The rock star dreamer is now a Kapatid princess

MANILA, Philippines - “I surprisingly enjoy acting. I didn’t plan this,” describes Danita Paner the sudden turn of interest and detour in her showbiz career. Years prior to becoming one of TV5’s princesses, Danita dreamt of becoming a pop rock princess dishing out one song after another and hopping from one gig after another. With her hectic schedule, Danita still finds time to perform on live stage. Two months ago, she had a gig with Arci Muñoz.

“I’m very happy (at the rate my career is going),” she adds. “Before I never thought of becoming an actress. Me and my Mom would argue. I wanted to be a rock star. I simply wanted to play with my band.”

Change is the only thing that is constant in life. So Danita welcomes it with open arms. A testament to that is her new TV series Isang Dakot na Luha which will see the singer-turned-actress cry buckets of tears, so to speak. 

“It’s a heavy drama,” shares the romantic-comedy fan. “The characters I have played are varied and different from each other. So each role is challenging at hindi nakakasawa. After doing My Driver Sweet Lover, I wanted to do drama (to have variety in my assignments). I’m nervous because this one will run for two seasons. Every episode is mabigat (because of the heart-tugging story behind the series).”

Unlike in her first TV outing My Driver Sweet Lover, where she was still learning the ropes of acting, Danita is able and armed for the big scenes with co-stars like Alice Dixson and Jay Manalo. She attended a workshop to study her character’s personality and motivation and a pole dance class. “My character might do that in the series,” says Danita.

“My character (Angela) is the eldest child of Alice Dixson and Jay Manalo,” she shares. “So she grew up without her parents because they got separated from each other. She grew up with hatred in her heart (because her parents abandoned her and her siblings). She works for herself and decides to give away her sister.”

This is a stark contrast from Danita’s good life with parents who adore and support her. She can only bank on her intuition to convincingly portray the character. According to her, Danita is in the look-and-see-mode until the cameras start to grind.  

Isang Dakot na Luha along with Felina is TV5’s answer to the soaps that rule the afternoon block. It’s the Kapatid network’s first attempt to join in the hotly-contested timeslot.

“Hindi biro yung mga katapat namin sa ibang networks,” says Danita. “We do something different and the number of viewers will eventually increase.”

With her showbiz accomplishments, Danita’s mom Daisy Romualdez is definitely smiling ear to ear.

“She is proud because this is how she wants (things) to happen for me,” says the daughter. “She used to be a stage mom. But now she has tamed (and slowed) down a bit.”

Just like any doting and loving mom out there, Daisy never fails to remind Danita about little things that matter like to “sleep early if I have work the following day and to give my best in every scene that I do.”

Is Danita an independent lady now that she earns a living for herself?

“(I’m) trying (to be one) but I am still living with (my parents),” she answers. “I have plans to have my own place. Hopefully, it will happen this year. I handle my finances. I also give my share once in a while. Pero ngayon dadalasan ko na.”

“As we grow older, our interests in life also change,” concludes Danita. Thus, it pays to embrace change and be surprised to great possibilities it may offer.