MANILA, Philippines -- The creators of "Ina, Kapatid, Anak" have
addressed the rumored escalating tiff between Maja Salvador and Kim Chiu
on the set of the top-rating series.
Following reports that a fight scene between the characters of
Salvador and Chiu in the series supposedly turned real, two of the the
writers of "Ina, Kapatid, Anak" maintained that the physical
confrontation was simply in line with the soap's plot.
"Feeling ko part 'yun ng eksena. Ewan ko, siguro as artista kailangan
nila i-motivate 'yung artista. Basta ano, it’s part of the story,"
Danica Domingo, head writer of the series, told ABS-CBN.com.
Last Friday, a report
published on an entertainment news site cited a source in detailing an
incident that allegedly erupted on the set of the series Wednesday of
that week.
"Ang ending [ng sampalan at sabunutan scene], pasa-pasa sila pareho
at may mga kalmot si Maja. Umiyak si Kim after," the source was quoted
as saying.
While a second source of the news site denied the allegation that Chiu left the set unceremoniously, it chose to keep mum on the supposed physical encounter between the two lead stars.
Parallels
David Duico, who writes the script of "Ina, Kapatid, Anak," admitted that putting together confrontational scenes between Margaux (Salvador) and Celyn (Chiu) has become increasingly difficult, in light of the reported real-life tension between the two actresses.
Speaking to ABS-CBN.com, Duico said, "Mahirap siya kasi kailangan klaro kung saan nanggagaling 'yung characters. Hindi mo dapat iniisip 'yung nangyayari outside the soap. Dapat tuwing nagaaway sila, malinaw kung bakit at kung ano ang pinanggagalingan ng bawat character."
In "Ina, Kapatid, Anak," Margaux and Celyn are caught in a bitter feud, initially over the latter falling for her best friend's partner (Enchong Dee). Later, however, their tiff escalates with the revelation that Celyn is the biological daughter of Margaux's apparent foster parents (Janice de Belen and Ariel Rivera).
The soap first aired in October, and was already billed at the time as featuring the "rivalry" of the two principal characters.
It was in early January when Chiu expressed regret over her "wasted" friendship with Salvador, following reports of a blooming "relationship" between the "Thelma" actress and actor Gerald Anderson.
Chiu and Anderson broke up in 2010 amid controversies surrounding their relationship.
While Salvador has kept mum on her ties with Anderson, the "Budoy" star has expressed intentions to court the actress "if given a chance."
'Damned if you, damned if you don't'
Referring to the "parallel" situations of Salvador and Chiu in real life with those their characters are embroiled in, Domingo said both Star Magic talents had been informed early on that their portrayals would eventually lead them to fighting onscreen.
The head writer maintained that the show is not capitalizing on the publicized "rift" between Salvador and Chiu, in order to draw more viewers to the show.
"From the start kasi alam na ni Kim at Maja 'yung role nila, alam na nila kung saan papunta, alam nila na eventually mapupunta ito sa banggaan nilang dalawa.
"How do we deal with it? We just stick to the story kasi damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Ang mangyayari, ayaw namin dumating sa point na isipin ng audience na bumabangka kami sa issue, or nagho-hold kami dahil may issue. Kasi at the end of the day this is part of our jobs, this is part of their jobs. So nag-stick lang kami sa story, eto 'yung puntahan…Pero in terms of dun sa real-life struggles ni Maja at Kim, wala na kaming ano dun," Domingo said.
According to Domingo, earlier confrontation scenes between Margaux and Celyn had already been filmed prior to the controversy. She said the seemingly parallel situations are merely a coincidence.
"Actually nung sumabog 'yung issue kay Maja, kinukunan na nila 'yung eksena ng sagutan. Ibig sabihin prior to the issue nakakasa na kami sa ganung banggaan. Hindi talaga siya kunektado in any way. For some reason, na-twilight zone kami at may semblance 'yung pinagdadaanan nila ngayon.
"Pero at the end of the day, 'yung rivalry ni Margaux and Celyn, hindi siya [nakaangkla] sa isang tao or because of a guy… Mas family-driven siya—yung right ng pagiging anak laban sa affection ng parents," she said.
