Dannyka Manangan

EXCLUSIVE: Miguel Vergara opens up about the weight of portraying Boyboy Maguad in MMK

Article (news)

Jemuel Tandoc

Push Team

<div><em>Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of violence which may be distressing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.</em></div><p>The drama anthology <em>Maalaala Mo Kaya</em> has recently sparked conversation with its latest episode, which tells the real-life story of the Maguad siblings — who made headlines in 2021 after being brutally slain in North Cotabato by a young woman they had welcomed into their home, along with a male accomplice.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, young actor Miguel Vergara — who portrayed Boyboy, the younger Maguad sibling — shared how challenging it was to take on the role of a real-life person.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-16" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKMzDQRScZo/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A16%2C%22os%22%3A1578646.5%2C%22ls%22%3A83221.29999999981%2C%22le%22%3A83735.1000000001%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-16" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>“I think, playing a real person po is parang ibang-ibang weight na kailangan mong gampanan kasi hindi lang po siya role eh. I&#x27;m portraying a real life na tao, tao po and meron siyang voice, may memories. You know he walked through real joy and sadness kaya medyo nakakaba po na kailangan kong gampanan ‘yung role na life ni Boyboy,” Miguel admitted.</p><p>The young actor, who was personally tapped by the show’s creative team to take on the role, also admitted to feeling nervous about the responsibility.</p><p>“Meron nga pong sensitive topics ‘yung <em>MMK</em> na to. May onting kaba po. Kasi, syempre, kailangan po talaga ingatan. And isa pa po, gusto po namin sana bigyan ng hustisya ‘yung (pagganap sa) Maguad Family. Gusto po namin makita ulit sila ng mga tao through this <em>MMK</em> po,” he said.</p><p>He added how difficult it was to shake off the role of Boyboy Maguad after portraying it: “Noong nagtitaping po kami, talagang in-embody ko po si Boy Boy. So, noong medyo after po ng taping, medyo nahirapan po akong kumalas.”</p><p>The taping was especially difficult, particularly during the emotionally dark scenes — with the murder scene being one of the most challenging moments to film, according to Miguel. </p><p>“Yung murder scene po kasi sensitive po talaga siya and kailangan po naming ingatan, kaya noong day po na ‘yon lahat po kami focused na focused po. Walang jokes, walang kasiyahan po; talagang focused lang po kasi almost buong isang araw po ata namin kinuhanan ‘yung scene na yon. Talagang ingat na ingat po kami doon,” he revealed.</p><p>With the help of his co-stars, including veteran actors like Dimples Romana and Joem Bascon, he was able to push through and deliver a powerful performance.</p><p>“Actually, sa set po, kahit saglit lang po kami nagkasama-sama, parang naging family po talaga kami nun. Si Miss Dimples po parang siya ‘yung nanay ng set. So, tinutulungan niya po kami lahat. Sila Ate Karina (Bautista), sila Ate Criza (Taa) parang mga ate ko po. And si Kuya Joem po, palagi kaming, alam mo ‘yung, parang tropa po. Pero sobrang bait po nila and sobrang nag-guide po sila sa amin. Sobrang bait po talaga saka wala pong pressure,” he recalled.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-18" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJzEBAUSP4L/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A18%2C%22os%22%3A1599166.0999999996%2C%22ls%22%3A83221.29999999981%2C%22le%22%3A83735.1000000001%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="562" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-18" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Yet, among all the moments in his <em>MMK</em> journey, what stood out most for Miguel was meeting Lovella and Cruz Maguad, the parents of the victim he brought to life on screen.</p><p>“Lumapit po ako sa kanila. And sinabi po ni Miss Lovella, ‘Boyboy ko, Boyboy ko.’ And sabi niya, masaya daw siya na mayakap niya ulit si Boyboy. Nakikita niya daw si Boyboy sa akin. I&#x27;m happy naman po. Ibig sabihin na gampanan ko po si Boyboy nang maayos,” he said.</p><p>Miguel went on to share how he couldn’t help but become emotional upon meeting the Maguads.</p><p>“Alam ko po ‘yung pain na naranasan nila and ‘pag nakita niyo po talaga sila, grabe, nakakaiyak po talaga. Nung unang kita nga po namin, pinipigilan ko umiyak kasi ayoko mas dumagdag yung emotion nila. Pero nung interview po namin, hindi ko na kinaya. Hindi ko na po kinaya, umiyak na ako,” he admitted.</p><p>The young actor met the Maguads during a special <em>MMK</em> interview titled <em>MMK Unpacked</em>, available online, where he and co-actor Dimples Romana sat down with the show&#x27;s host, Charo Santos, to meet the grieving parents.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="681" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qsh2-SZSE-s" title="Maalaala Mo Kaya UNPACKED: Episode 3 | Ms. Charo Santos with Lovella and Cruz Maguad" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>In the meantime, the two-part special featuring the story of the Maguad family is now available for streaming on the ABS-CBN YouTube channel. An uncut version is also available on iWantTFC.</p>

<p>Miguel Vergara opens up about the emotional weight of portraying Boyboy Maguad, one of the siblings tragically murdered in North Cotabato in 2021, in a recent episode of 'Maalaala Mo Kaya'. He also shares the deeply moving experience of meeting Boyboy's parents, Lovella and Cruz Maguad.</p>

Miguel Vergara opens up about the emotional weight of portraying Boyboy Maguad, one of the siblings tragically murdered in North Cotabato in 2021, in a recent episode of 'Maalaala Mo Kaya'. He also shares the deeply moving experience of meeting Boyboy's parents, Lovella and Cruz Maguad.

EXCLUSIVE: Miguel Vergara opens up about the weight of portraying Boyboy Maguad in MMK: ‘Hindi ko na po kinaya. Umiyak na po ako’

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EXCLUSIVE: Miguel Vergara opens up about the weight of portraying Boyboy Maguad in MMK: ‘Hindi ko na po kinaya. Umiyak na po ako’

Jemuel Tandoc,

Push Team

Published June 02, 2025 02:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Miguel Vergara

Maalaala Mo Kaya

Maguad siblings

Karina Bautista

Criza Taa

Dimples Romana

Joem Bascon

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