Allyzza Kay Trinidad

Criza, Miguel, and Karina share what it was like filming MMK's “Maguad Family” episode

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

A mother’s love can build a home, but what happens when that same love opens the door to tragedy?The next episode of &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/maalaala-mo-kaya" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maalaala Mo Kaya</a>&quot; recounts the real events from the Maguad household, shaped by the compassion of its matriarch or &#x27;ilaw ng tahanan.&#x27; Her children mirrored the values of compassion and kindness she raised them with. But in a cruel twist of fate, that same kindness triggered an unimaginable tragedy when they welcomed an orphan into their home.Airing in time for Mother’s Day, this two-part MMK episode paints a mother’s unwavering love, as well as unravels the depths of her grief. While some viewers may be familiar with the Maguad massacre from headlines back in 2021, this retelling goes beyond the horrifying incident that shocked many. Told from a mother’s perspective, the episode delves into the emotional dynamics of a family headed by a loving couple, who are both teachers, given life by Dimples Romana and Joem Bascon, their biological children played by Criza Taa and Miguel Vergara, and the adopted daughter portrayed by Karina Bautista.During their Kapamilya Chat interview, the three younger stars opened up about how it felt to be chosen for such a heavy and emotionally charged MMK feature. Criza shared that she was surprised by the gravity of the narrative, which involves crime and tragedy. But just the fact that she was trusted with the role motivated her to embrace the challenge. Karina felt the same, or maybe even more pressured as this is her first time portraying a dark persona. She was admittedly nervous, since all she knew at first were the plot and her character—she had no idea who her co-stars would be. Despite her nerves, she held on to the trust that Roda Dela Cerna, head of production unit RCD Narratives, had placed in her. Eventually, she began to feel more at ease when she found out she&#x27;d be working with Dimples, who’s like her big sister in showbiz, and Criza, her friend. Even working with Joem and Miguel on set felt light and easy, which made the whole process less overwhelming.This episode is also Karina’s chance to prove her capabilities as an actress. &quot;For the first time, it feels so nice to actually be recognized for your talent. Kasi all these time, parang, I was known for ‘PBB,’ for a loveteam. But right now, I&#x27;m actually being considered for a good role and being appreciated for my acting,&quot; she mused. &quot;Sabi ko, &#x27;Dumating na &#x27;yung time na &#x27;yun.&#x27;&quot;There were moments during filming when Karina struggled to shake off her emotions because of how dark her character is, &quot;Nahirapan ako, nakaka-anxiety. Kahit after take na umiiyak pa rin ako... Ang bigat sa pakiramdam.&quot; What added to the emotional toll was the fact that the scene was filmed on her birthday. She was dealing with birthday blues, feeling lonely not having her parents around. Although that sadness helped her tap into the emotions she needed for the scene, the problem was it felt so real that she struggled to detach from the character. So she had to reset by calling her boyfriend for comfort and making sure to get a good rest.Even before airing on free TV, the episode has already been getting praise for its casting and cinematography, which many viewers liken to that of a movie. The cast credits this to director Onat Diaz, whom Criza describes as a skilled storyteller. For Criza, Direk Onat’s guidance during the script reading really helped her prepare for the role. As for the “after,&quot; meaning the process of detaching from the character after each taping day, she made sure to get enough rest to recharge for the next filming session. Miguel also credits Direk Onat and his co-stars for helping him portray the youngest child of the Maguad couple. He also did his own research about the family prior to filming so he could better understand their journey. One of the most anticipated highlights in the episode is the crime scene inside the Maguad home, which became a major headline during the pandemic. The cast hinted that this sequence would be huge, as they really aimed to walk viewers through every detail of the incident. It took solid teamwork to pull that off. &quot;Kaya importate po talaga makinig,&quot; said Criza. &quot;Importante focused ka sa ginagawa mo, sa mga co-actors mo and sa directors mo. Importante na nado&#x27;n &#x27;yung utak mo [sa eksena].&quot;Karina added that emotions really hit once you&#x27;re in the actual scene. &quot;Naka-help sa akin &#x27;yung physically nakikita mo na [&#x27;yung eksena]. Even though it&#x27;s fake, somehow nama-manifest mo siya inside you. I think &#x27;yung vibe rin ng house, once na nakapasok ka parang nagiging totoo na siya... I was just suddenly there.&quot; To prepare for the crime scene, Karina chose to isolate herself first so she could fully gather the thoughts running through her character’s mind.Miguel also shared how much the guidance of their directors helped throughout. The young actor described this MMK episode in one word—love. “Everything started with love and ended with love,” he said. Karina seconded, &quot;Dito sa episode, makikita rin how [the Maguad couple] remained a family even though nawala &#x27;yung two kids nila... Ang hirap kapag gano&#x27;n ang ginawa sa&#x27;yo. How would you forgive? Paano ka pa rin magiging mabuting tao after all that? Ang dali nang maging masama pero they remained good people.&quot;Karina, Miguel, and Criza also expressed their gratitude to the Maguad couple for their courage in sharing their story. They hope that by showing it onscreen, it somehow helps heal the couple&#x27;s emotional wounds. Catch this two-part episode of “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/maalaala-mo-kaya" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MMK</a>” on May 17 and May 24 at 8:30 PM on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and A2Z.

Criza Taa, Karina Bautista, and Miguel Vergara talk about portraying the Maguad family's heartbreaking story for MMK.

Criza Taa, Karina Bautista, and Miguel Vergara talk about portraying the Maguad family's heartbreaking story for MMK.