DE BELEN. Portrays a loving yaya.
The new teleserye, “Budoy,” topbills Gerald Anderson in the title role. As of this writing (Oct. 14), Anderson has yet to make an appearance as the title character, a sweet-souled and cruelly derided retardate, but the show’s other principal players have begun to make their mark.
Foremost among them is Janice de Belen as the lonely yaya who finds fulfillment in taking care of the child, Budoy. With her vast experience in the three-handkerchief drama mode, her scenes with her little ward are warm and naturally affecting.
Another veteran in the new teleserye’s cast is Barbara Perez. Other standouts in the series’ stellar cast include ZsaZsa Padilla and Tirso Cruz III.
It’s too early to tell how Gerald will do in “Budoy,” but the series’ trailer indicates that, with the help of some “uglifying” dentures and a scruffy wig, among other facial adjustments and adumbrations, the handsome actor can look appropriately pathetic and “different.” Now, if he could “get” the character’s “interiority,” as well…
Another new teleserye debuting this month is “Daldalita,” starring the super-cutesy Jillian Ward. Jillian’s rise to child stardom has been quite phenomenal, and she deserves the success she now enjoys, but her “pushbutton” portrayals have been occasional turnoffs.
To be sure, the title role in “Daldalita” is tailor-made for Jillian, who loves to talk a blue streak. We trust, though, that she brings to her new starrer more than just her patented chatterbox and super-duper-cutesy ways, which can get tired—and tiresome—rather quickly.