A Super Trio; A Primetime Queen, an Underdog Comic and a Tisoy Newbie

CEBU, Philippines — For the past months, retellings and spinoffs currently dominated the Kapuso network’s primetime block. This time however, GMA-7 has introduced a brand new superheroine for an entirely new generation of Filipinos.

Fantasy series “Super Ma’am” marks Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera-Dantes’ primetime comeback after almost three years (she only had a recurring role in “Encantadia”) since having their first baby, Zia with husband and Kapuso Primetime King, Dingdong Dantes.

Directed by LA Madridejos, “Super Ma’am” circles in on dedicated teacher Minerva Henerala portrayed by Marian. Minerva lost her mother and sister in a tragic archaeological accident and had a close encounter with mythical glowing winged-creatures and shape shifters known as Tamawo on the same site. Years later, the Tamawo has made their way in the city abducting children to feed on their youthful energy. It is now up to Minerva’s alter ego, Super Ma’am, to save the human world in the form of a Tamawo slayer.

Alongside Minerva are many colorful characters, but her notable leading men are newest Kapuso actor Matthias Rhoads as Trevor Jones, an American archaeologist and writer; and Esteban, the talkative janitor who works at the same school as Minerva’s played by Jerald Napoles.

“Ang tagal na [since her full-on primetime series], it’s been two and a half years at very excited akong magtrabaho uli,” Marian says in a press conference over the weekend at Ralfe Gourmet in Casals Village, Mabolo, Cebu City.

Asked how it felt to be back on the primetime soap grind, the Primetime Queen said, “Inisip ko siguro mangangapa ako but hindi. Sobrang unexpected,” Marian begins, saying that three soaps have been laid out on the table for her, but that the teacher-superheroine concept won out since focus groups and surveys revealed fans missed seeing her in a superheroine costume.

It didn’t hurt that the Psychology graduate, who used to be a SPEd teacher, previously dreamt of becoming a teacher by profession.

“Tamang tama kasi hindi nalalayo sa totoong buhay. Gusto ko talaga maging guro. At nakakatuwa kasi kahit hindi yun natupad sa totoong buhay, at least nagagampanan ko. Kapag artista ka yan yung maganda, para sakin malaking bonus na yun,” she said.

Marian, who enjoys being around kids, confesses that she savors her role as a teacher and being responsible of her on screen students. She closely worked with Direk LA to mold Minerva and Super Ma’am’s characters.

As one of the most beautiful, sexiest and most flawless women in Philippine showbiz, it couldn’t be helped that talk came to the superhero wardrobe for Super Ma’am.

The mother to almost two-year old Zia reveals they went through many revisions for the Super Ma’am costume.

“Gusto ko rin kasi na bawat gagawin kong project is wholesome kasi siyempre may anak ako. To be honest, ang daming pinagdaanan ng costume. Wala namang problema sa akin if revealing pero I made it clear na it’s either yung tiyan ko ang makita or yung sa itaas. We decided it’s going to be a little bit of my tummy, just a little bit,” Marian explains, saying that she wants to set a good model for her daughter so that one day when she gets to see her projects, Zia would feel pride that her mom was once a superhero, among many other empowering roles.

With Marian’s much awaited return, her leading men aren’t willing to cut themselves any slack – all too aware that they’re going to be sharing the limelight with the Marian Rivera.

Jerald Napoles, who began as a theater actor, shares how he has always been a fan of Marian’s and is honored to be her leading man.

“Nagpapasalamat kami na na-handpick, na nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na ipakita kung ano ang kaya naming ibigay,” Jerald begins as he encouraged everyone to support a show that’s light and is complete with romance, action and drama.

Jerald was quick to joke about how Dingdong told him to back off. Teased about his newly-minted leading man status, the “Sunday Pinasaya” mainstay says that his role is more character-driven as opposed to being just another swooning love interest.

“The acting is character based. Ako yung hopeless romantic underdog Pinoy na kumakatawan sa hugot pero yung pag-arte, hindi lang as a leading man, superhero, o kontrabida,” Jerald points out.

As for Matthias – who has been in the Philippines for just a year – he knows he has a lot of catching up to do, especially with his Tagalog.

“I’m very grateful. This is an amazing opportunity and it’s super exciting. It’s such a blessing and a great honor to be here for only a year, yet such a big strike of luck,” says the commercial model.

“Super Ma’am,” which premiered Monday, isn’t just a light treat for anyone missing the contemporary superhero rhetoric, but is also a tribute to educators. Marian reveals how every teacher she’s ever met is her favorite and couldn’t choose between any of them.

“Ang hirap isa-isahin kasi bawat teacher because each of them, may impluwensya sa kung sino and kung ano meron ako ngayon. Dito minumulat natin ang mata ng kabataan na bigyang respeto ang mga guro, na dapat silang pakinggan, at ituring bilang pangalawang magulang,” Marian elaborates.

More than anything, “Super Ma’am” promises to herald teachers as second parents, and hopes that Minerva Henerala becomes a role model not only in nurturing every child’s potential, but also in showcasing and proving that there is a good teacher in all of us.

Also starring Helen Gamboa, Joyce Ching, Kristoffer Martin, Kevin Santos, Jackie Lou Blanco, Meg Imperial, Jillian Ward, Al Tantay and Dina Bonnevie, “Super Ma’am” airs weekday nights after  “24 Oras.” (FREEMAN)