- The cast also shared their thoughts about seeking revenge in real life.
Sarah Lahbati (Instagram)
Love and revenge are the themes of the upcoming series Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa, which will premiere on TV5 on April 8 after the popular noontime program “Eat Bulaga.”
Featuring an ensemble cast of talented actors led by Kiko Estrada, Sarah Lahbati, Sid Lucero, Rhen Escaño, and Gardo Versoza – with Mark Anthony Fernandez, Andrew Muhlach, Phoebe Walker, Andre Yllana, Ashley Diaz, Annika Co, Rose Van Ginkel, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and Jeric Raval – TV5’s Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa revolves around its characters’ quest for justice and retribution.
The story follows Norman Dela Cruz (played by Kiko Estrada), a working student aspiring to become a lawyer. Norman’s life takes an unexpected turn when his mother Tacing (with the special participation of Ana Abad Santos), engages in an intense land dispute with her estranged non-biological brother Benito Balmores (Gardo Versoza) that results in tragedy. Surviving this ordeal, Norman vows to avenge his mother but finds himself torn as he falls in love with Benito’s daughter, Mercy Balmores (Sarah Lahbati). After several years, Norman returns as the successful lawyer Abra Espiritu, with a plan for revenge while suppressing his feelings for Mercy, who has married Miguel Aguirre (Sid Lucero).
During the media conference held at TV5 Studios on April 2, several stars of the series were asked, “Ano yung ugali na ayaw na ayaw ninyo sa tao na gusto ninyo paluhurin sa lupa?” (If you had someone to kneel on earth, who would it be?)
“Grabe, bakit kayo sa akin lahat nakatingin,” said Sarah as the audience laughed. “Sige na nga ako na mauuna. Ugali ba yung corruption? Corruption na lang. Okay na yun.”
Rhen: “Ako siguro yung mga taong mababa ang tingin sa kapwa nila. Yung mga taong hindi fair at yung tingin nila sa sarili nila mas nakakataas sila. Siguro deserve nila yun pero hindi ko gagawin yun sa tutoong buhay. Yung mga ganung tao kasi meron sila dapat matutunan or marealize.”
Gardo: “Ako kapag pinaluhod mo gusto ko may pagmamahal. Gusto ko kapag lumuhod siya punong-puno ng love. Sa role lang naman yung ganyan. Nakakapatay ako ng tao sa role ko or nakakaligpit pero sa tutoong buhay hindi ko naman magawa. So dito, nasasalamin ang buhay at maraming makaka-relate.”
Sid: “Ugali ng tao na gusto kong paluhurin sila sa lupa? Mga taong may kapangyarihan pero they forget that they are human. Kapag pinaluhod mo sila sa lupa, they will realize what it’s like to be human again.”
Kiko: “Same with Ren. Yun mga entitled na tao. Same with Sarah. Kung kokopyahin ko, copy paste yung mga sinabi nila.”
The cast of drama series ‘Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa’ on TV5
On seeking revenge
The cast also shared their thoughts about seeking revenge in real life.
Phoebe: “Many people have wronged me, and I never wanted to seek revenge. I believe in karma. Kakarmahin ka rin in the end. Papabayaan ko lang sila. In this industry, marami ang bully. I experienced that so siguro, the only revenge I could do is to be successful.”
Gardo: “I realized wala rin naman mapupuntahan ang paghihiganti eh. I-pag-pray mo na lang and it’s part of life. It’s a learning experience. Bawa’t pagluhod mo sa lupa, ang importante, bumangon ka uli at ipaglaban mo ang kailangang ipaglaban. Siyempre, kapag luluhod ka, huwag kang makakalimot sa pagdarasal. Pasasalamat.”
Sid: “Personally, hindi ako naniniwala sa vengeance. It’s a product of something. Sa mundo may nangyayari at ikaw ay nasasaktan pero feeling mo lang yun eh. Your ego gets in the way. Akala mo naisahan ka. But what Phoebe said which she said you can show them the best version of yourself because kapag vengeance dala-dala mo yun in every point. Ibang tao na yan. You are no longer yourself. You have been changed. I cannot live that way. I’d rather be the best that I can be.”
Mark: “Normal lang na gusto mong gumanti pero mas tama na tignan mo muna ng 10 times bago ka gumanti kung tama ba na gumanti ka or hindi ka gumanti.”
Sarah: “Like what Phoebe said, I believe in karma. For me, there’s nothing more expensive than peace. We cannot get peace if we seek revenge. There’s power in prayer, as Tito Cupcake has said. You don’t get peace by seeking revenge.”
Kiko: Parang kasama sa buhay ang revenge pero through the course of life, mawawala rin yun sa pagtanda mo so I guess it’s maturity also. It’s natural to feel that way but the more you grow maiintindihan mo na yung mga bagay sa paligid natin. That’s maturity.”
Kiko Estrada
Challenge
Director Albert Langitan, one of the series’ directors, admitted that the drama series was challenging.
“Sobrang challenging ang ginawa namin kasi it’s an adaptation. Mahirap lagpasan ang mga ginawa noon sa comics at pelikula. Idol ko rin si Rudy Fernandez. Parang it’s a personal challenge na pagandahin siya.
“Seven years ago, nagkasama na kami ni Kiko. Sabi ko, Kiko ano ang ginagawa mo, dapat action star ka? So, noong sinabi na si Kiko ang lead star, sabi ko parang destiny yata yun ah? Parang kli-naim namin ni Kiko kasi ang tagal namin hindi nagka trabaho together at dito kami pinagtagpo. Isa pa sa challenge rito is hindi talaga nagsasalita ng Tagalog si Kiko.
“Isa pa sa challenge rito is hindi talaga nagsasalita ng Tagalog si Kiko. Pero nagampanan niya. Challenge din ito kay Sarah kasi ang tagal din niya nawala sa acting. What I can promise is maganda ang quality at lalong gaganda ang kwento hanggang sa matapos ang series.
“Magagaling ang lahat ng tao na bumubuo sa show na ito. Very passionate ang mga artista at creative team,” said director Albert. The other director of the series is Roderick Lindayag.
Don’t miss the premiere of Carlo J. Caparas’ Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa on April 8. It airs weekdays at 2:30 PM on TV5’s Hapon Champion block and same-day catch-ups on Sari-Sari Channel at 8 p.m.
Originally published on The Manila Bulletin.
