Ashtine Olviga on Andres Muhlach: We’re good friends

March 22 ------ Proving her versatility as an actress, Ashtine Olviga essays not one but four characters in “Viva One Originals: Ashtine.” The “Ang Mutya ng Section E” actress also becomes the first-ever star to topbill a Viva One Originals anthology.

According to the media release, in the first episode titled “Who’s the Boss?,” directed by RC Delos Reyes, Ashtine portrays a bright, young assistant opposite comedy icon Rufa Mae Quinto, who plays a sharp-tongued chief executive officer. When a curse swaps their bodies overnight, they must navigate each other’s lives while keeping the switch a secret to save the company. Amid the laugh-out-loud situations, the episode also explores empathy, self-discovery, and the true cost of power. It is now streaming on Viva One.

In the next episode, “My Melody,” she plays the title role, a fangirl whose world revolves around Korean artist Chanwoo (Lee Dae Won). By her side is George, her musician best friend, played by Rob Deniel in his first major acting role, who has quietly loved her for years. When Chanwoo relocates to the Philippines, fate draws him into Melody’s world, sparking a budding romance. Yet with George’s unspoken feelings lingering in the background, one question remains: who will ultimately capture Melody’s heart? Helmed by Fifth Solomon, the romantic story will stream on March 20.

In “Balik-Eskwela,” Ashtine takes on an intense role as Moana Marie, a student whose excitement for her first day at school quickly turns into terror as she uncovers a horrifying truth about herself. Trapped between life and death, Moana must race against time to seek justice and save innocent lives. The suspense-filled episode is based on viral horror content from “Book of Bad Ideas” on TikTok. It is directed by Roni Benaid, with Marco Gumabao and Sara Joe joining the cast, and the episode is set for release on March 27.

In Joy Aquino’s family drama “Bahay-Bahayan,” Ashtine shares the screen with Claudine Barretto. The young actress plays Blessie, a fiercely independent young woman raised by her grandmother while her mother, portrayed by Claudine, works overseas. When her mother finally comes home, the two struggle to reconnect. As they attempt to rebuild their relationship, long-buried emotions surface, along with a painful truth that could either mend their broken bond or shatter it completely. It will be streamed on April 4.

While she enjoyed her scenes with Claudine in “Bahay-Bahayan,” Ashtine found it hardest to let go of Rufa’s character in “Who’s the Boss?” “Because of the way she speaks,” explained Ashtine at a press conference. “It took three days bago ko mawala sa sarili ko yung pananalita niya, ‘Ano ba? Siya na naman, no?’” Ashtine recalled, imitating Rufa. “Even when I’m at home, sometimes, I find myself speaking like her: ‘Why do I speak that way?’”

On the other hand, the character she resonates with most in the show is Moana Marie in “Balik-Eskwela,” as they share a similar outlook on life. “She got tired of what was happening in her life and tried to get revenge. But at the end of the day, the lesson was, it’s not about the pain you felt, but it’s about how you lived and how you treated others.” If there’s one episode she would recommend to her love team, Andres Muhlach, it would be “Bahay-Bahayan.” “Nothing. It’s just my favorite, and I want to hear his opinion, like, ‘Was what I did OK?’” Ashtine replied when asked why she would suggest it to Andres.

While Ashtine got her solo project in “Viva One Originals: Ashtine” without leaning on their love team, Andres also stars in his own solo project, “Bagets The Musical,” which is set to close on March 22 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Despite pursuing separate projects, the two continue to support each other in their respective endeavors. “Of course, I’m happy for Andres because I know it’s new to him and he gets to learn more from his castmates while enhancing his dancing, singing, and acting skills. And for him to experience it, it’s a huge blessing for him, and I’m very supportive,” stated Ashtine, adding that she watched the musical once to show her support. “Good friends,” Ashtine gave a short answer when queried about their relationship status. “That’s really it. Just good friends who are willing to support each other.”

Source: philstar.com