Sparkada members show how to channel criticisms into something productive

Cheska Fausto

It has been only three months since Sparkle GMA Artist Center’s “Sparkada” roster was launched. Some of them haven’t even made their teleserye debut yet. But this early, the young show biz aspirants are already starting to realize that there’s no pleasing everyone in the biz; and that if they hope to make a mark in it, they would have to be as open to criticisms as they are with praises.

“The most positive comments I have gotten are from people who appreciate me for who I am—my personality and looks. It’s flattering and I feel happy because I have been working so hard to get to where I am. It’s heartwarming that people see that,” Cheska Fausto, 21, said in a recent virtual conference.

Hailing from Zamboanga, the content creator and beauty pageant hopeful doesn’t let negative comments on social media get into her. “I’m good with it. Some comments may appear negative, but they’re actually constructive. And then there are comments that are just there to pull you down,” she pointed out.

Caitlyn Stave

‘Stepping stones’

“But I personally know where I stand. I have people who trust and support me. If the comments are constructive then I take them well, because I know it will help me with my craft and strengthen myself,” she added. “You can consider them as stepping stones to becoming a better person.”

Born in San Francisco, United States, Caitlyn Stave, 17, is thankful that the feedback she has been getting is mostly positive. But she does get some snide remarks from people who think that she landed a spot in Sparkada only because she’s half-American.

“I get comments like, ‘Oh she’s there because she’s half [-American].’ But they don’t get to me,” she said.

“But it does mean a lot when people take note of your personality and not only your looks; when they tell me that they think I’m the type of person who will do well, who’s not maarte. I appreciate those because I don’t want to be known just as a pretty face—I have feelings, too, and I am my own person. So that makes me proud of who I am.”

Tanya Ramos

Motivation

Tanya Ramos, 15, would rather channel the criticisms into something productive. “I don’t take those comments to heart but they motivate us to prove them wrong. We make sure to do our best and give our everything. There have been more positive comments and that’s what I’m focusing on. I see that there are more people who believe in me,” said Tanya, daughter of Kapuso star Wendell Ramos.

Kirsten Gonzales, 18, on the other hand, has experienced bashing over her looks. “I have gotten comments about my height (5 feet 2 inches) and my body modifications like my tattoos and piercings. They mistake me for a boy just because of my short hair. They think I’m different,” she related.

Kirsten Gonzales

Special meaning

“Some people tell me, ‘Kababae mong tao, ganyan ka magdamit or mag-ayos ng buhok.’ Puro tattoos daw ako. But I try not to let that affect me,” said the former commercial model who explained that her tattoos have personal and special meaning. “I just enjoy having them… I have a tattoo that’s patterned after my grandmother’s handwriting, as well as tattoos about my spirituality.”

Cheska, Caitlyn, Tanya and Kirsten will be part of GMA 7’s upcoming adaptation of the Wattpad webnovel “LUV IS: Caught in His Arms,” which will be headlined by love team Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay. The series will also feature other Sparkada members Vince Maristela, Raheel Bhyria, Michael Sager and Sean Lucas.

“At first I was nervous because this is my first show. I felt pressured because I didn’t know what to expect. But I felt better seeing I have my Sparkada family with me. And some of them are first-timers, too. So there’s that relief from knowing that I’m not alone. I feel so excited and happy,” Kirsten said.

“I was really nervous because it was my first time acting, my first show,” Caitlyn said. “I had absolutely no idea what to expect but the production staff was easy to work with. They understood that we’re just starting out. It was a great environment… But I’m really thankful and I hope I can have more shows and work with my fellow Sparkadas in the future.”

Falling in love with work

Tanya admitted that she was “shaking” on the first day of taping. “How can I portray my role and bring out my character. But the team comforted us,” she related. “Working with Sofia and Allen, we felt really welcomed. They didn’t make us feel that we’re only newbies. We’re thankful for that.”

Cheska added she immediately fell in love with the work on her first day of taping. “I was excited, like I loved what I was doing genuinely. Even if we had to do straight taping days, doing multiple sequences, I didn’t even notice it because I enjoyed it… I also felt that we grew closer together.