Maika Rivera good at being ‘bad’

MANILA, Philippines — Maika Rivera cuts a picture of calmness off-cam yet exudes an annoying aura once she starts acting out a role that steals attention from the protagonist just like what she did in Blood Sisters that left many viewers completely irritated with her.

She is set to appear once again in a contravida role in the upcoming ABS-CBN drama series, titled Sandugo, under Dreamscape Productions.

It doesn’t worry Maika if she gets stuck to portraying the same type of character, especially that her previous roles had somehow created an impact.

“It’s fine with me to be typecast as a contravida as long as I am not that kind of character in person. After all, it’s a job,” said Maika during the pocket interview held recently. “If people get to notice me through those roles, then it means I am effective.”

Maika first gained public recognition in the world of sports as Maika Tanpoco, the tennis player who ranked No. 160 in the International Tennis Federation. She discovered tennis at two when she and her dad caught a match between Steffi Graf and Monica Seles on cable. She would later join tennis groups and matches to hone her racket-wielding skills. She was 11 when her parents sent her to Australia for a series of trainings. She finished gemology (the study of precious stones) in the US.  

Her first venture into showbiz started in 2015 when her mom broached the idea of auditioning for the Pinoy Big Brother 737 edition “so we lined up at the Araneta but unfortunately, I was not chosen. And when I was about to leave the place, I got suggestions to go to Star Magic for a go-see so I went (there) to try my luck and thankfully, I got a callback.”

Maika’s first acting appearance was in the Gerald Anderson and Arci Muñoz’s top biller Always Be My Maybe then followed by a stint in a TV series also with Arci. Maika was also a former member of GirlTrends.

Asked why showbiz appeals to her, she replied, “For me, it’s the voice, the opportunity and the power to spread positivity because obviously being in the limelight is a double-edged sword — you can spread positivity and negativity. Me, I always try to promote positivity.

“I feel acting is one of my therapies that you could be somebody through portraying roles. And in a way, acting helps me learn a lot of things in life like when I did MMK (Maalaala Mo Kaya), we had tapings in the slums and now I am portraying the rich and sexy Ines in Sandugo. It’s just really amazing for me to be in the shoes of different persons in front of the cameras.”

These days, Maika is busy with acting that she now only plays tennis during invitational matches. But unlike in sports, acting for her is not about competing with anyone.

“I don’t look at it as a competition because we are all actors here regardless if you are from other stations ba or from ABS. I am happy for whoever becomes popular because the more I look at other people, the more I’m not gonna focus on the things I have to focus on which is gonna delay (my growth) instead of trying to be better at what I do,” she said.

Maika also revealed that she auditioned for Darna and everyone knows by now that Jane de Leon was chosen for the role.

“I was among the first who came to the auditions at the Dolphy Theater. I may not have clinched the part, but I am willing to be Valentina, if they’re still looking, hahaha,” she concluded.