Elizabeth Oropesa’s secret to aging gracefully

Elizabeth Oropesa

I have always liked Elizabeth Oropesa’s style. She has that certain je ne sais quoi. The seasoned actress lives up to her moniker, Oro (which means gold), because she has maintained her “value” in the biz.

For a change, Elizabeth shows her comedic side in GMA 7’s new primetime series, “Pamilya Roces.” On the outside,  they seem like a perfect family with wealth and power. But that’s just an illusion, because the patriarch has, not just one, but three families.

And when he suffers a heart attack, each of his families rushes to his side. Suddenly, three women and five sisters find their lives hilariously intertwined. Ah! La vida familia loca.

Here’s my chat with Elizabeth :

What’s the secret of your staying power? Being good at my craft and being kind to everyone. And, of course, I think I’m blessed.

How do you handle working with ham actors?  I try my best to calm down. I think of pure thoughts and pray the rosary. If all else fails, I eat them alive (laughs).

How do you manage to age gracefully? I have always loved sports. I’m an adrenaline junkie. I was a sky diver and was part of the Philippine team. I am now an underwater photographer. I love taking photographs of sharks up close. I travel to different countries to dive. I learned how to age gracefully by respecting humans and animals alike. I evolve.

What made you accept the offer to take part in “Pamilya Roces”? How can I say no to such a delicious role? As Violet Bolocboc, I get to show a part of me that people very seldom see. I’m a comedienne by nature.

What’s the craziest thing that you’ve done for love? I left everything and quit showbiz without regrets. The regrets came later.

Among all your roles, which ones stand out in your memory? I have three favorites: “Lumapit, Lumayo ang Umaga,” in my first year in show biz, for which I won a Famas best actress award. Then, there’s Ishmael Bernal’s “Alupihang Dagat,” as well as Joel Lamangan’s “Bulaklak ng Maynila,” where I won a grand slam for best actress.

What’s your love and career advice to millennials? Try not to fall in love with your leading man or leading lady. It’s better to have a relationship outside of show biz, where there are too many temptations. Be kind. Learn to have good manners and put those darn cell phones away when we’re script-reading.

If your life story would be made into a movie, what will the title be and who would you want to portray you? “The Alien,” with Assunta de Rossi playing the young me and Iza Calzado as the older me. When the character turns 60 or older, I can play myself.

Carmina and her twins

GMA Network launches its talk-variety show, “Sarap, ’Di Ba?,” at 10:45 a.m. today. It is hosted by Carmina Villaroel and her twins, Mavy and Cassy Legaspi.

Being a Gen X mom, Carmina will tackle relatable topics about family, food and fun activities. The twins, being part of Gen Z, will let us in on the latest trends in music, pop culture, fashion and technology. Millennials and “feelenials” unite—and goodbye, generation gap!