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Nova Villa talks about “Can’t Buy Me Love” stint, working with DonBelle

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Mary Ann Bardinas

They’re indeed two of the brightest and most formidable stars in the local entertainment scene, with hundreds of hit television shows and movies under their respective belts. And for a rare opportunity, we got to see the “Diamond Star” and the “Goddess of Philippine Comedy” share the same screen as the veteran actress-comedienne Nova Villa appeared in the latest vlog of Maricel Soriano, which the latter revealed is due to insistent public demand.Since it has already been a long time since the last time that they worked or they were seen together, not a lot of people arguably know that they are actually close to each other. As both of them have been in the industry for decades now, they surely have spent a lot of time with one another on or off cam. <div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="570" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Uy-6dsfgf8" title="NA-MISS KO SI TITA NOVA! I Maricel Soriano" width="1583"></iframe></div>She may already be in her 70s, but Nova has managed to keep her youthful glow, which she credits to sunny disposition and positive mindset. “Kung ano ang dumating sa buhay, kahit masakit, wala tayong magagawa but to accept and continue living. Be happy kahit na mahirap, kahit na masakit,” she said. Besides, she also has Maricel to thank for all the beauty tips that she has imparted her. Being dubbed as the “Goddess of Philippine Comedy,” Nova has nothing but gratitude and praises to God for all the blessings that she has been receiving, which inspires her to not just do good in her craft but to also extend kindness to other people. Throughout the six decades that she has been in showbiz, Nova has already starred in more than 150 films. When asked which among those is the most special for her, she said that it would probably be the 1964 action movie “Daniel Barrion,” which was her first-ever project with the one and only King of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe Jr. She went on to express how grateful she is to be given the chance to work with some of the top caliber and highly respected superstars in the country, which included the King of Comedy Dolphy, with whom she got to work with in the classic sitcom-turned-movie “Home Along Da Riles” that ran for 13 years. Those who were able to watch it can surely recall that she plays the role of Azon Madamba, the fervent admirer of Dolphy’s iconic character Kevin Cosme.When asked if it was really her intention for her career to be aligned with comedy, she disclosed that it’s probably because of her character. She has mulled about this as she grows older and realizes that it’s because she loves making other people happy, may it be through her portrayals or mere presence and warmth. “I am very thankful and grateful talaga kay Lord kasi lahat ngTV show ko, tumatakbo ng 12 years, 13 years. At saka hindi nila pinagsasawaan at up to now pinag-uusapan,” Nova conveyed. Maricel also brought up her memorable guesting on <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/itsshowtime">It’s Showtime</a> in October 2023, when she joined the team of Vhong Navarro, Jugs Jugueta, and Teddy Corpuz as they paid tribute to late Pinoy comedians for their amusing yet heartwarming <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/itsshowtime/articles-news/magpasikat-2023-pinoy-comedy-legends-were-reborn-in-team-jugs-teddy-vhongs-ai-powered-heartwarming-production-20988">Magpasikat entry</a>. She couldn’t help but get emotional upon seeing the AI-generated (artificial intelligence) images of the stars she used to work with on and off screen in the early years of her career. Among her contemporaries, Nova revealed that she was the closest to Apeng Daldal and Don Pepot.After reminiscing about an unforgettable and hilarious experience they had many years ago, their lighthearted conversation then veered to Nova’s stints in two ongoing TV programs, one of which is <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/cantbuymelove">Can’t Buy Me Love</a>, wherein she is well-loved as Lola Nene, the adopted grandma of Bingo (Donny Pangilinan). Since she is now a freelancer and has no exclusive contract with the other network she currently works in, she’s able to accept the offer to be a part of the series, which staggering success she completely didn’t expect. She also recounted how the ABS-CBN executives warmly welcomed her on her return. “I’m so happy na dito sa cast na ito, walang primadonna. Walang nagpapainit ng ulo mo, walang buwisit. Everybody is professional, even the second lead, the neighbors kunwari. They’re okay, they’re very nice, very professional. Kaya walang problema ‘yong production,” she related.With regard to working with Donny and Belle Mariano, Nova imparted that they ask for advice. And one of the important things she told them is to be professional if they want to go up, to be a star, and/or to stay long in the business. Despite her age, she reveals that doing two shows at the same time is actually not exhausting for her because she’s enjoying it and loves her role and the business so much, which motivates her to keep amid the challenges. Aside from her achievements as an actress, Nova also takes pride in the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award that she received from Pope Francis in 2021, which is bestowed to various people in the world for their significant religious and charitable works.She was not only given a medal, but also a certificate and a diploma, as well as a free pass to the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.Before their interview ended, a staff from Maricel’s team showed Nova an old photo of the two captured at an awards night of PMPC many years ago, wherein they were captured embracing each other while crying. While she made us laugh with her initial comment, Nova divulged that she would actually always cry everytime she sees her in person, especially after a long time of not seeing each other. She also thanked Maricel for inviting her to be the guest in her latest vlog as it rekindled all the good times that they had, mainly the friendship and love that they have for one another. They also promised to be there for each other, especially in times of need. Nova even expressed her enthusiasm for them to bond or even do another episode with another friend of theirs.

Nova Villa looked back on her stellar decades-long showbiz journey and recent stint in “Can’t Buy Me Love”