‘Impostora’ assembles impressive line-up, taps caliber director Maryo J. Delos Reyes

After GMA’s Pinoy Pop Superstar’s FAB, FAB, FAB! Cebu rendezvous—making the Queen City of the South its last stop for its regional road show, the moment of truth has come for the Nine Grand Contenders of PPS.

Because tonight, Saturday, June 02 only one will be chosen from the Year 3 Finalists.

Because, everybody now—there can only be One Pinoy Pop Superstar!

Now, who do you think will bag this year’s title? Who will earn the judges’ nod and win viewers’ hearts? These are the questions that hover over our heads, especially, if you’re like me who have managed to follow the development of these talented, young  hopefuls as the contest progressed.

I was within the GMA Network vicinity the other day, waiting for my friend to pick me up for our lunch date when someone called out my name. When I turned around, I saw PPS Finalists’ Maricris (Garcia), April (Delos Santos) and Bryan Termulo all smiles as they approached me.

They must’ve come from a guesting stint together with Joyce (Tañaña), Jae (Buensuceso), Miguel (Naranjilla), Marvin (Gagarin), John Louie (Abaigar) and Jennie (Escano), I thought.

We said our hellos and chatted a bit after they each gave me a buss on the cheek and bid adieu.

I remembered our Krua Thai dinner, just before they were introduced to the other members of the Cebu press, some of the PPS Finalists have interesting anecdotes. Like Marvin came from a family of teachers. Asked what he misses most before joining PPS, he looked at Gerald Santos’ banana split and gave out a laugh.

I couldn’t help but laugh along with him. Well, a diet devoid of cold drinks and ice cream is a small price to pay for a shot to fame ayt? Hehehe

I also learned that Jennie (Escano) and John Louie (Abaigar) are both Music Majors in the same school; Jae (Buensuceso), who’s from California knows the Filipino resto that my best friend’s family owns; Miguel is an Economics major who’s from my hometown, Malabon; April and Joyce are cabalens—both are from Pampanga; Maricris not only sings well but also composes songs; and Bryan who’s a back-to-back Superstar of the Night (in Pampanga and Cebu, sharing the honors with Joyce) is my kababayan, a fellow Bulakenyo.

Seeing them again, minus the rush and dash that a greet-and-see activity entails, is quite refreshing. It’s so nice to see them on a much relaxed manner and enjoy a friendly banter, no matter how fleeting it may seem.

A lot of my reporter and editor friends commented that it’s bound to be a tough fight.

“Walang itulak kabigin, good looks and talent abound in this batch that it’s so hard to choose,” exclaimed one.

I totally agree. Even my mom, who by the way has been following PPS since its inception and has an immaculate record of predicting who’d win, is torn between two of her bets.

Tonight, we shall see for ourselves who’s bringing home the bacon, so to speak.

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GMA Network’s latest offering is bound to make a dent in evening primetime viewing. With Impostora set to debut this Monday, June 04, one can only expect that the weeknights over at the Telebabad block will only get more interesting.

Even before Impostora’s full trailer was unveiled, I was already intrigued by its teaser. Maganda. And so I texted my colleague, Jhops Cruz, the program’s publicist and asked some details. “Gurl, impressive ang trailer ng bago mong drama huh!” I told her. “Thanks gurl, the director’s Maryo J. Delos Reyes,” came her reply. Kaya naman pal, director pa lang, winner na! I exclaimed to myself.

For the uninitiated, Maryo J.’s one multi-awarded director who has megged entertainment industry’s drama heavyweights and these include Christopher De Leon and Maricel Soriano in the 1992 drama Dinampot Ka Lang Sa Putik; Richard Gomez and Aiko Melendez in the 1995 marriage-themed Sa’yo Lamang; and was behind the lens of the 2003 tear-jerker Magnifico, which did not only heaped praises from local critics but also harvested awards and recognitions in international award-giving bodies.

Impostora has also assembled an arresting cast composed of talented actors beefed-up with seasoned artists, an impressive line-up who will breathe life to this original masterpiece from the creative team responsible for Bakekang’s success.

Check out Iza Calzado and Sunshine Dizon as they trade acting barbs with the formidable Jean Garcia and Chanda Romero and they’ll be paired with Alfred Vargas and Mark Anthony respectively who are no neophytes in the drama genre as well.

Talk about quality program, right?

Now, if that’s not enough to make you go and see Impostora, I dunno what else will.

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Speaking of Sunshine, grabe huh!

I envy her figure nowadays! In fairness, she has whittled down to a much, much slimmer frame! Why, when she was still Bakekang, Sunshine really allowed herself to balloon up.

Now, check her photos on this page. No more loose clothes, no more double chins. It’s as if she didn’t undergo the Bakekang phase. I wonder which diet Sunshine followed?