A twin rivalry

MANILA, Philippines - It’s going to be a rat race when Shaina Magdayao and Melissa Ricks’ characters come face to face in the upcoming ABS-CBN’s afternoon fantasy-drama Kambal sa Uma. The TV series will premiere on April 20 after Wowowee.

“It will be a healthy one,” says Melissa of she and Shaina’s possible rivalry in the acting department. “We have to enjoy our work and do what is expected from us. We worked together before on Rounin.”

“I have accepted the fact that people will always make comparisons,” adds Shaina. “Instead of getting affected by these, I should challenge myself and aim for a better performance. At the end of the day, it’s just a job.”

The two beautiful ladies also shrug off the billing issue and both don’t mind that Shaina’s picture comes first before Melissa’s. What matters to them is they still have work during these hard economic times.

The rivalry between their characters, however, is inherent in the story as the show’s executives point out. And it will be intensified as the storytelling begins.

Kambal sa Uma is the small screen adaptation of Rio Locsin’s 1979 movie. This time around, it is about fraternal twins named Ella (Melissa) and Vira (Shaina) who have rat-like characteristics. They have been separated at birth and are different from each other. The one will have the intuition of a rat, while the other has the features of a rat including tail and “big round ears.”

Similar to the idea of yin and yang, Vira is rich but suffers emotionally. Ella, on the other hand, struggles in life but is nurtured and supported by a doting mother.

Rio who played the original role is the mother of the twins. The word uma means farmland.

Expect a lot of controversy as Ella and Vira clash with their differences in upbringing and background.

Is Kambal sa Uma the most challenging project for Shaina and Melissa to date?

“I must admit that it is challenging,” says Melissa. “And it is physically difficult. It takes two hours to put the prosthetics on me. Then, an hour to take it off. I have extra hair, a tail and big, round ears.”

“My role is exciting,” shares Shaina. “It seems that Vira has a dual personality. She wears a strong front at school but she is battered at home.”

What makes their roles more challenging is the fact that they are afraid of rats in real life. Shaina and Melissa will perhaps squeal at the thought of seeing a rat around the set.

In the afternoon soap, Melissa will still be paired with Matt Evans, her love team on Underage soap on Sunday afternoons. Shaina is paired with Jason Abalos on the show.

Melissa, whose hands are full these days, is very happy with her inclusion in the new Kapamilya show. She says her patience has paid off and has learned that it’s better to take things slowly but surely.

Aside from Kambal sa Uma and Underage, Melissa is also a regular host on A.S.A.P.

Does she consider herself lucky?

“Yes, I am, considering that there are artists who look for jobs,” answers Melissa.