung sino pa yung ibang gumagawa no'n.
"So pag nagcomeback ka, make sure na okay yung ginagawa mo.
"So far, pasalamat ako sa ABS kasi okay yung projects na binibigay nila pag every comeback naman.
"Hopefully ito, sana itong comeback na ito maganda naman na kahit five years ulit ako hindi magtrabaho, okay lang."
The General's Daughter is ABS-CBN's opening salvo for 2019.
It is set to air its pilot episode on January 21 on the Kapamilya network's prime-time block.
Joining Angel in this teleserye are veteran actors Albert Martinez, Tirso Cruz III, Janice de Belen, Eula Valdes, and Maricel Soriano.
Her leading men are played by Paulo Avelino, Arjo Atayde, and JC de Vera.
Former Kapuso actress Ryza Cenon and the love team of Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte are also part of the series.