By NEIL RAMOS
Art often imitates life and vice versa.
This is none truer than in “Pamilya Roces,” GMA’s newest teleserye, which deals with extra-marital affairs.
In it, veteran actor Roi Vinzon is patriarch to 3 families, something not quite unusual in a predominantly Catholic country such as ours. (A misreading of Genesis 9:7? Who knows?)
The series showcases the different perspectives of each family in an entertaining but ultimately relatable manner as it is meant to tug at the heartstrings.
Some might find it somewhat bothersome that the show will treat such a subject in jocular manner but hey, we are Pinoys after all. If we could laugh at natural calamities even if it wreaks havoc and destroy thousands of lives and millions in properties, we sure could find something amusing in this.
But the truth is – the topic still stings as attested by some of the show’s stars themselves.
Carla Abellana, who plays daughter to Vinzon’s character in the story admitted as much.
“I have experienced the same thing in real life being a product of well, a broken family, at hindi iyon biro,” she said in a recent interview without going into details.
“May mga bagay na katulad ng ganyan na masakit pa rin kung iisipin pero ‘yun nga I’m not one to dwell on negativity. Hindi ako galit sa parents ko pero at the same time, kaya ko din aminin na may kunting kurot pa rin siya.”
Sharing her feelings is Shaira Diaz, who like Abellana, plays daughter to Vinzon’s character in the series, albeit to a different mother.
She said, “Masakit siya and I would know kasi ‘yung parents ko parang they are in the same boat, though hiwalay na sila now it’s hard for me and my siblings. It is definitely not something you would wish on anyone.”
All that said, both admitted the experience made them better individuals somehow.
Abellana explained, “Better in the sense na much more aware ako sa puwedeng mangyari sa buhay mag-asawa, na may realities na ganyan. And naniniwala ako ‘yung awareness it would help me somehow do better, hopefully, in time ‘pag nag-family na ako.”
Diaz, on her part shared, “Sa akin ang pinaka-learning ko sa nangyari ay ‘yung hindi lahat may happily ever after. Of course, may iba na na-achieve ‘yun and I’m happy for them pero ‘yun nga sometimes things doesn’t always work out the way you planned but that doesn’t mean you have to forego the love. I love my parents and I don’t like it that they have to go through difficulties na ganyan but life must go on for them, for us.”
Indeed, in life as in art, no family is ever perfect. In Pamilya Roces’ case, it’s sisters versus sisters, mother versus mother. Despite all the secrets, lies, and their many disagreements, however, at the end of the day, blood is blood, and family is still family.
Directed by Joel Lamangan, “Pamilya Roces,” is to air weekdays beginning tonight after “Onanay” on GMA Telebabad.
