BiGuel bids teenybopper roles goodbye
Even after hanging their Mulawin
vs. Ravena costumes as Lawiswis and Pagaspas when the series took a bow more than a month ago, Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix — also known as BiGuel — are still feeling “high” knowing that they will be starring on GMA 7’s newest primetime series tentatively titled Santa Santita, which premieres this month.
Apparently one of Kapuso’s loveteams to beat, Miguel and Bianca recently appeared before a group of entertainment writers for a pocket interview. They both expressed delight to be working together again for the eighth time.
“We’re thankful for it. Ang bilis po e, parang wala pa pong masyadong pahinga tapos meron na agad show. We appreciate the network kasi hindi po kami masyadong nababakante nang matagal,” said Miguel, adding, “in fairness, ayaw din naman po talaga naming maghiwalay.” Bianca added, “Of course, I’m happy kasi kami na naman po ang magkasama with this new project.” Santa Santita marks BiGuel’s first foray into heavy drama as previous shows saw them playing teenybopper roles. “This is a bit different since they want us to portray mature roles. It’s the challenging part kasi dapat po medyo malayo kami sa sobrang pa-sweet image. This is more like heavy drama, far different from our teen-oriented projects in the past.”
Miguel agreed, “Basta hindi po siya pa-cute na basta pa-cute lang, mas naglevel up.”
To tackle heavy drama is something challenging for Bianca and Miguel but they believe there’s nothing to worry about it. They are going to apply what they were able to learn from the threeday Bova Actors Workshop under acting coach and artistic director Anthony Vincent Bova last August. Bova, who has over three decades of study in the Eric Morris System (EMS) under Morris himself and has been teaching EMS for over 20 years, trains actors how not to act, but how to make an authentic and empowering statement.
What BiGuel also looks forward to the series is the opportunity of working for the first time with some veteran actors.
“It’s a challenge to be acting alongside them and learning from their professionalism and how they act,” Miguel said.
“I didn’t expect this project to be this big,” Bianca added, “Actually, we just met them during the storycon.
Sila Sir Christopher de Leon, Ms. Jean Garcia, Tita Carmina Villarroel, kuya Marvin Agustin. We initially had no idea how big the cast is.”
Since they are portraying “mature” roles, will the viewers see them kiss for real in the series this time?
“We don’t know yet but it’s up to them kung ipapagawa po sa amin. Okey lang naman po as long as it is work.” Miguel quipped, “Siguro kapag 18 na si Bianca. Sa ‘kin, okey lang naman (giggles).”
Although both will be busy with work again, Miguel and Bianca make it a point to also give priority to their studies. The GMAAC artists are studying via online courses. Miguel, 19, is on his third year taking up Entrepreneurship, while Bianca, 17, is in Grade 12 and plans to take up Interior Design.
(Santa Santita, directed by Don Michael Perez, also stars Gloria Romero, Alfred Vargas, Jeric Gonzales, Pauline Mendoza and Kyline Alcantara.)