Aiko and Beauty still rivals even now in same drama series ‘Mano Po Legacy: The Flower Sisters’

Cast of “The Flower Sisters” (clockwise, left): Angel Guardian, Aiko Melendez, Thea Tolentino and Beauty Gonzalez

Once part of competing rival soap operas, Aiko Melendez and Beauty Gonzalez now find themselves sharing the cameras.

“This is something I have always been open about: Magkatapat ang shows namin dati. But now, I feel blessed because I got the chance to finally work with Beauty,” Aiko said at a press conference for “The Flower Sisters”—the upcoming third installment of GMA 7 and Regal Entertainment’s primetime drama anthology series, “Mano Po Legacy.”

Aiko starred in GMA 7’s “Prima Donnas”; Beauty, in ABS-CBN’s “Kadenang Ginto.” And from 2019 to 2020, the two shows wrestled for top rating in the afternoon slot. “The characters we play here in ‘Mano Po’ are also rivals. The good thing, though, is that the opposite is true in real life,” Aiko said. “I have found a friend in Beauty.”

Beauty, on the other hand, has always looked up to Aiko. Working with her, at last, is a “dream come true.”

“Working with Aiko is on my bucket list. We have a common friend who had been urging us to do a show together. But nothing really came of it. So it’s a dream come true,” Beauty said. “She’s my idol. She’s an actress, a public servant, a good partner and a good mother. I want to be like her.”

Directed by Ian Loreños, Nick Olanka and Sean Lim, “The Flower Sisters” revolves around the contentious relationship among the four daughters of a business tycoon: Lily (Aiko), Violet (Beauty), Dahlia (Thea Tolentino) and Iris (Angel Guardian) Chua. But while they share a father, they’re born from different mothers.

Vying for wealth and power

The Chua sisters vie with each other for wealth, power and opportunities—all the while grappling with their own issues and struggles in their personal lives. The show airs weeknights, 9:35 p.m., starting Oct. 31.

Lily is the self-proclaimed favorite daughter and “queen of the Chua empire.” While smart and powerful, she fails as a wife and mother. “I’m not strict as a parent; I spoil my kids … They (Andrei, with Jomari Yllana, and Marthena, with Martin Jickain) can treat me like barkada, but with respect,” Aiko said.

“But Lily is strict to a fault, because that’s how she was raised. And since she ends up being successful, she thinks that her way is the only way to raise kids,” she said, adding that there’s pressure in playing a character named after the Regal matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde.

“To those who don’t know, I was one of the original ‘Regal Babies.’ The mere fact my character is called Lily is pressure.”

That’s why she appreciates the fact that the creative team had no qualms giving her suggestions on how to tackle her character. “When you’re an experienced actor, sometimes younger directors tend to be shy when it comes to telling you their ideas,” she said. “So I’m thankful because they still take care of me and don’t just leave me to figure out things on my own.”

Violet is a beautiful and feisty woman who strives to be the envy of all. For her, there’s no such thing as “hating kapatid.” “Like Violet, I’m palaban in real life … Of course, there’s a right time and situation for everything. But I’m like that most of the time,” Beauty said. “However, I don’t hesitate to seek help from other people if needed.”

Simple, happy life

Dahlia would rather live a simple, unassuming, but happy life. Unfortunately, her mother’s illness forces her to surface and seek help from her sisters. For Thea, who mostly play villain roles, Dahlia is a welcome change of pace.

“My character is so kindhearted so seeing myself in the trailer was very shocking to me,” she said, adding that it was challenging shifting from haughty contravida roles to a loving, soft-spoken protagonist.

“I had a hard time playing lighthearted scenes. I feel more at home being masungit. So I had to feel my way in, especially at the start. I had to make a lot of adjustments. But the directors were of big help. They told me if I look mataray; that I have to tame my acting a little. Eventually, with their guidance, I became more comfortable in the character,” Thea related.

Iris is seen as tough, carefree and independent—a little bit of a rebel. But all she really wants is her family’s love and acceptance. This is Angel’s first main role in a soap and she couldn’t be more grateful to have talented actresses to look up to.

“I feel so lucky because they’re all talented. I’m excited to learn more from them. A sense of responsibility comes with this role. But even if I feel nervous, I know I can count on them to help me through this experience. I know there’s lots of room to grow. I have a lot to learn. And I hope this show opens new doors for me,” Angel said.

Though much of the attention at the media conference was directed at Aiko and Beauty, they stressed that the show isn’t only about them. “It’s not just about me and Beauty … or us four sisters. It’s about the entire team. And each of us will get a time to shine,” Aiko said.