A high-spirited trio
Maxine Medina: To keep my figure, I do ‘Insanity,’ a 45minute workout.
Ashley Ortega: If I were to connect to a deceased, I’d pick Audrey Hepburn.
As she was when she represented the country in the 2017 Miss Universe pageant last January, Maxine Medina is getting bashed now that she has ventured into showbiz. Eat your hearts out, bashers, because Maxine is cool, unaffected by it all.
Since she and US-bred Enrico Cuenca appeared in a Jollibee commercial, doors have opened for Ashley Ortega who is now a cohost in Willie Revillame’s consistently toprating game GMA show Wowowin.
The two newcomers are starring with Cristine Reyes (happily married to athlete-actor Ali Khatibi by whom she has a child) in Spirit of the Glass 2: The Haunted, also directed by Joey Javier Reyes like the first one (shown at the 2004 Metro Filmfest), produced by Octo-Arts Films in association with T-Rex Entertainment and opening nationwide on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
Maxine (with Benjamin Alves as leading man) plays a diva actress; Ashley (with Enrico), a commercial and actress-TV host; and Cristine (with Daniel Matsunaga), a stylist and fashion editor. How was your relationship on the set? Ashley: Working with everyone was so easy. At first, I got intimidated considering the fact that the people I was working with were veterans. But once I got to know them, they were very approachable and extremely fun to be around. Cristine: It was smooth and fun working with them. We had a lot of kuwentuhan and laughter. Maxine: Cristine was very nice to me. I was never intimidated by her. I know her
Cristine Reyes: My health regimen? I avoid sweets. No coffee for me.
because of my cousin Dianne (Medina, now engaged to Rodjun Cruz who recently proposed to her).
What did you find interesting/intriguing about your character?
Ashley: What I found intriguing about my character is how she’s game to play the Ouija board. I will never have the guts to play with supernatural beings.
Cristine: I love how she keeps a balance among her friends.
Maxine: My character is the opposite of what I am, so it was challenging playing her. She’s actually the cause of everything, the one who provoked the group into playingSpirit of the Glass. What scene did you find most scary?
Ashley: The ones that involved the ghosts. They looked really, really scary!
Cristine: When we first played the Ouija board, we didn’t know what was going to happen.
If you were to connect to a deceased, who would he/she be and why? Ashley: I would choose Audrey Hepburn because not only was shean amazing actress, she was also a humanitarian. Hepburn was a trailblazer. What attracted me most to her was the fact that she used her fame to inspire, motivate, and help other people. She was an actor and a philanthropist who cared a whole lot for people in need. Cristine: Adam and Eve. Maxine: Maybe my grandfather because there are so many things I want to share with him. What were your favorite topics on the set?
Ashley: I enjoyed all my conversations with my co-actors. Our topics were usually about food or current events. Most of the time, in between takes nag-kukulitan lang kaming lahat.
Cristine: We were always engaged in kulitan. We were just having a good time.
Maxine: We talked about food; that was how we bonded. Did you exchange any beauty tips (and what did you learn from each other)?
Ashley: When it came to beauty tips, we told each other what make-up brands we often use and also recommended good brands! Cristine: Actually, mostly about food…and eating! Maxine: We did. What we had in common was our love for blush-on. What’s your health regimen (how do you maintain your figure)? Ashley: I maintain my figure by working out whenever I have the time. I do Muay Thai at least once or twice a week but if I’m not busy, thrice a week. Cristine: None. I just don’t eat too much at night. Maxine: I exercise as often as I can when I’m free from work. I go to the beach at least once a month for some water sports and to recharge. I do “Insanity” (at home lang), a 45-minute workout that involves continuous cardio exercises. What kind of diet do you follow? Ashley: I eat mostly vegetables and fruits. I try to avoid white rice if I’m on a diet. I really love food, though! So it’s really hard to limit myself; it’s extremely hard for me to avoid sweets. Cristine: I love Japanese food, dimsum, steak and sinigang. I avoid sweets but I try to have a bit every now and then. No coffee for me. Maxine: I eat clean…no fried food, no junk food and no sweets. How do you cope with stress (music, movies or massage)? Ashley: I cope with stress by watching movies, shopping, listening to music, working out, playing with my pets and, most especially, by hearing Mass. Cristine: I just stay at home, watch my TV series on Netflix (or hard drive), listen to good old songs, and sometimes have homeservice massage by my favorite masahista. Also, I bond with family and friends at our home. Maxine: I go to the beach where I feel at ease and at peace with the world, ready to be back in the crazy world. Otherwise, I listen to music which is a great stress reliever, or a good massage. (E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)