MANILA, Philippines – Almost two years since her last ABS-CBN soap starrer, Maja Salvador returns to primetime TV via Wildflower. She portrays an emotionally troubled young woman named Ivy Aguas, who is deadset on exacting revenge against a powerful political clan that put her family in great misery and, later on, left her orphaned.
The Star Magic talent, known for acting out different roles without qualms, shares that playing a ruthless character was “never in my wildest dreams. When it was offered to me, I said I needed to give it some thought first. But right after my meeting with (business unit head) direk Ruel (Bayani) and the production team, I had a ready answer and that’s accepting the role.”
The new acting assignment excites her no end, knowing that Wildflower will give new flavor to primetime TV, which is usually peppered with themes that are romantic and fantasy-based. The challenge, she adds, lies in how she will be able to lose herself into the role “because it is far different from my personality.”
Maja, too, tells with a straight face that she can be wild “only for art’s sake. Dito lang sa teleserye ako magpapaka-wild,” she stresses.
Besides, not even once did Maja get into trouble or worse, inflict harm on other people. “I am good at controlling my emotion. Perhaps, I can also be wild on the dancefloor (laughs).”
Asked what could tame someone like Ivy, Maja says that love can truly soften even those who have a heart of stone. “People feel calm when they are in love,” she adds.
But televiewers need to find out who among the three male lead characters, played by RK Bagatsing, Vin Abrenica and Joseph Marco, can bring Ivy back to her loving, sweet and carefree self like when she was still known as Lily (played by Xyriel Manabat).
Meanwhile, co-stars Aiko Melendez, Sunshine Cruz, Tirso Cruz III and Priscilla Meirelles admit to having experienced the pain of being treated unfairly or oppressed by other people and share how they handled such emotional pain.
“All of us have experienced pain or at one time felt oppressed and then we thought of getting back at the people who’ve caused us pain,” begins Sunshine. “Pero ako pinagdarasal ko sila dahil bilog ang mundo. We know that everything that we do will come back in any form. Kung mabuti ka, mabuti din ang balik sa ‘yo o kung masama ka, kasamaan din ang matatanggap mo.”
Aiko admits to having been hurt several times in the past yet she is grateful for all the pain because it resulted to what she has become today. “That’s why, I have no regrets. I didn’t think of getting back at anyone because the good karma that the Lord has been giving me these days is enough reason for me to thank those who have hurt me.”
Tirso, for his part, says he is certain that everyone had felt the agony of being treated unfairly and oftentimes, the tendency is to get back. “But the beautiful thing about life is that there is also someone who will help you to feel better. Revenge is not always the answer but sometimes you have to take revenge to make a point. Regardless of age, at one point or another, one tends to get back na kahit sa salita lang nagagawa natin yun.
“But you can use that pain to be a tool to better yourself. But, of course, you should avoid hurting others because you already know how it feels.”
Priscilla, too, is aware that there are people who try to inflict emotional pain on others. “But whatever their intentions are, I’d definitely not waste my energy getting back at them because for me the best revenge is for them to see me happier, more beautiful and successful.”
Maja believes that whatever other people say or do to put one down, they will never succeed as long as the person knows himself/herself well. “It is best not to mind them. You just have to remain positive by surrounding yourself with people who bring good vibes,” she goes on.
And unlike Ivy who turns ruthless due to a bitter past, Maja does not harbor ill-feelings towards “haters.”
“I just pray that they will get to realize that they have hurt someone.”
(Wildflower also stars Wendell Ramos, Christian Vasquez, Malou de Guzman, Izzy Canillo, Arnold Reyes, Jesse James Ongteco, Danita Paner and Ana Abad Santos. It is directed by Onat Diaz, Raymond Ocampo and Cathy Camarillo and airs weeknights.)