Allyzza Kay Trinidad

The astounding acting showdowns of Sharon Cuneta and Janice de Belen as Miranda and Helena in “Saving Grace”

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

As Julia Montes’ “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/savinggrace" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Saving Grace: The Untold Story</a>” character Anna Sarmiento courageously risks her life and future to protect and save titular character Grace (Zia Grace) from her abusive parents, two women have also been at war as they fight for their right to be her mother—her adoptive mom Helena (Janice de Belen) and her biological mom Miranda (Sharon Cuneta). And in this episode of Friday 5, we are about to revisit the five scorching clashes of the two palaban moms as they fight not just for Anna but also for the truth behind everything that transpired in the past that continues to take a toll on their present lives. Those who have been consistently watching the primetime series ever since the beginning are aware that the strife between Miranda and Helena started long before Anna was born—and it was all because of the man whom they both loved, Antonio (Jeremiah Lisbo/Gardo Versoza). While Helena had seen and treated him as more than just a best friend since they’d known each other since they were still kids in Palawan, it was a completely different story for Antonio, who only considered her as a friend. Upon learning that Antonio was in a relationship with Miranda, who happened to be one of her rivals during an audition for the news reporter position on NTV, Helena immediately acted to hinder their romance and completely tear them apart. She succeeded, with Antonio being compelled to marry her and Miranda being forced to give their lovechild up for adoption in order to pursue her career as a media practitioner.As their paths crossed again, the wounds and aches that they had endured through the years apparently opened up and were felt anew, but this time more gnawing as the two of them battled it out not just for the truth but for Anna, whom they both loved. Just at their very first meeting, the two feisty women instantly clashed as their troublesome past with Antonio was brought up. Helena asked Miranda to stop badgering Anna and to not create another blunder, but Miranda insisted that she was there to find out and stand up for the truth and not to cause a new commotion. Miranda reminded Helena that she could not blame her forever for what had happened since she was also a victim of Antonio, and she refused to ruin their relationship upon learning that they’re already together. In her pursuit of truth regarding the controversial kidnapping case of Grace, Miranda found more than what she’d been looking for—that Anna was just adopted by Helena and Antonio. Thus, she invited Helena for a one-on-one meeting to ask if she had any idea who Anna’s real parents were. However, Helena got incensed as she strongly asserted that she is the only mother of Anna since she’s the one who raised her, took good care of her, and showered her with love through the years.Their next encounter was relatively wilder and more intense, as the “mothering” women had an exchange of powerful slaps because of Anna. Helena had gone livid after Miranda allegedly betrayed Anna, while Miranda furiously accused Helena and Antonio of stealing Anna from her and chastised her for lying that she and Antonio were already married on that day she went to his apartment to speak with him. Miranda discovered it after she was able to retrieve their marriage certificate and found out that Helena and Antonio tied the knot after she gave birth. After seeing the malicious live TV interview of Ashley (Aya Fernandez) with Sarah (Jennica Garcia) that aimed to humiliate Anna, Helena quickly stormed into the office of NTV to confront Miranda. A scorching spat ensued between them as Miranda brought up Anna’s disposition following the tragic demise of Antonio, which made her feel that she was the one to blame and she had to pay for it. But Helena claimed that it was purely an accident and she never condemned Anna for it. As she noticed Miranda holding bags that contained stuff she assumed was for Anna and Grace, Helena asked her regarding their whereabouts. But Miranda refused to tell her, which piqued Helena and prompted her to rebuke Miranda for denying her the right to see her child. Miranda clapped back by saying, “Buong buhay na kasama siya ang ipinagkait mo sa akin, Helena. Kaya huwag mo akong pagsasalitaan. Anak? Bakit? Naging mabuting ina ka ba sa kanya?”In their next faceoff, Miranda told Helena that Anna wasn’t keen on going back to their family again because she did not want them to get embroiled anew in the hullabaloo that she and Anna had brought. However, Helena refused to believe her and presumed that it was only Miranda’s way of taking Anna away from her. With Helena rubbing it onto Miranda’s face that it is her who Anna loves so much and not her, the latter retaliated by questioning the sincerity of her love for Anna since Anna grew up with less self-esteem, distrustful of other people, and filled with fear and pain—which she all blamed on Helena. Thus, Miranda vowed to do everything she could to erase all the rage and pain that Anna had to endure allegedly because of Helena. Will it still be possible for Miranda and Helena to make amends and agree to share Anna? And are we going to see more of Sharon and Janice’s acting showdowns as Miranda and Helena? Let’s see in the next episodes of “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/savinggrace" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Saving Grace: The Untold Story</a>,” weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, and TV5.

The battle is still on between Miranda and Helena as they fight for their right as mothers to Anna in “Saving Grace: The Untold Story.”

The battle is still on between Miranda and Helena as they fight for their right as mothers to Anna in “Saving Grace: The Untold Story.”