Days prior to the premiere of their highly anticipated teleserye Bagong Umaga, Yves Flores and Barbie Imperial graced the latest episode of Hotspot to talk about their latest project and amuse us with their competitiveness in the “Bring Me Challenge”!
Host DJ Jhai Ho commenced the fun chikahan by asking them about their respective characters to whom viewers could really relate on.
“’Yong character ko, parang gusto niya na tanggap na tanggap siya ng parents niya so ginagawa niya lahat kahit ‘yong mga bagay na ‘di na tama para lang mahalin siya ng parents niya,” the 22-year-old actress said about her role Catherine “Cai” Verdona, who’s foreseen to be snobby and antagonistic.
On the other hand, his character Dodong Ponce is apparently the total opposite, making their team-up more exciting. “Anak ako ni Monica and Jose at kapatid ko si Heaven, pero ampon ako. Ang character ko ay more on jolly, masayahin, mapang-asar. Sa pamilya naming walang masamang tinapay,” the 25-year-old actor descried.
They went on to tackle working in the “new normal” setup, which is actually not new to them anymore since they already worked on other projects during this pandemic. Barbie is the leading lady in the iWant Originals BL series “Oh, Mando!,” wherein she had to go on a seven-day locked-in taping, while Yves had to stay in the A Soldier’s Heart “bubble” for two to three weeks.
According to the actress, the management always makes sure that they are all safe by having someone check their temperature regularly, limiting their taping to just 12 hours, and strictly implementing the safety protocols especially on the set, such as physical distancing, sanitation, and wearing of face masks and face shields every time they’re not filming.
Even though both of them have been in the industry for some years now and are alumni of Pinoy Big Brother, they divulged to DJ Jhai Ho that this actually their first time to work together and with their other co-stars as well. Thus, aside from building their bond collectively, they also have to establish their chemistry as well.
“No’ng first taping day kasi, first [scene] kaming dalawa agad tapos iyakan pa agad-agad. Magaan, Ate Jhai, magaan. Magaling na magaling ‘tong si Yves e. Sa totoo lang, Ate Jhai, binibigay niya ‘yong emosyon niya na kailangan ko kahit na ‘di pa kami friends o magkakilala talaga,” she related.
She continued, “Binibigay niya ‘yong emosyon na kailangan ko kasi di naman ‘yon magwo-work na ako lang talaga e and nagawa ko rin ‘yon because of him. So, ‘ayun, wala siyang walls. Hindi niya pinakita ‘yong taas ng walls na binaba niya para sa eksena namin. And actually, ang galling, ang gaan. Super thankful ako na siya ‘yong makaka-pair ko kasi walang problem. Work talaga. Bigayan kami ng emosyon palagi.”
The two also expressed their delight that Bagong Umaga is not only going to be aired on Kapamilya Channel and Kapamilya Online Live, but in A2Z, too!
“Siyempre ‘yong magka-work lang kami kahit online lang ipalabas sobrang saya na namin kasi ang hirap magka-work ngayon. Tapos no’ng nabalitaan namin na ipapalabas na rin kami sa A2Z, siyempre sobrang saya kasi mas madaming makakanood sa amin. Siyempre, ‘di naman lahat ng tao may internet, may WIFI. Sobrang saya, feeling super blessed, and thankful na babalik na tayo ulit sa TV and mas maraming tao kaming mai-inspire, mas maraming tao ang matututo dahil sa Bagong Umaga,” Barbie enthused.
Yves agreed to what she said and added, “Excited and feel blessed na paunti-unti nakakaangat tayo. At naniniwala ako na darating ‘yong araw na babalik din tayo at magsasama-sama ulit ang pamilya.”
The conversation indeed ended in an exhilarating note as DJ Jhai Ho had them play the ever-favorite party game “Bring Me” by asking them to bring him random stuff that can be found in their hotel rooms – pillow, comb, phone charger, towel, Php20-bill, keys, and a photo of the person who makes them kilig. It was Barbie who won in the end.