Entertainment
Barbie Forteza and Mika Dela Cruz play the girl with two faces in ‘Kara Mia’
Two different faces. Two different minds. Two different natures. Both trapped in one body.
Beginning February 18, GMA Network proudly unveils its most anticipated and ground-breaking primetime soap this 2019 – Kara Mia.
A dramatic tale of two sisters facing literally and figuratively good and evil! The fantasy drama series is based on a true story from India and an English urban legend in Great Britain.
Ever since the announcement of the program, various funny and witty memes on the characters have been circulating online and viewers and netizens couldn’t stop talking about it on social media.
Headlining this one-of-a-kind spectacle are two of this generation’s award-winning and brightest actresses Barbie Forteza and Mika Dela Cruz.
Kara (Barbie) and Mia (Mika) were born with Disprosopus or craniofacial duplication, a congenital defect where they have two faces but share only one body. Until today, the origin of this condition, which is one of the rarest malformations in humans, is still unexplained, whether it is mythical or medical.
Kara’s face is in front, while Mia’s face is at the back of their head. Little do they know, they are probably the children of a mystical being, an engkanto, who watches over them as they grow up.
But even if they are “one” person, the two sisters cannot be more different. Kara is kind, jolly, smart, and aspired to become a doctor to continue what their mother wasn’t able to achieve. She believes that this “defect” is what makes her unique and special, and she loves her sister Mia with all her heart.
Mia, on the other hand, is the mischievous one. She is lazy, pessimistic, and dreams of being an actress. She is envious of Kara and wants nothing more than to be her own person.
Featured in vital roles in Kara and Mia’s lives are highly-respected and award-winning actors and actresses in the industry: Ms. Carmina Villarroel as Aya, the doting mother of the sisters. She is a beautiful Manileña who moved to Bacolod when her family started drowning in debt, and Mr. John Estrada as Arthur, Aya’s husband and the father of Kara and Mia. He owns a small carinderia and is a strong believer of folk tales; with Ms. Glydel Mercado as Julia, Arthur’s crazy ex-girlfriend who will drive a wedge between him and Aya.
Adding a dose of enchantment to the series is Mike Tan as Iswal, the mischievous engkanto who lives in the forest and is enthralled by Aya’s beauty. He will do everything in his power to be close to her.
Also starring in this endearing masterpiece are sought-after leading men Jak Roberto as Boni, the lola’s boy and a loving gentleman who likes Kara but captures Mia’s heart; and Paul Salas as Chino, Boni’s handsome and well-off cousin who steals Kara’s heart.
Completing the stellar cast are Liezel Lopez as Ellie, Julia’s daughter who is almost the same age as Kara and Mia who is both narcissistic and materialistic; Althea Ablan as Estrella, the younger sister who is funny, irreverent, and loves both Kara and Mia, even though she’s closer to Kara; Arthur Solinap as Lex, the supportive Ilonggo uncle of Kara and Mia; Karenina Haniel as Lerma/LJ, Kara’s funny best friend; April Gustilo as Betty, the silly sidekick of Julia with Ms. Alicia Alonzo as Asuncion, Aya’s hostile mother who looks at Kara and Mia as freaks and Ms. Gina Pareño as Corazon, the reclusive grandmother of Iswal.
An all original creation of the GMA Entertainment Group, Kara Mia is a powerful and dramatic representation of how good and evil are every individual’s two natures, of how we make the good triumph over the other, and how love will time and again conquer all.
The series is a product of the visionary minds of Tina Velasco, Elle Ortizluis, Cynthia Paz (Brainstormers); Onay Sales, John Kenneth De Leon, Kutz Enriquez (Writers); Des Garbes-Severino (head writer); under the tutelage of the Creative Team headed by Richard ‘Dode’ Cruz (Creative Head); Aloy Adlawan, Denoy Navarro-Punio (Creative Consultants), under the capable supervision of the Production team headed by Ms. Lilybeth G. Rasonable (SVP For EG), Ms. Redgie Magno (VP For Drama), Ms. Cheryl Ching-Sy (AVP for Drama), Ms. Hazel Felizmenio Abonita (Senior Program Manager), Ms. Winnie Holis-Reyes (Executive Producer).
Under the helm of esteemed director Dominic Zapata, the series also showcases the scenic beauty of the City of Bacolod, where the story takes place and some of the important scenes were shot.
Catch the much awaited premiere of Kara Mia beginning February 18 weeknights on GMA Telebabad.
Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch Kara Mia via GMA’s flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.