Push Admin

Jolina Magdangal on the secrets to longevity, timeless admiration for Marvin Agustin 

Article (news)

Liezel dela Cruz

With her infectious smile, iconic style, and versatility, Jolina Magdangal has remained a beloved figure in Philippine entertainment across generations. But what&#x27;s the secret behind her staying power in an ever-evolving industry? As she reflects on her journey in an episode of Kapamilya Chat, she opens up about the memorable moments she’s witnessed and experienced on set, the changes in the entertainment world from her early days to now, and the values that have kept her grounded all these years.What does it take to thrive and survive in showbiz? Jolina shows you the way in this edition of “Spill The Tea-ta.”After almost a decade away from the teleserye landscape, the beloved ‘momshie Jols’ is making a much-anticipated comeback with &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/lavenderfields" target="_blank">Lavender Fields</a>.&quot; Stepping back onto the set, she immediately noticed the many changes in how teleseryes are made now. The work ethic is different, the process has evolved, and the dynamics have shifted. Many of these changes stem from the protocols established during the pandemic, and Jolina feels these adjustments have actually improved the production environment, with strict schedules that help control taping hours, unlike before when there was no set timetable.These days, ending tapings on time has become a priority. And when they&#x27;re asked to arrive at a certain call time, they really mean start—no more waiting around. “Ang sarap umuwi nang alam mong gising pa ang anak. Ang sarap umuwi nang nakapahinga ang lahat. At alam mong sa susunod na taping, nasa tamang pag-iisip, fresh,” she said.The output becomes even better when the artists aren’t stressed out—that’s what Jolina believes. “Ayaw naman natin ‘yung maganda nga ang work pero stressed ka naman or nalagasan ka ng hair.”Among the stars she works with now, Jolina appreciates Jericho Rosales for his kindness and brilliance. But of course, her admiration for her former teen love team partner, Marvin Agustin, hasn’t faded either. “Hindi lang dahil sa work ethics pero sa kung ano’ng nangyari sa buhay at career niya ngayon. Ano ba ang career? Hindi naman kailangan artista, ‘di ba? Pero kung anuman ang career na meron siya ngayon, super proud talaga ako para sa kanya.”Her on-screen chemistry with Marvin was so strong back then that even if they weren’t on good terms off-camera, the audience would never know. Remember their romance-drama movie, “Hey, Babe”? Jolina fondly recalled that they weren’t getting along while filming it, but for some reason, ‘pag kailangan ng kilig, automatic ‘yun lumalabas.”“‘Yung aming connection, gano’n pala, kaya ipinagmamalaki ko ‘yun,” smiled Jolina.Because they were really not getting along during the filming of “Hey, Babe,” Jolina ended up slapping Marvin a bit harder than intended in a scene where her character read a letter that was supposed to make her angry. The letter was actually written by director Joyce Bernal, designed to stir up their emotions. Jolina jokes that Marvin still holds a little grudge over that slap even now!Throughout her decades-long career, especially during her younger years when she was very active in making movies and TV shows, Jolina has probably seen it all on set. But she says she has never gotten angry or scolded a fellow artist. Instead of confronting someone directly—like a cast member who’s busy on their phone while the director is giving instructions—she prefers to let the production team handle the situation. Her &quot;monster&quot; side might only come out if she ever experiences that kind of disrespect herself. “Ibang usapan na ‘yun,” she quipped.It’s remarkable how Jolina rose to the pinnacle of stardom and became a true pop culture icon. One of the things that helped her soar is her ability to stay grounded. Thus, her most important advice to younger and aspiring artists is to always value humility.“Huwag hayaang umakyat ang ere sa ulo. Kasi ‘pag umakyat ang ere sa ulo, mahihimatay kayo. Kung may ere na sa ulo mo, manlalabo na ‘yung paningin mo, hindi mo na makikita sino ‘yung mga taong dinaanan mo papunta do’n dahil ‘yun din ang pwede mong daanan pababa,” she underscored. “Pero kung ikaw ay marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan at may respeto ka sa kapwa mo, na pareho kayo ng trabaho, magkaiba man ng rason, ‘yung respeto na ‘yun ay ibibigay sa’yo.”Aside from that, be empathetic, as the world doesn’t revolve around you. “Alam mo dapat kung paano makisama.” And always love what you do, because when you’re passionate about your work, the universe listens and sends more of what you love your way. “Kasi ‘pag masaya ka, mas dumadami pa ‘yung naiisip mong magpapaganda sa ginagawa mo. Pero kung bigat na bigat ka, parang ang sakit-sakit.”Humility, empathy, and passion—add all these, and you’ve got the secrets to longevity.Catch Jolina in “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/lavenderfields" target="_blank">Lavender Fields</a>,” airing weeknights after “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank">FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</a>” on <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-kapamilya-channel-12340" target="_blank">Kapamilya Channel</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/abscbnentertainment" target="_blank">Kapamilya Online Live</a>, TV5, and A2Z.