Former Pinoy Big Brother teen housemates Rob Blackburn, Maxine Trinidad, and Gabb Skribikin are taking on their first acting challenge via PIE Channel’s “The Chosen One” episode titled “Soap Opera,” an interactive seies where the voting public can eliminate and save characters until only one of them prevails.
Joining the newcomers are Melai Cantiveros as the host and Kaila Estrada as the only 'unevictable' character in the show, while Jhong Hilario stands as the mentor who scrutinizes the actors’ performances to help the voters decide. Recently, Albie Casiño joined the show as the mysterious player.
Albie is impressed with the newcomers' talent and dedication. The younger stars are likewise honored to be working with him. The best thing about Albie is his humility. He doesn’t intimidate these actors but he instead makes them feel comfortable, although he only mingles with them after pack-up time to sustain the mystery of his character.
Asked what advice he gives them, Albie downplays himself, saying he is not yet on that level of seniority to impart unsolicited advice. Besides, he thinks these newbies are on the right path. He sees their potential and dedication on set.
“When I see them on set, it’s like they kinda know how to be on set na. Parang hindi sila baguhan. Marami pa silang ma-i-improve but it feels like they belong there on the set na kumbaga… Tama na ‘yung mindset nila, it’s correct,” he said, telling the teens, “If you just continue what you’re doing, eventually continuous na ‘yung magiging improvement n’yo. One day at a time lang kasi ‘yan, eh.”
For Rob, Maxine, and Gabb, their bond inside the PBB house works to their benefit as they take on the real acting world. Even working with Melai and Kaila is a breeze. Although it came with pressure, Maxine admitted, they used it as a challenge to showcase their full potential. For Rob, he is honored and grateful to learn from their co-stars.
Gabb said just observing them gains her new knowledge about acting and she appreciates Jhong’s insights about their performances. Gabb is part of the recent bottom two alongside Andi Abaya but no matter what fate awaits her, she just feels lucky to have been part of the show, “Madami po akong aral na nakuha at babaunin po kapag may next time po na projects or blessings.”
The show’s format is similar to PBB which involves voting and elimination, thus, the teens are no more affected by the friendly competition. Maxine, who was picked by Gab and Rob as their ‘chosen one,’ has an admirable take on this, saying, they can only give their best in their performance and leave the results to the voting audience. “Ang mahalaga ay napapaganda namin ‘yung show at may inaabangan ‘yung mga tao, which is ‘yun naman talaga ang goal naming lahat.” At the end of the day, they are friends helping each other grow in the industry they all chose.
Support this new breed of artists together with Albie, Melai, Kaila, and Jhong in The PIE Channel’s The Chosen One: “Soap Opera.”