Kapamilya series Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin never runs out of explosive scenes and plot twists that keep us glued on our screens. The cast ensemble is always in full force in each episode. In this edition of Kapamilya Chat, two of the show’s most infuriating players, Simon Ibarra and Manuel Chua, take a break from the kontrabida deeds to just have fun and share behind-the-scene stories about their Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin experience.
Team Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin is done with their last taping cycle. The ‘sepanx’ is real, of course. Even Simon and Manuel would sound a bit sentimental looking back on their happy working days. They will miss everyone involved in the show, as well as the fun bonding activities and just being on location. Not only did they put up a masterpiece but they also built a new family.
“Mami-miss ko silang lahat dahil hindi lang teleserye ang nagawa at nabuo namin. Definitely, nakabuo na kami ng isang pamilya. Itong experience na ito, itong pagmamahalan na ‘to bilang Kapamilya, dadalhin na namin ‘to habambuhay,” shared Simon, joking that he’s about to get emotional.
Manuel, the resident bad guy, found a lasting bond with his co-stars. This is the first time he got really close with co-actors, thanks to the lock-in setup. He would agree that JRB Productions gave them a new family.
Add to that the honor of working with a powerhouse cast. Simon feels honored to have worked with Maricel Soriano whom he described as, “napakahusay at napakabit sa totoong buhay.” He added that the Diamond Star is generous of her expertise. She lets others learn from her be it acting-wise or personal matters. The power trio of Iza Calzado, Jodi Sta. Maria, and Sam Milby showed him the value of teamwork, “Mga galanteng aktor. Hihilain ka nila pataas. Palalabasin nila ‘yung best of you sa eksena.” Young stars Kira Balinger and Grae Fernandez remind him of how it feels like to be young and in love, “Nakakakilig sila! Kapag pinapanood ko sila, nakakabata! Itong tanda kong ito, kinikilig pa ako.”
Manuel smiled at Simon’s confession, relating to the KiRae ‘feels.’ They are the first loveteam he got really close with, akin to younger siblings. Manuel would also call working with Maricel a “privilege.” He used to feel nervous before each take but he has learned to turn the jitters into motivation.
It takes effective collaboration to make the perfect villainous tandem. In the case of Simon and Manuel, passion, acting brilliance, and honesty make it work. They are open to each other’s opinion, a quality that Manuel admires most about his partner. He said that Simon, though a seasoned actor, would still ask for his take on their scenes, a signal of humility and being a team player. He also appreciates all the good words Simon says about his performance.
Playing evil roles births hate comments, or worse, death threats from affected viewers. But the wilder the hate, the greater the validation. Simon and Manuel take the ‘gigil’ as equivalent to viewers’ applause, a sign of of their effectiveness as actors. Besides, they would also receive positive feedback on social media praising their impeccable performance.
Watch the ‘power tandem’ of Caesar and Red on Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin, created by Dindo C. Perez and Julie Anne R. Benitez and directed by FM Reyes and Avel Sunpongco, airing every Monday to Friday on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z and iWantTFC.