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Maja revisits her iconic teleserye characters in “Choose One” challenge

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Lily Cruz vs Abi Mercado? Maja Salvador picks her all-time favorite teleserye role

Rianna Mae Santiago

<p>Since 2003, Kapamilya actress Maja Salvador worked passionately towards her widely celebrated &quot;Her Majasty&quot; title, a feat she achieved by superbly portraying various teleserye characters that kept viewers hooked until the very last episode of her series. Bringing in the nostalgia and renewed excitement in this challenge, Maja can only choose one among her most cherished roles over the years.</p><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbKuDNnMAgp/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=971&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A7073997.899999976%2C%22ls%22%3A2195132.399999976%2C%22le%22%3A2195411.899999976%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" 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><div><br/></div><p>Given the choice between the internally tormented Celina Fernandez in “Nagsimula sa Puso” or the fiercely devoted Krista in “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/9/14/throwback-coco-martin-as-alexander-and-javier-in-minsan-lang-kita-iibigin-2011-0137" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Minsan lang Kita Iibigin</u></strong></a>,” Maja swiftly picked Krista primarily for her strong personality.  </p><p>Krista emerged as Maja’s top pick once more when presented with the captivating and strong-willed Mia Sandoval in “Bridges of Love.” At that point, Maja mentioned the reason that made Krista enjoyable to play was the simple fact that she doesn’t require a makeover.  </p><p>A little bit of deliberation occurred when Maja had to remember the luxurious heiress of the Memorata shoe company, Margaux Marasigan in “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-ina-kapatid-anak-2012-14552" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Ina, Kapatid, Anak</u></strong></a>.” Although she was fond of Margaux’s shoe collection, Krista’s toughness continued to win her over.  </p><p>When talking about her exasperating character as the obsessive Nicole Esquivel in “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/thelegalwife/articles-photos/throwback-11-iconic-lines-of-monica-and-nicole-in-the-legal-wife-14401" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>The Legal Wife</u></strong></a>,” who tore apart her sisterly connection with Monica Santiago-de Villa (portrayed by Angel Locsin) just to become the mistress of Monica’s husband, Adrian de Villa (portrayed by Jericho Rosales), Maja instantly selected Krista again as her favorite. “Palaban naman si Nicole, pero mali ‘yung pinaglaban mo, girl,” she quipped.  </p><p>Despite the presence of her other noteworthy characters such as the fearless Glen Corpuz in “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/9/10/snaps-of-coco-martin-and-maja-salvador-from-fpj-s-ang-probinsyano-photoshoot-10-years-ago-1013" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano</u></strong></a>” and the vengeful Camila dela Torre in “The Killer Bride,” Krista retained the number one spot. “Palaban [kasi] siya pero ang cute niya ma-in love. ‘Yung boyish siya pero ‘pag nandyan na ‘yung taong mahal niya, titiklop talaga siya,” Maja further commented.</p><p>As many had anticipated, a major turning point transpired as soon as the indestructible Lily Cruz, the protagonist of the highly rated series “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/10/4/throwback-photos-of-maja-salvador-as-lily-cruz-and-ivy-aguas-in-wildflower-2017-0023" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Wildflower</u></strong></a>,” was finally brought up, leading Maja to hand over the crown from Krista to Lily. “All-time favorite siguro ng lahat si Lily Cruz,” she stated.  </p><p>Coming across Lily’s alter-ego Ivy Aguas, Maja remained attached to Lily, highlighting that the moment Lily’s identity returned to existence, her revenge grew more intense.  </p><p>Rather surprisingly, Maja then teased that her latest role as the shady superfan Abi Mercado in “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/someone-someday" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u><em>Someone, Someday</em></u></strong></a>” might just triumph over Lily. “Feeling ko may tatalo [na] kay Lily Cruz, si Abi Mercado, because abangan niyo nalang,” she expressed.  </p><p>Keep a close watch for the unravelling of Maja’s suspicious character as Abi Mercado in “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/someone-someday" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u><em>Someone, Someday</em></u></strong></a>,” streaming on <a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/dFR6MWHAcVb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>iWant</u></strong></a> and airing weeknights at 8:45 pm on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL).  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>More on this story: </strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/7/24/from-complex-love-stories-to-revenge-dramas-maja-salvador-s-finest-portrayals-0050" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>From complex love stories to revenge dramas: Maja Salvador’s finest portrayals</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/7/19/abs-cbn-teases-first-look-scenes-of-maja-s-primetime-comeback-in-someone-someday-0105" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>ABS-CBN teases first-look scenes of Maja’s primetime comeback in &#x27;Someone, Someday&#x27;</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/9/7/kapamilya-teleseryes-that-highlight-maja-salvador-s-versatility-as-an-actress-0211" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Kapamilya teleseryes that highlight Maja Salvador’s versatility as an actress</u></strong></a> </div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/10/4/throwback-photos-of-maja-salvador-as-lily-cruz-and-ivy-aguas-in-wildflower-2017-0023" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Throwback: Photos of Maja Salvador as Lily Cruz and Ivy Aguas in “Wildflower” (2017)</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/9/14/throwback-coco-martin-as-alexander-and-javier-in-minsan-lang-kita-iibigin-2011-0137" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Throwback: Coco Martin as Alexander and Javier in “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin” (2011)</u></strong></a></div>

<p>Kapamilya actress Maja Salvador looks back on some of her career-defining roles and decides which one is her favorite.</p>

Kapamilya actress Maja Salvador looks back on some of her career-defining roles and decides which one is her favorite.

Lily Cruz vs Abi Mercado? Maja Salvador picks her all-time favorite teleserye role

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Lily Cruz vs Abi Mercado? Maja Salvador picks her all-time favorite teleserye role

Rianna Santiago

Published August 13, 2026 01:29 AM PHT

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Updated August 13, 2026 04:22 AM PHT

Read More:

Maja Salvador

Maja Salvador teleseryes

Someone Someday

Nagsimula sa Puso

Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin

Bridges of Love

Ina Kapatid Anak

The Legal Wife

FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano

The Killer Bride

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