A double dose of Jodi Sta. Maria

CEBU, Philippines — Jodi Sta. Maria is back with a new show and this time there’s two of her.

In her first dual role, Jodi plays Mona Bulalayao and Lisa Laureano, women who look identical but whose status in life and behavior are polar opposites. They aren’t twins separated at birth. As Jodi puts it, they are “identical strangers” with their own trials and tribulations.

Titled “Sana Dalawa Ang Puso Ko” and set to premiere this Monday (January 29), the series is one of three shows launched by the Kapamilya network for the first quarter of 2018.

Jodi is reuniting with Cebuano actor Richard Yap as the dapper Martin Co and is working for the first time with Robin Padilla as the rugged Leo Tabayoyong.

Asked if she feels pressure as she graces the small screen once more, especially after the success of “Be Careful With My Heart” and “Pangako Sa’yo,” the actress admits that the tension is there but she doesn’t really dwell on it.

She refuses to believe when people hail her as the queen of the morning time slot. “No! I don’t own any time slot!” the 34-year-old earnestly quips during an interview at Radisson Blu Hotel over the Sinulog weekend.

“But if you’re asking me about pressure, well of course nandoon yun,” Jodi continues, adding that she often wonders if “Sana Dalawa Ang Puso” could live up to her previous shows’ beloved reputation.

“But if I worry about things that are out of my control, it will only make me anxious and steal the joy of the moment of what I’m doing. Mahalaga at sapat na sa akin na alam kong ginawa namin ang lahat ng maaari naming magawa para sa proyekto na ‘to. There is a peace in my heart knowing that we did everything that could have been done.”

Portraying a certain character is no easy feat, and even with 20 years of experience under her belt, Jodi admits that she still sometimes draws a blank acting-wise. So after sitting down with bosses and learning about the project which requires her to build two distinct identities, Jodi requested for workshops and an acting coach to help her out.

“I sometimes run out of ideas on how to attack a character or go about a certain role. They were very helpful. They gave me assignments. It’s like a blank slate – ikaw yung magbibigay ng characteristcs [for the roles].”

Despite doing something similar with her latest film “Dear Other Self,” which depicted two alternate narratives for the lead character, it wasn’t really the same thing as playing two completely different people.

Jodi describes Mona – presented as scruffy and works at a cockpit – as an outgoing and positive woman much like her father Ramon portrayed by Edgar Mortiz. She is a risk-taker who dreams of providing for her family a comfortable and happy life. However, Mona struggles to save her father from danger when he finds himself in trouble after being involved in a networking scam.

Lisa, on the other hand, is a posh, sophisticated woman who is laser-focus on her work. A strict and dedicated boss to the family business, Lisa lives for the approval of her father Juancho Laureano played by Buboy Garovillo even if that meant doing something she doesn’t completely agree with. Lisa is suddenly faced with an arranged betrothal to her father’s rival’s son Martin Co at her dad’s orders. Mona decides to hide and live with one of her company’s workers, Leo Tabayoyong (Robin).

With all of this happening, there are all sorts of possibilities when Mona and Lisa cross paths.

Between Mona and Lisa, who does Jodi identify with more?  “For the character to be effective, and for you to feel something for them you have to look for something that you personally relate to about that character,” Jodi says. “If I say that I identify with Mona, then how about Lisa? I created her too. For me, it’s even. I see myself in different aspects of their lives.”

As for her first-time leading man, Jodi has nothing but compliments for Robin.

“Masaya, magaan katrabaho si Robin. He’s such a gentleman and takes care of things. He’s very mindful of his co-workers and colleagues. When he comes to set, he’s ready, he’s very much prepared and sometimes requests for a script reading. And hindi siya nahihiya to ask for help,” Jodi quips.

Jodi, in her steps to pursue her life-long dream of earning a college degree, currently studies B.S. Psychology under a special program tailored for those working full time. She allots one day purely for school work, and the rest of the week for her craft. But one thing’s for sure, being a mother to 12-year-old son Thirdy will always be a top priority.

Eyeing on proceeding to oncology with psychology as a pre-med course, Jodi is also taking major subjects fit for second and third year psychology students in between her work as an actress.

Good thing for her, her major is not as far off from her line of work as most people think.

The “Tabing Ilog” alumna reveals that her studies has also helped her improve her craft in terms of building and nurturing characters which came in handy for “Sana Dalawa Ang Puso.”

“There are reasons why we do the things we do. There has to be a motivation, and that motivation will dictate our actions. Kung ano yung need ng tao or character, yun ang motivation mo para sumunod yung bagay-bagay or actions.”

Taking her character Mona for example – a woman who craves for the love, affection and approval of her father – Jodi explains that as she builds the character, everything she does will be for the sake of her objective and her actions will never stray from that goal even if she’s forced to do something against her will (like marrying someone for the sake of business).

The actress knows the consequences of being on top. It can be lonely, which is why Jodi shares how blessed she is to have a family to cheer her on in every endeavor. And that becomes her fuel to take risks.

“I’m at a time in my life where I want to be challenged. If I surpass that challenge, I would grow more as a person. It’s the challenge that drew me into accepting this project. It’s in those difficult moments where you can find the beauty of the journey,” Jodi says.

Indeed, Jodi, like many of us, must have found herself wishing that she could choose two good things at once. Why not have her cake and eat it too? Asked if she’s ever wanted to have “two hearts” like what her current soap suggests, Jodi quips that it is possible to yearn for things when it comes to the heart.

“You can say na ‘Dalawa ang puso ko sa career.’ Because you want a certain career but chose another one or maybe wanted both. As for me, I have two in a way, because I’m doing something that I’m passionate about which is my acting, but at the same time I’m passionate about going back to school.”

“But I really can’t say that I wished for two hearts because I believe that there’s always a reason why we only have one heart. We have this undivided heart that we share with loved ones, family, our friends. See, it’s not just two, but there is a heart that we share with many things. That’s how I see it. I think also, with our show – yes it may be a romantic comedy but hindi lang siya limited sa romantic love – pwede rin sa pamilya, sa trabaho, sa mga pangarap sa buhay.”