“Parang ngayon lang ulit ako nakabasa ng script na very challenging”
Sunshine Dizon is happy to do another teleserye after two years, and in a timeslot she is most associated with: the afternoon.
This time, she is doing it in ABS-CBN and TV5, as she plays an important role in the upcoming afternoon drama series “Pira-pirasong Paraiso.”
The project also serves as her comeback to doing full-length roles in teleseryes after two years. While her last TV appearance was in a special role in GMA-7’s “Mga Lihim Ni Urduja” in February 2023, her last full-length series was ABS-CBN’s “Marry Me, Marry You” in 2021.
READ ALSO: After 25 Years In GMA-7, Sunshine Dizon Is Now A Kapamilya
When FreebieMNL asked Sunshine about her comeback during the recent press conference for the show, the 40-year-old actress says it’s just a project she couldn’t refuse.
She narrates, “As everybody knows, I was on a hiatus for almost two years. When this was offered to me, to be honest, I wasn’t very sure kung babalik po talaga ako.
“Pero noong nag-usap kami ni Perry [Lansigan], noong manager ko, sabi ko, parang ngayon lang ulit ako nakabasa ng script na very challenging, very interesting, and parang bago sa panlasa, bago lahat.
“So, sabi ko kay Perry, parang I can’t say no. I feel like I really have to do it and I’m very thankful, of course, to Sir Deo [Endrinal] and Dreamscape, ABS-CBN, for giving me the opportunity to be part of the afternoon slot again. It has always been my home, the afternoon slot.
“I’m so excited that makikita na naman po ng mga fans at masayang masaya po ako na sa pagbabalik ng ABS-CBN sa panghapon, e, kaparte po ako noon.”
“Pira-pirasong Paraiso” serves as the comeback of ABS-CBN in producing afternoon teleseryes after three years. The series is airing back-to-back with another new drama, “Nag-aapoy na Damdamin.”
“Pira-pirasong Paraiso” headlines Loisa Andalio, Charlie Dizon, Alexa Ilacad, and Elisse Joson while “Nag-aapoy na Damdamin” topbills Jane Oineza, Tony Labrusca, Ria Atayde, and JC De Vera. Both shows, which will pilot on July 25, are co-produced by ABS-CBN and TV5.
The back-to-back shows held a press conference on July 13 at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City.
READ ALSO: Sunshine Dizon Opens Up About Her GMA-7 Comeback
Sunshine’s character in the new serye
“Pira-pirasong Paraiso” may be Sunshine’s first afternoon teleserye on ABS-CBN, but it is the ninth afternoon soap that she is doing in her filmography.
The first eight are with GMA-7, mainly: “Anna Karenina” (1996-2002), “Kahit Kailan” (2003), “Now and Forever: Agos” (2005), “Sine Novela: Tinik sa Dibdib” (2009), “Villa Quintana” (2013), “Ika-6 Na Utos” (2016-2018), “Inagaw na Bituin” (2019), and “Magkaagaw” (2019-2021).
Among these shows, it was “Ika-6 Na Utos” that reached phenomenal ratings and high success on social media, spawning viral memes online.
But for “Pira-pirasong Paraiso,” how would Sunshine differentiate her character from the roles she did in her afternoon shows before?
She admits, “You know, it’s so hard sometimes to differentiate characters. I think as an actor, it depends on how you attack it.”
However, she thinks her character as Osang seems to be hiding a lot of secrets while being a mother to children she calls her own.
She explains, “Siguro, ang difference ngayon, mahirap basahin yung character ni Momshie, marami siyang parang… kumbaga para siyang pandora’s box na marami siyang tinatago sa nakaraan nila ni Epy [Quizon] na love of her life kaya parang meron siyang wall.
“Pero deep inside, nanay siya na longing for pagmamahal ng mga anak. Pero somehow, how the story goes, yung mga batang inalagaan niyang yun ay magkakaroon ng kanya-kanyang landas, so, parang masakit na naman para sa kanya.
“So, hindi na naman natin alam kung paano babangon si Osang sa pagkabigo na ganun.”
“Pira-pirasong Paraiso” also stars Ronnie Alonte, Joseph Marco, KD Estrada, Art Acuna, Epy Quizon, Markus Paterson, Liza Dino, Kate Alejandrino, Argel Saycon, among others. It is directed by Raymund Ocampo and Roderick Lindayag.
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