GMA Network’s primetime series ‘Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday’ unveils touching tale between friends-turned-foes

FILE: Barbie Forteza and Kate Valdez (Supplied photo)

Beginning January 27, the most sensational rivalry ensues between friends-turned-mortal enemies from two different regions on GMA Network’s TV adaptation of the hit 1984 movie by Regal Films, ‘Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday.’

The much-awaited reimagining of the classic film is headlined by two of the Network’s brightest stars – Kapuso Primetime Princess Barbie Forteza as Ginalyn and promising young Kapuso actress Kate Valdez as Caitlyn. The drama also highlights famous tourist destinations from the provinces of Leyte and Ilocos namely the iconic San Juanico Bridge and the thrilling Paoay Sand Dunes.

Barbie shares that she took classes to learn the Waray dialect but what she mostly enjoyed was immersing herself into their culture, “Tinuro sa amin how they live, kung papaano sila magtrabaho para sa family nila. Nakakatuwa kasi parehas na may strong personality ang mga taga-Leyte at Ilocos. Ang sarap gampanan ng role ko kasi very empowering siya especially sa mga kababaihan. Kilala ang mga Waray na palaban at hindi papatalo.”

Kate says she’s happy to be working with Barbie for the first time in this soap, “Actually noong workshop pa  lang, sobrang ramdam ko na very warm si Barbie. Naramdaman ko ‘yung care niya sa akin as an ate. Kaya excited ako na maka-work ko pa siya sa maraming eksena.”

The drama also introduces the exciting reunion of seasoned actresses Ms. Snooky Serna as Amy and Ms. Dina Bonnevie as Sussie in their most colorful roles yet.

Snooky, who portrayed the role of Biday’s daughter in the original film, shares what makes this TV adaptation unique from the movie, “‘Yung version namin ngayon, they put a little bit more of drama in it. It’s not a complete copy of the original story. They give it a different twist altogether so we have a different story. Ang pareha lang ay sina Waray at Biday, perennially mortal enemies talaga sila.”

Dina, who has no trouble speaking Ilocano after marrying a native, reveals why she opted to accept the role of Biday, “After a long time, Snooky and I will be working together again. I really welcomed it because I haven’t done comedy in a long time. Excited ako kasi kakaiba and I won’t have to cry buckets of tears.”

Adding spice to the already fuming feud between the Warays and Bidays are: Migo Adecer as Cocoy, a charming city boy who crosses paths with Ginalyn and Caitlyn; Jay Manalo as Joaquin, a dashing man from Manila who becomes Amy and Sussie’s apple of eye leading to their broken friendship; Teresa Loyzaga as Dorcas, Joaquin’s sophisticated cousin who would do anything to keep their family’s riches to herself; Faith da Silva as Agatha, Dorcas’ spoiled brat daughter; Jean Saburit as Vanessa, doting mother of Cocoy; Tanya Montenegro as Glenda, Amy’s cousin and close confidant from Leyte; Benedict Cua as Benny, a famous charismatic vlogger of Filipino-Chinese descent and Caitlyn’s best friend; and Ms. Celia Rodriguez as Zenaida, Sussie’s elitist and controlling mother who makes Amy’s life a living hell.

Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday also features the special participation of Lovi Poe as young Sussie and Max Collins as young Amy who will be portraying the roles of Dina and Snooky, respectively, during their younger years for the pilot week; together with Jason Abalos as young Joaquin; Pinky Amador as young Zenaida; Mike ‘Pekto’ Nacua as Randy, young Joaquin’s comrade; Yanna Asistio as young Glenda; and Franco Gray Nerona as Joni, young Amy’s friend and fellow helper in Sussie’s villa.

Despite being worlds apart in status and origin, young Amy (Max Collins) the Waray from Leyte and young Sussie (Lovi Poe) the Biday from Ilocos are the best of friends. Young Amy works for young Sussie’s rich Ilocano family based in Manila in exchange for the latter’s family funding her school expenses. Their inseparable bond is jeopardized when the dashing young Joaquin (Jason Abalos) captures the hearts of both women. After finding out that they have fallen in love with the same man, young Amy and young Sussie’s lovely friendship is now in shambles and to make it worse – the two are bearing young Joaquin’s children.

Years passed, Amy’s (Snooky Serna) daughter Ginalyn (Barbie Forteza) grows up into a diligent and optimistic woman who juggles their Binagol business and her tour guide duties. Meanwhile, Sussie’s (Dina Bonnevie) prim and proper daughter Caitlyn (Kate Valdez) is a frustrated vlogger with dreams of making it big one day. Just as Amy and Sussie thought they have left their past behind, history repeats itself when their daughters cross paths and ironically become good friends.

When the truth about their mothers’ feud comes out, will the budding friendship of Ginalyn and Caitlyn also be put to the test? And with Joaquin’s (Jay Manalo) comeback, will peace ever exist between the families of the Bidays and Warays?

This original series, created by the GMA Entertainment Group, is headed by the SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno, AVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior Program Manager Camille Hermoso-Hafezan, and Executive Producer Arlene Pilapil.

The show’s creative team is composed of creative director Aloy Adlawan; creative head Richard “Dode” Cruz; creative consultant Jojo Tawasil Nones; headwriter Renato Custodio; writers Tina Samson-Velasco and Erwin Bravo; and brainstormers Wiro Michael Ladera, Liberty Constantino, and Kayla Factolerin.

Under the helm of esteemed Director Mark Sicat dela Cruz, catch the world premiere of Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday beginning January 27, weeknights, after 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad.

Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday via GMA’s international channel GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.