Latest news with #GMAIntegratedNewsInterviews
GMA Network
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
The Misunderstood Boys: Will Ashley and Ralph De Leon Up Close
Will Ashley has always had that good-boy image. Soft spoken. Polite. The kind of guy you wouldn't expect to be caught in the middle of any drama. And yet, there he was — not once, but twice — caught in some of the thorniest storylines both inside and outside the Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition house. Ralph de Leon, on the other hand, entered with a different reputation — the quiet, well-off cousin of Jake Cuenca, always seemingly one step removed from the chaos. People had ideas about him before he even said a word. This was part of my sit-down for GMA Integrated News Interviews. I had the privilege to observe these two young men not from a screen, but in person, just a few feet away. Every shift in posture, every breath between words, every moment they looked down before answering — I saw it all. And it's in those small, unspoken spaces where you begin to understand who a person really is. Unlike some celebrity boys their age, Will and Ralph didn't try to win the room. They just sat there and told the truth. No effort to impress. No drama. Just two young men saying exactly how it was. Let's start with Will. Off-cam, he's found himself tied to headlines: The much-publicized rift between Jillian Ward and Sofia Pablo, the so-called triangle with Bianca de Vera and Dustin Yu inside Kuya's house — a storyline that fans clung to even if Will insists there was nothing to begin with. 'Wow, triangle,' he said, nearly laughing in disbelief when I brought it up. 'To be honest, wala po talagang naging triangle sa loob ng bahay. Alam po talaga ng housemates 'yan.' I pushed. Why were they being shipped so strongly, if there was really nothing there? 'Kasi nagkaroon po kami siguro ng work together — 'Unbreak My Heart',' he offered. And the rumors of jealousy between him and Dustin? 'That I don't know. Talaga.' There was no tampuhan, no awkward air between them. Will was clear — he supported Dustin and Bianca from the start. 'We had a talk na support ko sila,' he said. 'Sinasabi ko po 'yun sa kaniya talaga… Masaya ako sa naging istorya nila. Sana madala nila sa labas.' No territory marking there. Just a young man saying, "I was happy for them." As always, Will speaks with care. Not guarded, but aware. He thinks first and chooses his words with calmness. He knows he's been asked these things before and knows how easily they can be misunderstood. He's not out to prove anything. But he's also not backing away from questions that follow him everywhere. Then came the question he's probably been dodging for months: his name being dragged into the Jillian-Sofia issue. 'Honestly, it's not my thing to say po talaga kung ano ang dahilan ng pinag-awayan nila,' he told me. 'Para sa akin, meron pong reason talaga kung bakit... At kung mabibigyan ako ng pagkakataon, at pareho po silang bukas para mag-usap o maayos kung ano man yung pinagmulan talaga, gagawin ko po. Gagawin ko.' He didn't sound bitter. Just honest. And if things do get fixed between the two, you can tell he'd welcome it. Then there's Ralph. If Will has been misunderstood for being too kind, Ralph has been misunderstood for being too still. Too unreadable. Too rich, even. He was an easy target from the start. And when he got voted out then returned as a housemate, the chatter got even louder. But Ralph has always been aware of how people perceive him. That awareness is what pushed him to step into PBB. 'Minsan, nami-misunderstand yung pagiging tahimik ko,' he told me. 'Iniisip ng mga tao na boring ako, na wala akong personality. Yun po ang gusto kong i-disprove sa pagpasok ko ng PBB.' He didn't go in to prove he could talk louder than the rest. He went in to show that even silence carries weight. 'I also worked for my craft,' Ralph said when I asked him about privilege. 'Lahat po ng nabigay sa akin to date, it's because napaghirapan ko po talaga. I have not been handed anything... I wanted it to be that way also.' And when the backlash came after his return to the house, he didn't fight it. He braced for it. "Ako po, pine-prepare ko na ang sarili ko for the worst-case scenario,' he said. 'There's always something bad that could happen, and preparing for the worst is something I want to do also.' Both Ralph and Will walked into that house with labels already hanging over their heads. Will was the nice guy caught in the middle of feuds and budding love triangles. Ralph was the rich kid people assumed had it easy. They weren't the flashiest, and they didn't win the crowd right away. But they grew on people — not because of a storyline, but because they stayed consistent, even when others painted them differently. Being misunderstood is hard enough. It's harder when millions are watching, forming opinions in real time. But Will and Ralph didn't adjust themselves just to fit a narrative. They didn't scramble to correct every impression. They stayed the course. They knew who they were, and they didn't let anyone else define that for them. I've known Will for years. I've seen him grow up in this industry — seen the charm, the discipline, and how people expect him to always play the part of the good guy. Ralph, I met for the first time during this interview. And yet in that short span, sitting just across from him, I saw the same thing I've long