How vengeful are the ‘Lavender Fields’ stars in real life?

(From left) Jodi Sta. Maria, Jericho Rosales, and Janine Gutierrez during the press conference of “Lavender Fields.” Images: Courtesy of ABS-CBN Corporate Communications

While “Lavender Fields” centers around revenge, its lead stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Jericho Rosales, and Janine Gutierrez do not consider themselves to be vengeful and instead would choose to be the bigger person.

Sta. Maria, Rosales, and Gutierrez, along with their co-stars, were asked during the drama’s press conference in Quezon City if they considered themselves as people who would take revenge if ever they were wronged by someone.

Rosales, who’s set to make his teleserye comeback with “Lavender Fields,” took charge in answering the question first, saying he is “very far” from his character Tyrone. “I don’t like revenge. I don’t like taking revenge.”

“But siguro, kung magre-revenge talaga ako, siguro ngunguyain ko ‘yung tao tapos magiging dinosaur ako (I guess if I’ll take revenge, I’ll just swallow that person and become a dinosaur). I’m just kidding,” he added in jest.

The actor said that for him, the best kind of revenge is to take back power for himself and use it to be a “better person.”

“I guess the best kind of revenge is to not give power to this pain or whatever negative [thing] was inflicted towards you. Don’t give it power, and just use it to become a better person,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sta. Maria believes that the “best form of revenge” is to stay silent while adding the importance of not giving someone the satisfaction of being “enraged.”

“The best form of revenge is to just stay silent when someone wants you to be enraged. Wag mong ibigay ang gusto nila. Wag kang lumevel sa kung nasaan sila (Don’t give them what they want. Don’t force yourself to reach their level). Always choose the higher road. Always choose to be the bigger person,” she said.

Gutierrez, on the other hand, agreed with Sta. Maria’s response, as she touched on self-healing as what she would consider the revenge she would personally take.

“The best form of revenge is when you don’t need revenge anymore. Okay ka na sa sarili mo, nalampasan mo ang kasamaan na ginawa nila sa’yo at pinagbutihin mo na lang sarili at desisyon mo. ‘Yung tipong hindi mo na sila kailangang lingunin,” she said.

(The best form of revenge is when you don’t need revenge anymore. You’re okay with yourself. You powered through the wrongdoing they inflicted on you. Use it to improve yourself and the decisions you’ll make, wherein you don’t need to look back at how they’re doing anymore.)

“Lavender Fields” tells the story of Jasmin Flores (Sta. Maria) who falls in love with Tyrone de Vera (Rosales), who turns out to be married to Iris Buenavidez-de Vera (Gutierrez). Tyrone eventually ends up leaving an angered Flores who chose to take her revenge by haunting down her ex-lover and his wife, while assuming a new identity, Lavender Fields.

The drama also stars Jolina Magdangal, Maricel Soriano, Edu Manzano, Albert Martinez, Jana Agoncillo, Krystal Mejes, Miguel Vergara, and Marc Santiago.