Unhappy with TV5? Moving back to GMA?
Lorna Tolentino quashed such speculations during the recent media launch for TV5′s new shows, two of which she is a part of.
The veteran actress is in the cast of the supernatural drama series “Third Eye”, and she sits as one of the judging panel of “Artista Academy”, the Kapatid Network’s big-budget reality talent search.
“As you can see, TV5 gave me two shows na bago. Kaya hindi totoo na I’m leaving them. Hino-honor ko siyempre ang kontrata ko sa kanila,” she declared.
Lorna, fondly referred to as LT by friends and colleagues, reveals that her contract with TV5 will expire in September 2012, but this early, the network is already negotiating a renewal.
“May offer na sila agad, and I am very flattered. Hindi pa nga tapos itong existing contract ko ay may offer na silang mag-renew ako with them,” she said.
LT appreciates the gesture, which is only in keeping with the VIP treatment it has accorded her from the beginning.
“Ever since na pumirma ako with TV5, hindi ako natengga. I started with the series ‘Glamorosa’ and then I did ‘Valiente’ and ‘Pidol’s Wonderland’. Ngayon, I have two shows with them. Happy ako with TV5. No doubt about it,” says Lorna.
In “Third Eye”, Lorna is happy to lend support to 17-year-old “Star Factor” winner Eula Caballero.
“Hindi issue para sa akin that Eula is the lead character of ‘Third Eye’. Ako naman, never akong naging madamot sa pagsuporta sa mga baguhan. I’ve been doing that sa mga naging shows ko sa GMA and ABS-CBN. Walang masama kung may suportahan ka para sumikat.
“I was once a newcomer myself, and I am very thankful na marami ang tumulong sa akin. I am just giving it back sa mga baguhan ngayon.”
She will also help hone a fresh batch of newcomers in “Artista Academy”, where she will be a judge alongside director Joel Lamangan; music maker Louie Ocampo and dance expert Georcelle Dapat of G Force.
“Hindi na rin bago sa akin ang maging judge sa ganitong klaseng mga contest. I used to be one of the judges sa ‘Starstruck’ sa GMA. Dito sa Artista Academy, bilang judge, we do the evaluation ng performances ng 16 na mapipili para pumasok sa Artista Academy,” she said.
LT is awed by the P20-million grand prize, the biggest reward ever to be given in a talent search on Philippine television, which will be split between the two finalists who will emerge as Best Actor and Best Actress.
“Kaya ang papel naming mga judges pa is to make sure na yung mapipili namin will really deserve the big prize. Sabi nga ni Direk Mac (Alejandre), kailangan ang mapipili naming winners will look like he and she is worth 20 million pesos!”
