Villain lessons from ‘kontrabida’ Gladys Reyes

Photo: Gladys Reyes via @iamgladysreyes Instagram

Gladys Reyes is one of the most iconic villains to grace Philippine television.

For her, the secret is simple-Playing the bad one requires genuine outrage to effectively win people’s anger.

“Kailangan kasi na maramdaman ng mga manonood, halatang-halata kasi pag dinadaya,” she said at the press conference for the second season of Kapuso series “Inday Will Always Love You” Thursday.

(The viewers should feel [the emotion] … because it is evident if faked.)

Reyes plays the role of Amanda Melendez who bullies Happylou “Inday” Magtibay,” the lead character played by Kapuso sweetheart Barbie Forteza.

Having been lined with program hosting in the recent years, Reyes said she missed what she had been best known for, playing the villain. That is why she is very thankful to GMA for giving her the chance to be a bad girl again.

So far, her not-so-typical kontrabida approach gets good reactions, she said.

But no matter how many years had passed, her portrayal as the envious, selfish, ill-motived young Clara in the iconic long-running ’90s drama series “Mara Clara” marked so much in Philippine pop culture that to this day, she is still called Clara.