APRIL 14 - 20, 2018 ISSUE

EXCLUSIVE TELL-ALL INTERVIEW! “I am not really aiming to take after someone. I want to take on mine and make a name for myself.”

I AM BIANCA UMALI Kambal, Karibal leads the primetime. #InsideShowbizLovesBiancaUmali

ANGELU ZAFE WEB CONTENT WRITER RAMON GARCIA DIGITAL CONTENT HEAD

ART NICOLE VILLARUEL ART DIRECTOR BRIA CARDENAS MULTIMEDIA ARTIST DENNIS FLORORITA FINAL ARTIST

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MARA MADRID, CHARLENE TY, ANDREA LAM, ANGELI MANABAT, LOUISE SICAT COPYWRITERS DEN FAJARDO, ALEXA MANLANGIT GRAPHIC ARTISTS BETTINA DE LOS REYES, JOSHUA ARGOSINO, CARMINA AGLIPAY MULTIMEDIA ARTISTS

CONTRIBUTOR

MARK NICDAO PHOTOGRAPHER ROSY MINA WRITER ERICA LUNA EDITORIAL ADMIN ASSOCIATE SUKI SALVADOR VICE-PRESIDENT — MAGAZINE & PRINT BUSINESS ARCHIE CARRASCO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

FOUNDER & CEO SARI YAP CHAIRMAN J. TIU FOUNDING CREATIVE DIRECTOR LORRAINE BELMONTE HER TIME TO SHINE Bianca Umali proves that she is more than just a pretty face by displaying her acting skills on primetime hit Kambal, Karibal. INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 Teen star Bianca Umali looks sweet and innocent as she goes about her scenes in the GMA-7 hit primetime program Kambal, Karibal. She is Crisanta, a mild-mannered, kindhearted, and intelligent young lady. Her aura, however, suddenly shifts as she becomes irritable. Her eyes flare up, and a mere gaze throws off a wrathful mood. Her soft-spoken tone changes drastically into an angry one. In another moment, she takes on a third persona, as another soul joins in the characterization of her biggest breakout role to date.

“That is my favorite scene in our episode called ‘Revelation.’ It was when there were two souls inside my body,” Bianca recalls to Inside Showbiz Weekly. She had to pause for a bit before answering, though, because she has a lot of memorable scenes in the show. “It was the most challenging scene for me so far. Of course, I had to study talaga. I talked to our director, acting coach, and also to my co-stars Kyline Alcantara and Pauline Mendoza because I had to portray their characters. So kailangan kong aralin.”

Kambal, Karibal debuted on the boob tube in late November 2017. It had a slow but steady ascent in the rankings game. As the plot got more exciting, the show’s trending on Twitter and YouTube became more frequent. The show has been getting raves and the cast’s acting chops have been widely praised. According to GMA Network, it has soared to become the highest rating teleserye in its current lineup based on the AGB Nielsen Television Audience Measurement (TAM).

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE And as a mark of being a successful television program, Kambal, Karibal has been given an extension. “Lahat kami surprised, very surprised. And then excited kami kasi minamahal kami ng mga tao. Of course, the pressure is there but we have fun doing what we do.” She adds, “Ngayon, mas marami kayong dapat abangan because ‘yung scenes namin nagiging mas exciting na siya because everything is heavier and everything is more intense especially sa aming dalawang kambal.”

SURPRISE HIT

Kambal, Karibal is a departure from the typical family drama on primetime television. Bianca’s Crisanta is the twin sister of Criselda, portrayed by Pauline. A rare sickness took away Criselda’s life but she continued to interact with Crisanta as a spirit. Things turned sour when the spirit of Criselda got jealous of the affection that Crisanta was receiving from their mother. Criselda was also envious of the attention that Crisanta was getting from Diego, whom Criselda also likes.

