Inah on Janice: Mom knows best

MANILA, Philippines - Inah de Belen knows that showbiz is not all glitz and glamour. Nasty rumors, controversies and, in this digital age, bashers on social media are also part of it which she can’t avoid dealing with now that she has fully embraced the idea of being a celebrity. Good thing, Inah’s parents — actors John Estrada and Janice de Belen — have been giving her pieces of advice all worth taking to heart.

“I am ready for intrigues because my mom always tells me that there are people who will love you and there will be people who hate you,” said Inah after the presscon for the latest GMA 7 Afternoon Prime soap Oh, My Mama! in which she has the topbilling role. “But what is important is to be yourself and to be humble.”  

Still, Inah never denies about getting “hurt” by harsh criticisms from bashers. “Of course, there are times when you get to think about what the bashers are telling — that I am not good. So there are times when I start to feel insecure na kaya ko ba talaga ito?

“But then I always listen to my mom and I always remember her saying, “If you believe in yourself, if you work hard, and you just have to focus; just be humble and everything will fall into place.”

‘My mom always reminds me to concentrate, just be myself and always be humble’

Asked if she feels pressure being compared to her mom and dad, Inah said the pressure is enormous but it serves as a great motivation for her to act convincingly and effectively onscreen. In fact, her co-stars Gladys Reyes and Epi Quizon have attested how Inah was able to deliver her character so well.

“She has the potential,” Gladys said. “For someone who was given her first project requiring her to deliver in a drama scene in the first taping day and didn’t disappoint, is quite impressive. You can feel her emotion right away; hindi s’ya mahirap humugot ng emosyon. Inah really has a great potential so at this early I am giving her — in a scale of 1 to 10 — a seven.”

Epi is equally impressed at how the 22-year-old actress was able to cry buckets in an instant. “Would you believe I was holding her hand pa lang during the workshop umiiyak na agad? And I know for a fact that you have your next superstar in front of you right now. This project will hone her skills with the help and guidance of our director (Neal del Rosario).”

Inah, in turn, cannot be thankful enough for the kind words of her co-stars who both excel in the acting scene. “It makes me work harder and motivates me more to do my best.”

With her leading men Jeric Gonzales (right) and Jake Vargas in the latest GMA 7 afternoon series Oh, My Mama! that will air weekdays beginning Sept. 19.

She, too, appreciates how her dad has been supporting her in all her endeavors. In fact, it was John who convinced her daughter to pursue acting. “I’m really thankful to him for pushing me to continue with my career s’yempre kasi nung una medyo naiilang na ako kung kaya ko ba. But because of the workshops that I’ve attended and the kind of trust that the people around me was giving me, sobrang naging ready ako to work on this.”

Prior to her signing a contract with GMA, Inah has already appeared in a number of shows in different networks like in Candies aired on QTV with Winwyn Marquez and Alynna Asistio, Wattpad Presents on TV5 and on ABS-CBN as part of its talent arm Star Magic. Inah is now being managed by Popoy Caritativo.

Does she get acting tips from her mom and dad?

“They are my critics but I take whatever they say constructively. My mom often tells me that I’m doing OK while my dad is very detailed. Lagi n’yang sinasabi yung movement daw ng mouth ko ganyan and they watched my shows even before. They are both supportive of me. I promise to do my best here (in the show).”

As stated in the press release, the GMA afternoon series Oh, My Mama! is the TV adaptation of the 1981 movie with the same title topbilled by Maricel Soriano. It tells the story of a teenager who suddenly takes on the role of a mother to five street children while in search of her father’s love.

The series also stars Jake Vargas, Jeric Gonzales, Therese Malvar, Arthur Solinap, Ash Ortega, Eunice Lagusad, Phytos Ramirez, Jenny Miller, Sheryl Cruz, Francine Prieto, Ryann Eigenmann, David Remo, Jhiz Deocareza, Bryce Eusebio and Sofia Pablo.

Oh, My Mama! airs weekdays beginning Sept. 19 after Eat, Bulaga.