Coney balik-GMA

MANILA, Philippines - A family sitcom. This is what Coney Reyes looks forward to doing after several years of starring in drama shows, particularly her then Coney Reyes-Mumar Drama Studio, which later became Coney Reyes-Mumar On the Set that was aired decades ago on GMA Network. It was then again retitled to Coney Reyes on the Set when she moved to another network.

“Imagine, I did the drama show for a total of 18 years and with the many dramatic events that occurred in my life,” enthused Coney, “I needed to rest from all the crying scenes.”

That’s why, when GMA, particularly GMA VP for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña-Magno, offered her a drama project with the Kapuso network, it took quite some time for Coney to agree.  

“In fairness to me,” Redgie said, “She told me she was tired of crying scenes, tapos napanuod ko sa kabila (rival network) drama din ang ginagawa.” 

For her part, Coney said that every time she would ask to be included in a sitcom, the answer is one and the same: “Tita Coney, sa drama ka.”

Perhaps, the drama genre will stick to her like glue as Coney makes a comeback to GMA to star in a soap. It was last May 15 when she recently inked a per project contract with her former home network. Present at the contract signing were GMA chairman and CEO lawyer Felipe Gozon, Redgie and program manager for ETV Redgynn Alba.

The veteran dramatic actress is part of the cast of Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real that topbills Dingdong Dantes, Maricel Soriano and Lovi Poe. Coney will portray the role of Sonia Real, the mom of Dingdong’s character Anthony.

“Ako ang original na Mrs. Real,” she laughed. “Maganda  ang role ko dito drama pero nakakatawa silang mag-asawa.” Jaime Fabregas plays her husband.

It is Coney’s first time to work with Dingdong whom she described as “very sweet, respectful and respectable.”

Asked what excites her to play the Sonia role, Coney replied, “When I accept a project, I take it seriously. I look into the character of my role; medyo mausisa ako pero di dahil maarte ako but because I want to be able to project the role and portray the character well so every role is a challenge. You want to put something different in it and I can honestly say my portrayal of Sonia Real is totally different from my other teleseryes. She’s over protective of her family pero may pagka-nagger siya.”

With her strong Christian faith, the actress believes it is important to take part in sensitive topics like infidelity which will be tackled in Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real “because this situation happens in reality, so that it gives people a chance to realize what is wrong and what is right. And what’s important is that the story will have a redeeming value in the end.”

Coney happily shared that she is entering her 40th year in showbiz and expressed her delight about her return to GMA 7. “I prayed for a sign and I know that God has a purpose why I’m here now. I thank God for allowing me in this profession for 40 years already.”

What is her secret to stay this long in showbiz?

“All I know is that since age seven, I knew I wanted to be an actress and since the first time that the nun threw me on stage for a bit role in a play that I did not know about. She just put this apron and stuff to me and said, ‘Just go out there,’ and I remember putting out my tongue at nagtawanan ang mga tao. From that time on, I joined oratorical contests and stage plays… I just knew I want to be an actress so there’s nothing more fulfilling than being in this business that I love; this business that has provided me and my children the comforts of life; the investments that I’ve made, not that there’s so much, but all the things that I have and enjoying right now is because of this business.

“Being an actor, you have to be sincere in what you are doing. It cannot be a mediocre thing. You have to really understand what you’re doing and love your craft so it translates to your work and the things that you do.”