GORGY RULA
Malakas na tilian ang unang reaksiyon ng original cast ng First Yaya nang magkita sila sa lock-in taping ng book two nitong First Lady, ang Kapuso prime-time series na pinagbibidahan nina Sanya Lopez at Gabby Concepcion.
Isa sa sobrang natuwa nang magkakasama na naman sila ay si Maxine Medina, na kontrabida pa rin bilang si Lorraine Prado.
Sabi ni Maxine, nae-enjoy na niya ang pagkokontrabida sa isang drama series, lalo na rito sa First Lady. Nasimulan niya ito sa First Yaya, at okay sa kanyang malinya sa kontrabida roles.
"Sobrang mas creative po at feeling ko magwu-work din for me, kasi ang sarap niyang laruin, ang sarap niyang gawin.
"First time ko, actually, na magkontrabida, especially dito sa First Yaya. Sobrang na-enjoy ko naman po siya.
"Hindi lang naman ho here, pero sa ibang series o sa ibang projects, game po ako if ever po pag may offer," pahayag ni Maxine sa virtual mediacon ng First Lady.
Magsisimula na ang First Lady sa Valentine’s Day, February 14, sa GMA Telebabad pagkatapos ng 24 Oras.
Hanggang ngayon ay nasa lock-in taping pa rin sila. Bandang April pa raw sila makakalabas dahil hanggang ending na ang iti-tape nila.
JERRY OLEA
Magtatapos na ang Wowowin: Tutok Para Manalo at I Left My Heart In Sorsogon ng GMA-7 sa araw ng Biyernes, Pebrero 11.
Inaabangan kung ano ang sasabihin ni Willie Revillame sa pamamaalam, at kung magwawagi nga ba si Tonito (Richard Yap) over Mikoy (Paolo Contis) sa puso ni Celeste (Heart Evangelista).
Simula Lunes, Pebrero 14, Valentine’s Day, ay papalitan ang mga programang ito ng Dapat Alam Mo! (Wagi Ang May Alam!) at First Lady.
Aabangan at pagkukumparahin natin ang ratings ng mga palabas na nagtapos at ng pumalit sa mga ito.
Itong First Lady ay pagpapatuloy ng istorya nina Melody (Sanya Lopez) at President Glenn Acosta (Gabby Concepcion), na sinubaybayan nang lubos ng televiewers sa First Yaya.
Ipinagmalaki ng GMA Network na ang First Yaya ang nangunang programa sa TV noong 2021.
Madalas na nasa line of 2 ang ratings nito—na hindi na-achieve kahit kailan ng mga pumuwesto sa binakante nitong timeslot.
Hindi man lang lumapit sa line of 2 ang ratings ng The World Between Us, Legal Wives, at I Left My Heart In Sorsogon.
Kaya inaasam nating magtagumpay rin sa ratings ang First Lady, kagaya ng First Yaya.
Aba! Mas mabusisi at matindi raw ang research ng produksiyon sa First Lady kung ikumpara sa First Yaya dahil ayaw nilang magkamali.
May mga kinuha silang consultants na makakatulong sa kanila. Ayaw lang nilang sabihin kung sinu-sino sila, at baka mahaluan daw ng political color kapag malaman pa kung sino.
Sabi ng head writer at ng creative consultant na si Jojo Tawasil Nones, "Ngayon we want to level up, and gusto namin based on facts ang inspiration ng story.
"So, nag-hire kami ng political consultants. Ang isang consultant namin, isa siya sa mga movers ng 2010 and 2016 national elections. Tapos yung isa, member siya ng presidential management staff, pero ano siya incognito, kasi ayaw namin na meron kaming political color. As much as possible, we tried to to be neutral.
"So, as much as possible, hindi namin lantaran na masabi sa mga tao behind the scenes, kasi ayaw nilang isipin ng mga taong may affiliation iyan."
Marami silang mga na-interview na mga resource persons para matiyak lang na tama ang inilalahad sa kuwento.
Dagdag ni Nones, "We interviewed extensively, tapos nag-research din kami ng maraming bagay, lalo na sa parts ng constitution. Even the COMELEC laws, pati mga medical staff.
"So may mga consultants kami, medical, political and legal. Meron din kaming lawyer on board who answers our questions especially when it comes to the constitution."
