JASON ABALOS is one of his generation’s best actors. A bunch of film critics seem to think so, making him one of the youngest recipients of a Gawad Urian for Best Actor (2008’s Endo).
That said, Jason also isn’t one of the greatest stars working the showbiz circuit. He doesn’t have any major endorsements and his box-office appeal still has yet to be proven.
With his upcoming soap, Two Wives on ABS-CBN, Jason seems poised to finally breakthrough and become a household name. Premiering this Monday on a much coveted prime-time slot, Two Wives is a remake of the popular and controversial Koreanovela that aired in 2012. It will replace the Bea Alonzo-starrer Sana Bukas Pa ang Kahapon.
Congratulations on your new show. For those who aren’t famliar with the original show, what is Two Wives all about?
Ang show na ito is a remake of the popular soap Two Wives. This is one of the first shows that discussed infidelity.
I play Victor, isang mahirap na lalaki pero happily married to Yvonne (Kaye Abad). Tapos I will meet Janine (Erich Gonzales), isang single mom who will hire me para magkunwari na tatay ng anak niya. Simula palang ’yan ng conflict pero madami pang mangyayari.
During the presscon, many said that you are one of the most underrated actors we have but thanks to this show, you won’t remain underrated anymore.
Matagal din po ako naghintay. I was given roles na happy naman akong gawin kasi eto naman talaga gusto kong career ko. Passion ko ito so kahit anong role talaga happy ako. Pero I’m happy naman sa tiwala ng ABS-CBN sa aming lahat for this exciting project.
Did you ever get impatient?
Lagi naman akong may trust sa ABS-CBN, na ‘di ako mapapabayaan.
Can you tell me how this Two Wives will be different from the Korean version?
Ang creatives had to adapt it sa culture natin, para mas madaling sakyan ng mga viewers. Tulad ng backstory ng mga characters namin na-explore dito, kasi sa Korean version, umpisa palang dalawa na agad ’yung wives ng main character. Dito dapat ma-explore bakit humantong sa ganun. Pero the essence is still the same. Nag-stick kami sa original but made it deeper.
Of course you’re aware na ang dami nang movies and tv shows on infidelity. What are you doing to differentiate your portrayal from what Jericho Rosales and Dingdong Dantes have done when they headlined similar dramas?
Iba-iba naman mga roles namin e. For me basta I will deliver what my role asks for.
Is there added pressure that you’re replacing a show like Sana Bukas pa ang Kahapon, which created so much noise and trended every night?
Of course may pressure. Mataas talaga ang hype for Sana Bukas Pa, but all of us in the show give our best. Hindi ka na tao ‘pag hindi ka ma-nerbyos naman.
In Sana Bukas Pa, Paolo Avelino was very sexy, as in he had a lot of topless scenes. Ikaw din ba may maabagan ba kaming mga bading?
Halos gabi-gabi meron! (Laughs)