Three generations of stars in one teleserye

Muling Buksan Ang Puso is not dubbed as ABS-CBN’s biggest teleserye of 2013 for nothing. It boasts of a stellar cast comprising of three generations of the country’s best actors and promises to be a feast of great acting and relatable characters that will surely enthrall avid Pinoy teleserye viewers.

In a special screening held at the SM Megamall last weekend, it was apparent that the teleserye had taken the viewing audience along with its gripping story, each scene leaving them at the edge of their seat.

The whole cast attended the event, led by highly acclaimed veteran performers Pilar Pilapil, Dante Rivero, and Susan Roces; returning Kapamilya Agot Isidro and Cherie Gil and Daniel Fernando, Dominic Ochoa and Jestoni Alarcon; and Julia Montes, Enchong Dee and Enrique Gil.

In a competitive industry, it is not easy to rise above and make one’s own mark. Perhaps, the new and younger ones can take a lesson or two from veterans Susan, Pilar, and Dante, who could only look back on their respective acting careers that spanned decades and legendary roles.

The ever-charming Susan, who said she feels challenged to portray a character with a dark side shaped by life’s challenges, not only feels privileged for bagging a role in the teleserye but also for getting the chance to train new actors from a younger generation.

“I have no discomfort in supporting young actors because that was where we started. Even Pilar started as a romantic lead in her early movies. Now, we are supporting our young actors the way other actors supported us when we started our careers,” said Susan.

“Honored and happy” was how Julia described how she feels about working with the industry veterans, from whom she and the cast’s younger members always learn things about acting and being a celebrity now and then.

“It feels great to have someone at work guiding me. Tita Susan is so fun to talk to, because every taping, she talks about her experiences when she was a younger actress, and advises me what I should do and shouldn’t. It’s like a learning experience. I’m happy to be working with veterans,” said Julia.

Enrique, who plays Susan’s grandson and Agot’s son in the teleserye, said he took note of what Susan told him in their first few scenes together. He noted how Susan remarked about his slightly unkempt hair and shirt, which he was oblivious to.

“Tita Susan sees the littlest things that are important in a scene. She always says, ‘Always observe’ no matter how old you are,” Enrique recalled.

Headlining a teleserye of this scale puts pressure on the three young lead stars who all came from top-rating teleseryes — Enchong from Ina Kapatid Anak, Julia from Walang Hanggan and Enrique from Princess & I.

The believability of the series also lies in the unexpected chemistry between Jestoni and Agot, as well as Daniel and Cherie.

Among the scenes that received the loudest applause during the screening were when Cherie opened her coconut money box and realized the money she had saved up would not be enough for her son’s treatment; when Agot was begging Susan to forgive her; and when Susan compelled Agot to choose between her and Agot’s baby — all heightened by emotion and moved the audience to tears.

So, it’s a little surprise that many viewers tuned in to the pilot episode of Muling Buksan Ang Puso Monday night (July 8) that recorded a high national TV rating of 28.4 percent, eight points higher than its rival teleserye on GMA, based on data from Kantar Media.

With each scene topping off the last one in intensity, Muling Buksan Ang Puso is set to make viewers invest emotionally in its actors whose character arcs are expected to take unlikely, daring turns that will force them to choose between love and betrayal.

Photos courtesy of Dada Navida