First Yaya ended on a happy note with the fairytale romance of President Glenn and Melody.
This time around, the newlywed couple navigates new territory and delves into different relationship issues—trust and doubt, change and tradition, and the line of clear communication—that will challenge their marriage.
As Glenn seeks another term to his presidency, Melody needs to reassess and find her place once more in her husband’s ever-chaotic and busy life.
Playing important roles in the prime-time soap are Pancho Magno as he reprises his role as PSG Captain Conrad Enriquez; Pilar Pilapil as Blesilda, the headstrong mother of PGA who will stop at nothing to protect the presidency; and Boboy Garovillo as Florencio, Melody’s father who passed away but still appears to her visions.
Joining them are Maxine Medina as Lorraine, Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications/Head of the Speech Writers Group/ Melody’s former rival turned frenemy; Thou Reyes as Yessy, Presidential Management Chief-of-Staff who also holds the post of Presidential Spokesperson; and Sandy Andolong as Edna, the loving and streetwise mother of Melody.
The younger cast members are Cassy Legaspi as Nina Acosta, the eldest daughter of PGA who is also running for a position in her school government; JD Domagoso as Jonas, Nina’s boyfriend who also joins the school campus elections but ends up competing against her; Clarence Delgado as Nathan, the second child of PGA whose resolve is tested when his family is besieged by challenges to their stability and security; and Patricia Coma as Nicole, the youngest child of PGA who is closest to Melody.
Other members of the cast are Alice Dixson as Atty. Ingrid Domingo, a political strategist that eventually gets hired by President Glenn Acosta’s (PGA) campaign team to be the political director of his presidential bid; Rocco Nacino as Mayor Moises Valentin, a rising political star who develops a “special” friendship with Melody even when he is allied with the opposition party; and Isabel Rivas as Allegra Trinidad, a former first lady and former number 1-elected senator, the queen bee of a group of three former first ladies terrorizing the new first lady.
More of the cast members are Francine Prieto as Soledad Cortez, a former first lady initially loyal to Allegra; Samantha Lopez as Ambrocia Bolivar, another former first lady who is loyal to Allegra; Shyr Valdez as Manang Sioning, a veteran staff of the Presidential palace who was on leave but is now back to make sure that everything is under order; John Feir as Teddy, President Glenn Acosta’s Campaign Manager; and Divine as Bella, Yessy’s office assistant and Ingrid’s double-agent.
Returning to the series as well to spice up the lives of PGA and Melody are the characters of Kakai Bautista as Pepita; Analyn Barro as Gem Rose Reyes-Agcaoili; Glenda Garcia as Marni Tupaz; Cai Cortez as Norma; Thia Thomalla as PSG Lt. Val Cañete; Anjo Damiles as Jasper Agcaoili; Jon Lucas as Titus de Villa; Jerick Dolormente as Lloyd Reyes; Muriel Lomadilla as Bevs; Kiel Rodriguez as PSG Paul Librada; Atak as Impak; and Cecil Paz as Jesse.
Andami ng cast members, ‘no?! Kaabang-abang ang paglalaban ng characters nina Cassy (anak nina Carmina Villaroel at Zoren Legaspi) at JD Domagoso (anak ni presidential candidate Isko Moreno) sa school election.
Ang kahihinatnan ba ni JD sa halalan sa paaralan ay pahiwatig ng magiging kapalaran ni Isko sa Mayo?
NOEL FERRER
Para talagang nag-level up din ang First Lady from First Yaya. I hope not only sa research kundi pati sa execution. Also, may mga dinagdag na premium cast members, at least.
Sana, push pa nila ang pagka-relevant by making it a mirror of our society today. Ang daming ganap!
Yung last week lang na kinukuda ni COMELEC Commissioner Guanzon ay na-dismiss na ng natirang mga miyembro. Nasaan ang outrage ng mga tao? Waley? Parang na-normalize na ang ganitong mga ganap.
Sana, i-push natin na ang mga palabas natin ay turuan tayong mag-isip at mag-demand ng more sa lipunan natin, kaysa tanggap na lang nang tanggap ng mga nakakapagod at nakakadismayang pangyayari.
God save us!!!