Because of this, Criselda took over the body of Cheska, the character of Kyline, in order to get back at Crisanta, feel the love from their mother, and be with the boy whom she likes. Such supernatural aspect has drawn the interest of fans and casual viewers alike. Bianca states, “Our highlight is of course, meron kaming sapi-sapi and now nagkapalit-palit na kami ng souls. I think that is what makes us stand out.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 She shares that she had high hopes for the show when it was offered to her. “Actually, I was excited for it because it was something different. Our story is something na hindi pa nagagawa on TV.” The public’s very warm reception, meanwhile, was something that she did not quite see coming. “It was actually unexpected. And parang ang nangyari kasi sa project is minadali siya. Kambal, Karibal aired last year but originally, the plan was to air it supposedly January palang this year. Napaaga siya so it was very unexpected.”

What is more surprising is how the show has been able to put up a strong front, posting strong numbers and closing in on the gap against formidable competition. It was able to notch some wins in the Nielsen Phils. TAM (ARIANNA) National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) People Ratings over the big-budgeted fantasy shows of rival network ABS-CBN, namely the recently-concluded La Luna Sangre and the presently running Bagani. “We are blessed kasi it was unexpected for everyone and very thankful kasi minamahal ng mga tao ‘yung mga pinaghihirapan namin,” she remarks.

GOOD DYNAMICS ON THE SET

Bianca, 18, started out in the industry at a very early age. She became a commercial model as a two-year-old and finally entered showbiz at the age of nine as part of the GMA kiddie program Tropang Potchi. She made appearances in various Kapuso programs such as Darna, Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit, Magic Palayok, Paroa: Ang Kuwento ni Mariposa, Mga Basang Sisiw, Dading, Tadhana, Maynila, Wish Ko Lang, , Karelasyon, , and Ismol Family. She bagged the lead roles in Once Upon a Kiss and Wish I May and was included in the ensemble cast of vs. Ravena. Through the years, she has been gaining admirers as her acting skills continue to improve.

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE “Thank you. Salamat talaga. Hard work namin ‘yun eh,” she comments upon being informed that the whole Kambal, Karibal cast is being praised by netizens, particularly her, Pauline, and Kyline. She makes known, though, that she did not have a lot of time to gear up for her challenging role of Crisanta. “There wasn’t really any preparation. I just did character study, attended workshops, and of course, got to know my co-actors. That was actually all the preparation we were able to do because the show was rushed.”

She says the harmonious working relationships on the set have helped her a lot. “We are all doing very well. Actually, hindi lang sa mga teens, sa lahat. Maganda ‘yung relationship naming lahat. Focused talaga kami on working. Kapag may kailangan kami, we ask each other and also ask Direk Don Michael Perez, of course. Ganun lang.” She assures that she and Kyline are okay even if they have a lot of bickering moments onscreen. “Normal na sa amin ‘yun na magkasakitan kami and we don’t really mind. Careful pa rin naman kami pero as much as possible, lalo na kaming dalawa ni Kyline, gusto namin totoo ‘yung stunts namin.”

She adds that she feels honored to have been able to work with the likes of Marvin Agustin, Jean Garcia, Alfred Vargas, Carmina Villaroel, Christopher de Leon, and Gloria Romero. “There are different lessons talaga na ma-le-learn mo sa kanilang lahat. Iba eh. Iba ‘yung professionalism nila. Iba ‘yung types of personalities nila and in a certain situation, iba ‘yung ways nila of reacting to something. Ako kasi, I’m a great observer so I like watching people. Ang dami kong natututunan from the veterans: ‘yung professionalism, ‘yung kung paano dapat makikisama sa mga tao on cam and off cam. Actually, may pressure because minsan ko lang makatrabaho ang mga veterans but I’m more of excited lagi because there’s always something new to learn from them.”

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INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP

One of the main causes of conflict among the twins in Kambal, Karibal is young lad Diego who is portrayed by Bianca’s perennial partner Miguel Tanfelix. Miguel was Bianca’s leading man in their last three teleserye outings: Once Upon a Kiss, Wish I May, and Mulawin vs. Ravena. “He is very special. ‘Yun nalang masasabi ko, very special,” she says of her love team partner. “He makes me feel special in a lot of ways. Miguel never fails to make me smile.” As to how she reciprocates his consistently persistent efforts, she remarks, “Of course, by caring for him also. Give and take lang naman.”

