- Aiko Melendez joins ABS-CBN epicserye Bagani.
- She shared that she didn’t know that Wendell Ramos transferred to GMA Network.
- Sunshine Cruz accepted a role in the Kapuso network.
Aiko Melendez recently revealed that GMA Network offered her and Sunshine Cruz a project after ABS-CBN drama-action series Wildflower. However, she decided to join the ABS-CBN epicserye Bagani.
In an interview with PEP.ph, Aiko disclosed her reaction on Sunshine and another Wildflower co-star Wendell Ramos’ network transfer.
In the said interview, Aiko explained how she had a close relationship with Sunshine.
“With Sunshine kasi, I’m very close to her, so somehow I know that there was an offer sa kanya. In fact, ako din, may offer din ako sa kabila. Sabay na sabay, Bagani and then yung offer ko sa kabila. But then, I opted to stay with Kapamilya nga dahil ang ganda ng Bagani.”
However, Aiko didn’t know about Wendell’s network transfer. She added that they don’t talk that much anymore. She also explained that Sunshine remains a single mother and needed to work.
“Yung kay Wendell hindi ko alam, it came as a shock to me kasi hindi naman kami masyadong nag-uusap ni Wendell so alam kong si Sunshine yung may offer sa kabila. You know, any growth sa mga kasamahan ko, I’d be the happiest kasi sa kanila naman, especially with Sunshine, she’s a single mom, she just needed to work. So I’m pretty sure, after her project with sa kabilang bakod, she’d be happy to be back in Kapamilya network where you know, ang Kapamilya iba naman talaga katrabaho.”
In a separate interview, Aiko revealed the reason why she joined Bagani over the GMA Network offer. She followed the first director who gave her first acting award. Aiko had her first award from the Film Academy of the Philippines for the 1994 film Maalaala Mo Kaya.
“Kasi, when I learned about the offer na Bagani and I was handpicked by Tita Malou Santos and Inang Olive Lamasan, alam naman natin na si Inang Olive is very close to my heart. She’s the first director na nagbigay sa akin ng first acting award ko… So coming from Inang Olive na she wants me to do this, kahit ano pa yung offer noong kabila, ito tinanggap ko kasi the project itself is very big so I feel so blessed na sinama ako dito.”
Aiko stars in Bagani as Matadora, the leader of the pirates in Sansinukob. Sunshine, on the other hand, will star in GMA afternoon series Karibal Ko Ang Aking Ina. Wendell will be a part of the GMA primetime series Extraordinary Love.