Bea Alonzo plays Cory Aquino in a special episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya!

Bea Alonzo takes on her most challenging role to date, playing the late President Corazon Aquino for a two-part special presentation of Maalaala Mo Kaya. ABS-CBN.com interviewed Bea on the set of MMK where she revealed that this project is enabling her to learn a lot about the lives of Cory and her martyred husband, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. “When I read the script,sobra akong nagandahan sa storynila. Ang dami kong natutunan na hindi ko alam dati. Mas lalo akong naging passionate na mag-researchpa tungkol sa buhay nila. Hindi pa kasi ako buhay nung panahon na mapatay si Ninoy. Ang naiisip ko na lang ngayon e makakaranas din kaya ako ng matinding pagmamahal na kagaya ng sa kanila.”



Bea admitted that she feels pressured to deliver a convincing portrayal of Cory who is an icon in Philippine modern history. “Sobrang kabado ako nung na-offer sa akin ‘yung role. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya ipo-portray. There’s the pressure to give out the best portrayal but more than that, gusto ko na maraming tao ang ma-enlighten sa story. Ayokong magpatakot sa pressure. I will just devote my time and energy reading and studying more about their lives. Ibibigay ko ‘yung best ko. Mahirap talaga kasing gumanap naCory. She is very calm, but mararamdaman mo pa rin ‘yung strong will niya as a person.”

The young actress said that she has yet to discuss the project with the Aquino family so at the moment she is solely relying on the script and other research materials given to her. “Hindi ko pa nakakausap si Ate Kris or anyone from the family. Natatakot ako. Hindi ko pa alam kung may time pa akong ma-consult ‘yungfamily. Sa ngayon I rely so much on readings, ‘yung mga books nila, other write ups, videos. Pinanood ko rin ‘yung speech ni Tita Cory sa US Congress.” She added that she regrets not being able to meet former President Cory in person before the latter passed away in August 2009 due to colon cancer. “I’m sad that I didn’t get to meet Tita Cory. We will be celebrating her birthday soon, the first na hindi natin siya makakasama.”

Bea further shared that she couldn’t put down the script after falling in love with the sweet but tragedy-tainted story of Cory and Ninoy. “Love is about having to sacrifice pala. Nakakaiyak talaga. Ang laki ng isinakripisyo ni Cory para sa hangarin ng asawa niyang palayain ‘yung sambayanang Pilipino. Ang true lovepala is caring sa kung saan magiging masaya ‘yung mahal mo. Kung si Ninoy ang asawa ko, sasabihan ko siyang umalis na lang kami ng bansa para tahimik ang buhay namin. Ikukwento rin dito ‘yung years na nakatira sila sa US when they experience living like a normal family. But Ninoy decided to return to the Philippines and because of Cory’s love, she supported her husband. She represented the iconic Filipina. She gladly shared her husband with the whole country.”

Playing Ninoy in this MMK episode is Bea’s leading man in the film Dream Boy, Piolo Pascual. Bea told ABS-CBN.com that she is confident Piolo is perfect for the role of Ninoy. “I’m sure he will do a great jobdahil naniniwala ako sa galing niya bilang aktor. Nakakakaba nga kasi matagal ko na siyang hindi naka-work at alam kong pinaghandaan niya talaga ‘tong role niya. Huhugot na lang siguro ako sa kanya sa mga eksena namin. Tulungan kami.”

Aside from this MMK episode, there are still talks of making a Ninoy-Cory movie. If ever she gets an offer to play Cory in the movie version, Bea said that she will gladly accept the role. “Kung mapipili ako sa movie version siguro audition piece ko na itong MMK. Mas maganda nga siguro kung movie kasi mas maikukwento ng mahaba ‘yung magandang story nila.”

Source: Napoleon Quintos, ABS-CBN.com

Posted in: Bea Alonzo, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Ninoy Aquino, Piolo Pascual