Glaiza De Castro Buys First Family Home, Opens Business

Edgar Allan Guzman is best remembered as the last Mr. Pogi grandwinner of the top-rating noontime show “Eat Bulaga”. And he has certainly gone a long way. Now, Edgar faces a new challenge as he stars in a difficult two-character film titled “Magdamag” opposite Ms. Rita Avila. The film was part of the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema at this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

With a screenplay done by Palanca Literary Awardee Jerry Gracio (who wrote “Astig,” “Santa Santita,” “Emir” and “Muli”), Edgar portrays the role of a fire dancer who barely finished high school. He had a chance of meeting a married woman in Boracay during Holy Week. They spent one sizzling night together. That one night of passion would put their basic beliefs and values to test and lead them to question their morals. In the end, it would help them decide on the most pressing issues confronting their lives.

The movie requires for Edgar and Rita to have passionate love scenes, which were done in good taste under the guidance of director Joven Tan and ace cinematographer Romeo Vitug.

How did he get pass the awkwardness of doing a love scene? “Well, alam ko naman po na hindi kami pababayaan ng aming director at saka nag-usap naman po kami ni Ms. Rita tungkol dito before our first shooting day,” Edgar told The FREEMAN at the presscon of “Magdamag” held at Room 814 of Sogo Hotel located on Quezon Avenue last Friday. “Siguro ako may tiwala lang ako sa sarili ko. Pero noong una, takot talaga ako because hindi pa ako nakagawa ng love scene sa pelikula.”

Besides, Edgar told himself that the script of “Magdamag” was written specially for him by Jerry Gracio so he’d better make good. “I was willing to do it kasi hindi naman ganoon ka-grabe ang execution compared on how the scene was described on the script,” recalled Edgar.

It also helps that when it comes to accepting acting roles, whether on TV and film, Edgar now wants to experiment. The edgier, the better, because it promises to be more challenging.

How was it working with Rita Avila? “Mabait naman po siya, very professional. Hindi naman ako nailang sa kanya dahil every take ay nag-uusap kami tapos pag take na, tulungan kami,” he said.

Asked if it was possible to fall for a woman older than him, as in the premise of “Magdamag”, he said: “Hindi po natin masasabi. Age doesn’t matter naman, walang problema kung pareho kayong mature.”

Among the “mature” women he has met, who has caught his interest? “May type ako na mature woman and that is Mylene Dizon. Para sa akin, one hot momma siya talaga. Katrabaho ko nga siya sa Lady Gaga (TV5 sitcom).”

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Glaiza De Castro starts off as a kontrabida but becomes the bida as the story of GMA’s newest TV series “Grazilda” progresses. And to aid her in her first heroine role, she had to do a makeover to look less menacing.

“The staff took note of my eyebrows which were arched. They said it made me look like a kontrabida so they had to do something to it so it would look low. I did several make-up tests so they could find the right makeup for me as Grazilda. They also tried different hairstyles on me so they could erase my kontrabida image,” Glaiza related.

Dominic Zapata and Ricky Davao were the two directors chosen by GMA 7 to helm the project. The network is also spending quite a fortune for the P150,000 rent per day at the makeshift studio location in Acuzar, Bagac Bataan. That doesn’t include yet the cost of taping in various places such as Pampanga, Baguio, among others. Add to that the cost for the costumes designed and made by the members of the Young Designers Guild of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the actress has happily shared that she acquired a new home for her family, a five-bedroom house located along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City worth P4 million. “When I was already signing the title of the house that would be transferred to us, I felt so proud because finally I am able to buy a house for my family. I was the one who went to the bank to sign the papers for the house loan and it was very fulfilling. I am going to work hard and save money so that I could finish paying for it as soon as possible. Kinikilig kami ni Alcris (her brother) dahil first time naming nagka-bahay,” said the erstwhile kontrabida. “I have good vibes about the house. I could say this is my dream house, not only for myself, but also for my family.”

Even her friends are happy with Glaiza’s investment and even offered to buy things for her new home. “Naku, nahihiya ako. Sinabi ko naman sa kanila na huwag na lang. Tutal, halos kumpleto naman na ang mga gamit namin. Kasama ko sila Mommy at Daddy na namili ng mga bagong furniture para sa bahay. Gusto kasi namin na kapag lumipat na kami, kumpleto na ang mga gamit.”

Glaiza grew up in Valenzuela City, a place that gets flooded whenever it rains. But in her new home in a subdivision somewhere in Quezon City, rising flood waters would no longer be a problem.

“I want to provide my family a beautiful and comfortable home, one that is safe and secure that nothing unpleasant or dangerous could possibly happen to us. I am really thankful to the Lord for granting my wish and answering my prayers,” she said.

Aside from buying a new house, the versatile actress had also ventured into a spa business, upon the suggestion of her aunt. “Since I am fond of going to the spa, I thought, why don’t I venture into it? That’s why we opened up a spa and it’s also doing well. If I’m not busy, I go to the spa and attend to the customers myself.”

Glaiza acknowledges the big boost given to her career by her kontrabida role in the Diva teleserye topbilled by Ms. Regine Velasquez. She even grew close to Regine while doing the series and when the show ended, she received a Louis Vuitton bag, her first, as a gift. The Songbird even promised to help her record an album.

“Ate Reg knows what is happening to my career and she’s very proud of me. She’s likewise a big inspiration to me, that’s why I am very much dedicated to my career. I also try to follow her example of being nice and appreciative to my co-stars, staff and crew, especially to the small people on the set. She never acted like a diva, even if she’s one,” ended Glaiza.