Maja Salvador salutes OFWs with ‘Hinahanap’ series
Playing lead on a series that highlights the lives of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has made Maja Salvador realize even more how much sacrifice and heroism go into being one.
At the recent press conference of TFC Studios’ maiden digital original series, “Hinahanap-hanap Kita (Searching For You),” the danceractress revealed the eight-episode series was shot in Dubai for two weeks during which they met many Pinoy workers.
“Sobrang malaki silang inspirasyon sa amin lalo na nu’ng nag-shoot kami duon,” she said. “Mahirap ang malayo sa pamilya at ang pa ulit-ulit na pagtratrabaho kahit pagod na pagod ka na.”
The series is about Helen (Maja) whose husband suddenly stops communicating with her but continues to send support to his family. Helen then decides to go to Dubai to look for her husband, finding support and help from her friends Joy (Hannah Ledesma), Lawrence (Geoff Eigenmann), Margot (Pamu Pamorada), Homer (Pepe Herrera), and Reggie (Prince Stefan) who are working in Dubai.
The group’s search for Helen’s missing husband also serves as journey to self-discovery, acceptance, and freedom from the personal burdens that they carry in their hearts.
“’Pag nag-share ang OFWs ng mga storya nila, ’di namin maiwasan maka-relate and maging
affected sa kwento nila. Mahirap malayo sa pamilya at walang may gustong malayo sa pamilya pero dahil sa hirap ng buhay natin dito (sa Pilipinas) ginawa nila ’yon,” she said.
One story hasn’t left her long after it was story. “Merong kwento ng isang character du’n, ’yung nurse, na lahat ng pamilya niya, magkakasama na sila du’n (sa Dubai). Pero hindi pa siya nakakapagbigay ng oras sa mga anak niya. May trahedyang nangyari at sinisisi niya ’yung sarili niya,” she shared. “Grabe, kahit kasama mo na pamilya mo, hindi pa rin kayo nagkikita dahil grabe ang oras na kinakain ng trabaho.” At the end of the day, Maja is confident most of them will withstand their trials “dahil Pinoy sila.”
“Iba lumaban ang mga Pinoy,” the actress stressed. As “Hinahanap-hanap Kita” is both OFW story and love story, we asked Maja to give her take on people who find themselves at a crossroad as the characters they played.
“Ang pinaka-mensahe ay maaari kang umibig, maaring laging piliin ang pagibig pero ’wag mong kakalimutan ang sarili mo at ang mga pangarap mo dahil walang kasiguraduhan ang lahat,” she said. “Para kung dumating man ang kung anong sitwasyon sa buhay, alam mo kung paano itayo ang sarili mo ng magisa at paano mo mamahalin ang sarili mo.” Aside from her character, Maja said she would want to have Pamu’s Margot dubbed Queen of Rakitera because of the many part-time jobs she holds just to make ends meet.
“Actually nu’ng screening namin sa Dubai, kay Margot sila sobrang aliw na aliw. Parang nakaka-relate talaga sa character ’yung mga Pinoy kasi ugaling Pinoy — wais. Hindi lang isa ang gagawing trabaho kaya mag bebenta kahit ano
— kakanin, ballpen, notebook. Para may pandagdag padala sa Pilipinas. Nakakatawa na nakakaiyak ’yung character,” she said. “Hinahanap-hanap Kita” is directed by Dado Lumibao. It is available globally on TFC, TFC Online, TFC IPTV and in the Philippines on iWant every weekend.