Sofia Andres: Motherhood has changed me

More than a year after she gave birth to daughter Zoe Natalia, Sofia Andres happily shared that motherhood has made her a better person.

“Ang daming changes. Ang laki ng pagbabago (ko bilang isang) tao, as nanay and as a partner,” said the 22-year-old star in a virtual media conference for ABS-CBN’s drama series La Vida Lena.

“Nakita ko yung sarili ko. I’ve become a better person,” she added. “(I’m) so proud of myself. Lumaki ang pang-unawa, mas lumaki ang puso.”

Sofia and Daniel Miranda’s child was born on Nov. 24, 2019. The Cebuano car racer was Sofia’s boyfriend of five years. The actress took a break from showbiz in 2018. The Kapamilya star announced the arrival of her baby on Father’s Day of last year via a social media video post and also detailed her pregnancy journey in Australia.

“Parang iba ‘pag nanay eh,” the new mom confessed. “Nandun yung alaga sa anak. Hindi lang sa anak, (pati) sa ibang tao (din). Masyadong motherly ang thinking.”

Although it was too early to tell, Sofia was also asked if her adorable daughter is already showing some tell-tale signs of becoming an actress like mom. “Let’s see,” she said.

Actually, Zoe hasn’t seen her on television just yet but she has recognized her mother on the phone screen. “Di pa niya (ako) napapanood. Inaantay namin yung free sa TV (La Vida Lena),” Sofia said. “Kasi to be honest, she is not really exposed sa panonood ng iPad or anything. But, yeah, I will surely make her watch ‘pag nalabas na natin (series).”

“Minsan mag-pi-picture ako sa phone, sasabihin niya, ‘Mama?’,” she continued by sharing the joys of motherhood. “Ga-ganun siya. Expected na yun ‘pag nasa TV, magugulat yun, (she would ask), ‘What is she doing there?’”

Sofia previously starred in Princess and I, She’s Dating the Gangster, Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig, Forevermore, Pusong Ligaw and Bagani.

Meanwhile, Sofia plays the role of Rachel Suarez-Villarica, one of the antagonists in La Vida Lena, her comeback teleserye.

“Halos lahat naman ng ginagampanan ko kontrabida,” she replied when asked if playing a kontrabida role is more challenging than bida role or vice-versa, “Siguro kasi pantay-pantay lang naman po ‘yun. Mas alam ni direk kung anong klase yung performance na nagawa for the show.”

Directors Jerry Lopez Sineneng and Jojo Saguin, on the other hand, explained how they created kontrabida characters for the series.

“Ibang kontrabida ang ibibigay natin (for this series),” said direk Jerry. “It just comes out naturally sa husay ng artista na nag-po-portray ng role… Ibang-iba po yung makikita nila na pagkakontrabida ng mga kontrabida dito. Iba ang atake ni Agot, ni Raymond, at kung sino pa yung mga kontrabida. Nandiyan pa rin yung usual na tarayan, malulutong na lines. Pero iba pa din yung lalim na binigay nila sa character nila.”

Direk Jojo added, “Aside from that, makikita natin dito sa mga kontrabida yung sense of fashion nila. May mga styling sila na ginagawa para pumerpekto dun sa role nila.”

Direk Jerry teased that starting June 28 at 10 p.m., the audience will see the full story of La Vida Lena with more new exciting scenes to be shown on TV compared to the episodes on iWantTFC.

Led by Erich Gonzales, along with Carlo Aquino, JC de Vera, Kit Thompson, Agot Isidro, Raymond Bagatsing and Janice de Belen, the revenge drama series will premiere on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5 and The Filipino Channel.