known about Will: a kind of steadiness that doesn't need to be loud to be real. These are young men who've been judged, misunderstood, and at times unfairly criticized — but they never tried to become someone else just to be accepted. In the end, their story says something bigger than just what happened inside that house. It's about how quick we are to decide who someone is, based on what little we see or hear. Will and Ralph may not have been the loudest or the most attention-grabbing, but they showed that it's possible to stand your ground without putting on a show. That honesty, restraint, and self-respect still have a place — even in a world that often rewards the opposite. And that's a reminder worth looking into. — LA, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Andrea Torres: The Love She Owed Herself
I 've known Andrea Torres, Ada to me, for years. I've witnessed her journey not only as an actress, but as a woman quietly building a life filled with depth, resilience, and grace. She's loved fiercely, waited patiently, and worked tirelessly. But like many women who give too much without realizing it, Ada is only now learning to give the love she's owed herself. And it's a line that, I think, resonates throughout every part of her life. Her hopes for lasting romance, her sacred devotion to family, and the unspoken grace she's slowly learning to extend inward. During our sit-down for GMA Integrated News Interviews, I asked a question fans always want answered: How's the heart? And as expected, Ada didn't respond with theatrics. She answered with calm, lived-in truth. 'I welcome it,' she said, about love. 'Hindi yung sa ayaw ko lang i-pressure kasi pag hinahanap mo, namamali ka, sa kagustuhan mo lang na magkaroon ng partner, di ba? Mas okay na may spark eh. Minsan lahat ng traits okay, pero may hinahanap kang kilig na 'di mo ma-explain.' When I followed up—Ano ba yung hinahanap mo?—her answer came without hesitation. 'Gusto ko lang talaga na pareho kami ng values, lalo na family-oriented ako.' A da isn't waiting to be rescued. She's not seeking perfection. She's waiting for a love that aligns with the life she's already built, a life anchored in values and shaped by strength. The kind of love she's seen and lived through her family. And at the heart of that is Kenneth, her younger brother born with autism and Down syndrome. When Andrea talks about Kenneth, it's with deep affection and unwavering respect, the way you speak of someone who's shown you what unconditional love truly looks like. 'Alam namin na binigay siya sa amin kasi capable kami na magmahal nang ganoon kalaki.' Kenneth is more than her 'lucky charm.' He's a daily reminder of what love can look like when it's consistent and pure. Every year on his birthday, July 27, something beautifully major seems to happen in Andrea's life. But it's the day-to-day: his hugs, his smile, his presence, that fills her. 'Iba yung tanggal ng pagod once na ngitian ka, once na i-hug ka.' When Andrea found herself in one of her lowest emotional points last year, it was Kenneth she turned to; not for answers, but for comfort. His presence, wordless yet full, was enough to help her find her footing again. "L ast year, medyo nahirapan ako,' she admitted. 'Dumarating ka sa point sa life mo na nag-re-reflect ka: na-reach mo na ba ang goals mo? May time pa ba? Nasa tamang landas ba ako? Masyado bang malaki ang dream ko?' This may sound familiar to most of us. Isn't this the kind of self-questioning many high-achieving individuals wrestle with quietly? Ada is no exception. She has always been seen as composed and unshaken. But behind that steadiness is a woman who, like many of us, forgets to look back and say, 'You've done well. You've come far.' 'Ever since six years old ako, gusto ko mag-artista. Grateful naman ako dahil kahit prof yung dad ko, hinayaan niya ako kung kailangan ko mag-stop saglit, kasi alam niyang yun talaga ang gusto ko. Na-realize ko na minsan nakakalimutan mo na, 'oo, marami ka pang gustong gawin, pero marami ka na ring nagawa'… na nakakalimutan mong bigyan ng credit yung sarili mo. Minsan iniisip ko, bakit sa akin ang hirap? Pero siguro masasabi ko na at least lahat ng meron ako, na-earn ko yun. Nilaban ko yun. Iba yung appreciation mo sa work mo kapag pinaghirapan mo talaga,' she said, tearing up. COURTESY: NELSON CANLAS The way she speaks about work, family, and love reveals a deep truth: for most of her life, Andrea has shown up for everyone else. But now, finally, she's learning to show up for herself. In truth, it's not a fallback—it's a long-overdue decision to begin again, this time with herself at the center. It's the love she's been waiting to share with the right person—but no longer seeks out of urgency. It's the love she's given unconditionally to her family, who reflect it back to her in the purest way. And, it's the love she's learning to reclaim for herself, slowly, without apology. Andrea isn't incomplete. She isn't behind. She's right on time—for the love she's always deserved. And maybe what we all need to hear is this: Giving yourself the love you give so easily to others isn't selfish—it's how you begin to heal. This isn't a story about longing. It's about becoming. And Andrea Torres is becoming someone who finally sees herself... the way she's always deserved to be seen. Andrea stars as Carol in the upcoming Afternoon Prime series "Akusada," where she takes on her dream role: An offbeat character burdened by guilt. — LA, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
