Migo Adecer reassures cultural accuracy in ‘Sahaya’

CEBU, Philippines — “StarStruck” Season 6 Ultimate Male Survivor Migo Adecer reassured viewers that upcoming GMA-7 primetime series “Sahaya” will not appropriate the culture of the Badjaws for the sake of a concept.

“Sahaya” is about a Badjaw girl who defies odds with her virtues and ability to believe in herself and her heritage. Playing the titular role is Bianca Umali, who will star alongside Miguel Tanfelix’s Ahmad, a simple Badjaw who will fall in love with Sahaya.

“When it comes to culture, people can get very political. People are going to say that this is not really a fact. The good thing about this is that we’re not going to release anything unless it’s 100 percent true,” the 19-year-old actor said during a Feb. 16 press conference at Golden Cowrie Lahug before a mall show at Robinsons Galleria.

Initially assigned as Kyline Alcantara and Therese Malvar’s leading man in “Inagaw Na Bituin,” Migo was pulled out from the former to instead work in “Sahaya.” Manolo Pedrosa was later on announced as his replacement in the afternoon series.

“Of course, I was a little bit confused,” Migo said.

“Nevertheless, I feel blessed that there’s a lot of options. I let go of the wheel and let the management choose for me. If I can’t trust my management then who can I trust, right? This is the first time that I really gave my 100 percent trust to the management. Basically this is GMA’s way of giving me a little bit more responsibility, I feel.”

He added that the management might have felt that his “Sahaya” character “has a lot more heart and is a little bit more difficult.”

Asked how he’s faring alongside the BiGuel love team, Migo quipped that it’s great to finally get to know more the GMA Primetime Prince and Princess.

“Before, we only really see each other in guestings, around GMA. We never really sat down…in this sense, working with them closely, and seeing them regularly, I’m finally able to know my co-actors in GMA. We’re great friends now. Before I was super quiet, now I don’t even shut up,” Migo chuckled.

In “Sahaya,” Migo is Jordan, a Manileño who will become Ahmad’s rival for Sahaya’s heart. Jordan lives a comfortable life in a higher society and can be very insensitive. As the story progresses, Jordan just might show his redeeming qualities as he questions his own privilege.

“He can be very insensitive but not because he’s a bad person. He just doesn’t know any better,” Migo shared.

Set to replace “Onanay” next month, “Sahaya” also stars Zoren Legaspi, Mylene Dizon, Eric Quizon, Ana Roces, Pen Medina, Ashley Ortega and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.