Sylvia plays devoted grandma to Jana

Even if she is playing a grandmother in “Ningning” – the new ABS-CBN morning series which starts airing on Monday, July 27 – Sylvia Sanchez has no intention of being one in real life. She wants her son, actor Arjo Atayde, and the rest of her children to remember that.

But what is certain, according to her, is that viewers of “Ningning” will like the story because of its positive message of love for family.

Playing the lead in “Ningning” is child star Jana Agoncillo, the five-year-old who made people fall in love with her in the top-rating teleserye “Dream Dad” which starred Zanjoe Marudo. “Ningning” replaces “Oh My G” which ends today.

“In the series, I love my daughter played by Beauty Gonzales but when it comes to my granddaughter, I really give her my all. I am focused on her. She is my life,” says Sylvia. Without hesitation, she accepted the role of a grandma even if she is probably too young to play one. After all, wala pa naman siyang apo in real life.

“I am an actress and even if I am not yet a lola in real life, I should be able to breathe life into a character given to me. I should be able to portray any kind of role, whether or not I’ve experienced in real life what that character has gone through. In doing this role, I can practice what it is like to be a lola in the future,” said the actress who was PMPC Star Awards’ best supporting actress winner for the Chito Roño film, “The Trial.”

“Here in ‘Ningning,’ I have a strong bond with my grandchild, so I am quite positive that lolas and apos in real life will be able to relate to our characters.”

“Thru this role, I can learn the dynamics of being a grandmother. I often asked my friends who are also lolas na what it is like to a grandmother. Based on my experience, my in-laws would say, okay lang kung di kayo makabisita sa amin pag weekend pero dapat nandito ang aming mga apo. They want us (as a family) to visit them on Sundays but if we cannot, we have to make sure that their grandchildren come for a visit.”

“So that is my question – why is it that the grandparents seem to love their grandchildren more compared to their kids? Lahat naman tayo nagmamahal. Hindi ko ma-explain pero nasa dibdib mo, mararamdaman mo yung tuwa at saya ng isang lola, na may apo ka. Iba pala talaga. Kasi ginagampanan ko yun ngayon. Dito ako magpraktis kung paano maging lola sa mga magiging apo ko sa anak ko. May idea na ako pero utang na loob, hindi ko pa tanggap magkaroon ng apo. Hindi sa kanilang lahat, hindi kay Arjo, hindi pa ako handa magkaapo. Kasi ayoko pa,” said Sylvia with a laugh.

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Shaun Salvador, one of the lead actors of the teen horror/comedy/romantic show of TV5 titled “ParangNormal” thanked the Kapatid network and Idea First Company of directors Jun Lana and Perci Intalan for giving him the chance to be part of the ground-breaking series.

This is Shaun’s first regular program so there is that mixed feeling of nervousness and excitement that engulfed him when he learned that he passed the audition and was chosen as one of the lead stars.

“It is a big honor for me to work with Star Magic Talents like Ella Cruz , Rye Paolo Santiago, Andrei Paras with Nico Nicolas , Jester Hernandez , Mystica , Rubi Rubi and Joshua Joffe,” said Shaun, who first made a name for himself by doing commercials.

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Award-winning director Joel Lamangan is back to work after being sidelined by an illness (he suffered a mild stroke) but was given a clean bill of health by his doctors. “I am glad to be working again,” the famed filmmaker told us Sunday when we dropped by the shoot of his latest movie “Sekyu” featuring Gawad Urian best actor Allen Dizon.

Last Sunday’s location was Regina Building in Escolta. Said place was very memorable for movie folks. During the heydays of local filmmaking (the time when local film producers were doing 100 to 150 movies a year), Escolta was the melting pot of movie workers – directors, actors, production people, stuntmen, even extras. Most film outfits had offices in some buildings in Escolta. When filmmaking went on a decline, many film outfits closed shop and as a result, left their posh offices in Escolta. Regina Building was one of those edifices that form part of local film history.

We arrived at Escolta a little after 2 p.m. (upon the invitation of Dennis Evangelista, the hardworking line-producer ng BG International Film Productions and manager of  Allen). They already started the shoot and Direk Joel was in his element, giving last minute instructions to his actors. Also present was Ricky Lee, who wrote the screenplay of “Sekyu.”

“It is the story of an honest security guard who became famous after he returned a wallet which contains $10,000. The owner of the money was profuse with thanks and even offered him a reward. But instead of being hailed as a hero, some people looked at him with suspicion. Instead of keeping the money because he is poor, they mocked him for returning the money. Tanga raw siya for giving it back,” Direk Joel told us.

“Bakit ganoon ang reaction? Nagsauli na siya ng pera pero parang siya pa ang mali. It seems that people tend to admire more the crooks instead of the honest men in our midst. But he is an honest man and gusto niya na manatiling ganoon. Pero may kakaibang twist sa istorya ng ‘Sekyu’ na tiyak na kukurot sa inyong mga puso,” added Joel who said that Allen has improved a lot as an actor since he first handled him.

“Sekyu” also stars Sunshine Dizon (who plays Allen’s wife), Gladys Reyes, and Jim Pebanco.