The blossoming of their special friendship was witnessed by the public ever since they were first paired together to form the BiGuel tandem. Bianca, for her part, does not see anything wrong with the fact that their closeness is subject to public scrutiny. “What the people see is what the people get. Ganun lang ‘yun. So kung paano talaga nila kami nakikita, ‘yun talaga kami. We do not have any put-ons and we do not pretend to be this and that para lang ma-please ‘yung mga tao. What they see is what we really are,” she declares.

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 She goes on, “Of course kaming dalawa ni Miguel, as much as possible, we want to stick together. If it was our decision, ayaw namin maghiwalay. But of course, we are open to being partnered also with other people if it’s what the network wants and kung ‘yun ‘yung trabaho. Hindi naman kami picky. It’s just that if it is our decision, we want to stick together and continue working together for a very, very, very long time.”

She even refuses to name other actors whom she wants to work with. “I do not have any. Si Miguel lang. Wala eh. Wala talaga.” She teases that there are more things in store for the BiGuel love team. An upcoming project is already being cooked up, she reveals with a wide smile. “I do not want to spoil pa but marami silang aabangan. I have a lot of surprises and there are a lot of things happening sa 2018 ko.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE DEDICATED TO HER CRAFT

As she gets ready for more projects, Bianca discloses that she practices self-study especially now that she is busy with taping for Kambal, Karibal, fulfilling various showbiz commitments, and taking part in the live Sunday PinaSaya variety show. “Of course, I study more. Lahat naman talaga matututunan through study. I attend workshops but right now, I’m more on self-study. I read a lot of books on acting and I watch a lot of movies,” says the rising star who is in awe of Academy Award-winner Jennifer Lawrence.

On the home front, she admires all of the Kapuso Queens such as Marian Rivera, Heart Evangelista, and . “I look up to all the successful Kapuso Queens, actually, because they all have their talents, plus ‘yung confidencenila , and how successful and far they have gone already.” But she clears that she does not intend to pattern her career path to be like theirs. “I am not really aiming to take after someone. I mean, I want to take on mine and make a name for myself.”

The teen actress, whose full name is Maria Isadora Bianca Soler Umali, has been in the industry for almost a decade already. She shares her wish of staying in show business: “I really hope so and I’m working para maging ganun.” When asked if she would like to remain in showbiz until she ages like Gloria Romero, she replies, “Why not? Pero siyempre ayaw ko namang umasa. I do not know kasi siyempre we all have our own paths naman and we do not know when things are going to stop. Basta ako, I live in the moment and habang andito pa ako, I do my best talaga in everything.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY APRIL 2018 GOING WITH THE FLOW

Bianca is a polite and poised gal who moves with grace and talks in a very calm manner. But when she deals with life, she is pretty much carefree because she does not have a calculated take on it at all. “My career goals so far? Actually, wala. Of course, I want to be successful and all that but aside from that, ‘yung particular talaga, wala. I want to go with the flowat kung ano ang blessings na binibigay sa akin ni Lord, ‘yun ‘yung i-fo-focus ko.”

She really is not one to set ambitious targets for herself. She just hopes to have a house by the end of the year. In addition, she is determined to continue studying. She is a home-schooled Senior High student, currently at Grade 11, at Veritas Catholic School. During her free time, she does school work and catches up on sleep. She admits that she has not looked at the possibility of taking on other career paths at this point. She just wishes to continue pursuing the performing arts as well as visual arts. “‘Yung paintings ko. I do not know how to describe them but I’m more on mandala art.”

Apart from that, Bianca really has no other aspirations to let out. “Wala akong goals. ‘Yun nga eh because I want to go with the flow on my eighteenth year. Sa life, sa lahat. Overall ‘yun. It is really weird pero that is how I decided to spend my 2018,” says the budding star who is bound to get more breaks, ready to take on new heights, and primed to shine even more brightly this year.

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Words by Rosy Mina Photography by Niceprint Photo Special Thanks to GMA Artist Center