The Brilyante Chose Them
Bianca Umali, Faith Da Silva, Kelvin Miranda, and Angel Guardian are seated across me for the GMA Integrated News Interviews. The four are set to play the new generation of Sang'gres in "Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre": Terra, Flamarra, Adamus, and Deia. But for a moment, they weren't flexing their mythical warrior roles from Lireo or Sapiro. They were just four young people… powerful in their honesty. We were rolling. Then we played a throwback clip from October 2023, an interview from months ago. They watched themselves, younger, a little greener, maybe unsure. And that's when the shift happened. K elvin was first to speak up. As always, chill, thoughtful, but this time, unexpectedly emotional. I could see tears almost welling up from where I sat. 'Nung nag-dub kami ng ilang scenes, grabe narinig ko yung boses ko, iba. Nakita ko 'yung the way ako kumilos, magbigay ng emosyon sa eksena, sabi ko, 'hala, ibang-iba talaga.' Parang nabataan ako sa sarili ko dun," he began. [When we dubbed some scenes, I heard my voice again and I thought it was different. I saw how I moved, how I gave emotions to the scenes and I thought I was so different. I was so young back then.] Kelvin Miranda at the GMA Integrated News Interviews. Courtesy: Nelson Canlas "Ang gusto kong sabihin sa kanya, maraming salamat dahil ipinagpatuloy mo ang paniniwala mo sa sarili mo. Kasi kung hindi, malamang wala ka sa kinauupuan o kinalalagyan mo ngayon. And salamat sa tiwala," he added. [I wanted to thank you for his continued faith in himself. Because if not, we probably wouldn't be here. Thank you for the trust.] It was, for me, an emotional thing. A young man thanking his younger self for simply holding on. That hit close to home. T hen Angel — soft-spoken, but clearly carrying with her a turning point — admitted she almost walked away from it all. According to Angel, she didn't understand why she was in showbiz, even while she was doing "Running Man Philippines." Angel Guardian at the GMA Integrated News Interviews. Courtesy: Nelson Canlas She was poised to just wait for her talent contract to end, then she would just go abroad to study. But now, she gets it. Why God made her wait. Because she was destined to do something she can truly be proud of. 'I see myself there. I know how much doubt I had back there… ilang beses ko sinubukang umalis. Pero parati akong hinihila pabalik. And heto, sobrang laking harang na nito. And kung may sasabihin ako sa sarili ko two years ago, siguro na magtiwala ka sa sarili mo, the way na nagtitiwala sa 'yo yung mga tao… I think it's time na makita ko rin yung sarili ko tulad ng nakikita ako ng ibang tao.' [I see myself there. I know how much doubt I had back there. I tried to leave many times, but each time, something always pulled me back. And here, this opportunity is the biggest obstacle for me to leave. If there's anything I want to tell myself two years ago, it's to trust yourself the way other people trust you. I think it's time for me to see myself the way others see me.] Sometimes we don't need a breakthrough. We just need a mirror. Faith Da Silva. Courtesy: Nelson Canlas W hen Faith, radiant but private, let her guard fall just enough, it showed the little girl still healing underneath. 'Lagi akong may fear na tatanggapin ba nila ako? Iba rin pala yung tapang ng pag-ask ng help from the people around you… Yung journey na 'to, hindi magiging dikit na dikit sa kanila kung hindi ako humingi ng tulong.' [There's always a fear if people will accept me. Asking help from people around you takes a different kind of courage. In this journey, I wouldn't be this close to them if I hadn't asked for help.] I could almost hear her exhale. It's not easy to admit you needed people. But she did. And she's stronger for it. T hen finally, Bianca. Always poised, always brave. This time however, she was vulnerable, and yes, wiser in the most grounded way. She said she's always had no choice to be brave "because I didn't have any fallback." "I didn't have anyone to catch me when I fell," the Kapuso celebrity continued. "But then now, I understood the strength in that. I let myself fall and then I brought myself back up," she said. Sometimes, the most powerful warrior is the one who has learned to rise on her own. Bianca Umali. Courtesy: Nelson Canlas What I witnessed in that sit-down was a moment of arrival. A reckoning. A soft unveiling of everything it took for these four believers to reach this point, not just in their careers, but in themselves. These Kapuso artists stepping into destiny with open wounds and open hearts. They grew up watching "Encantadia" and even dreamed of being part of its colossal project. But sitting there, I couldn't help but think… maybe it was never really about them chasing the dream. Maybe it was the brilyante that found them. Maybe it chose them, because of the scars. Because of the doubts. Because they had to fall before they could fly. And now, here they are, carrying not just the legacy of a beloved fantasy, but the real, lived wisdom of what it means to fight for your space, your light, and your voice. The magic of "Encantadia" has always lived in the realm of the brave. But this time, it's shining through the ones who dared to be vulnerable. The realm could not be in better hands. — LA, GMA Integrated News
