‘Maynila’ episode tackles love amid bullying
said as much herself at the home court launch of her landmark collaboration with Thailand’s most adored pop singer and pianist Tor+Saksit—a beautifully moving ballad titled, “Falling Into You.”
Written and composed by Tor—a piano prodigy and music whiz— the single’s simple but heartfelt lyrics, sung in an emotional duet over a single piano that later soars with violins and percussion, required none of the breathy and sexy vocals that characterized most of Maja’s songs in the past. Yes, “Dahan- Dahan” and “Buong Gabi” among others were hits from her Platinum debut and sophomore albums “Believe” and “Maja in Love,” but they always called for the sultry Maja, whose twerk is sensational, and whose movie and TV roles are hot and seductive.
“I found my voice in recording ‘ Falling Into You’ with Tor; this song made me accept my own voice,” a fulfilled singer humbly revealed in front of her bosses at Ivory Records and their Thai counterparts from BEC- Tero Music.
Indeed, Maja’s voice was full, sonorous and genuine in this single, as she sang second voice to Tor’s melody, with both harmonies rising above sweeping piano scales in an clean but emotionallycharged ballad. The kind of sincere love song that that hasn’t been heard from recording studios in a very long time. HOSTED and produced by former Manila Mayor and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza, who is now Buhay Partylist Representative, TV drama anthology “Maynila” has been on for the past 19 years.
The show, originally aired on weekday afternoons since its debut in November 1998, now broadcasts every Saturday morning at 9:40 on GMA Network. Its main thrust is to entertain viewers with good moral values for story lines that focus on the Filipino family and life in Manila City.
Today’s episode revolves around the story of Kerwin, - porary mutism caused by the physical abuse he suffered from his stepfather as a child. Despite his condition, he remains a loving grandson to his Lola Milagros.
Titled “Voice of My Heart,” the story further shows Ke r w i n bullied at school, who luckily finds a friend and defender in Maya. Grateful for her kindness, what Kerwin writes poems to thank her.
Kristofer Martin is cast in air
Charmed with Maja’s easy-going ways, the rest of the afternoon had the same laid back vibe, with Tor impressively tinkering on the piano any tune Maja sang in his ear.
“He can play anything you sing to him and compose music on the spot,” Maja said proudly of her new artistic ally. “Maybe he’ll compose another song for me,” she suggested graciously.
And with melodies, voices and sincerity falling into place, there was no further need to convince the Thai singing superstar to collaborate anew with our singer Maja. the role Kerwin, while Jazz Ocampo plays Maya with Sherry Lara as Lola Milagros. Meanwhile, the school bullies are portrayed by national taekwondo artist Xyruz Cruz as Jonas along with Nathaniel Perez and Angelo Carreon Mamay. Mamay, incidentally, is the son of Nunungan, Lanao del Norte Mayor Marcos Mamay, whose entry to showbiz was through his own design. He auditioned for the GMA Network reality show “StarStruck Season 6” in 2015 and was lucky to make it to the Top 60 among (Clockwise, from top left) Xyruz Cruz, Kristofer Martin, Sherry Lara and Jazz Ocampo thousands who tried their luck. Raised by his mother and grandmother in Pampanga but supported by his father, Mamay has dreamt of entering showbiz since high school. “After I was eliminated, Tito Germs [the late German Moreno] invited me to join ‘Walang Tulugan.’ I stayed in the show for a year-andhalf until its last airing,” he told The ManilaTimes. He was signed for two-year contract with GMA Artist Center after Moreno passed on, and counts - pearances on “Magpakailanman” and “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” where he played Alden Richards in the dramatization of the phenomenal AlDub duo.
“Pero,sa 700 Club Asia, naglilead [role] poako,” he said.
While not in a hurry to attain stellar status like fellow Walang Tulugan alumni brother-and-sister Jak Roberto and Sanya Lopez, he hopes that more projects, no mat as an actor.
The 20-year-old, who also sings, may yet become the face of Maranaos in mainstream entertainment. He is set to do a teledrama for DZRH and a couple of movies under the auspices of the Actors Guild (Kapisanan ng mga Artista ng Pelikula at Telebisyon or KAPT) led by its president Imelda Papin.