Maja Salvador
SHE may be the fierce and indestructible Lily Cruz/ Ivy Aguas of the wildly popular afternoon TV series, “Wildflower,” but actress Maja Salvador is at heart a simple and down-to-earth woman who lives by her faith.
In fact, the 29-year-old actress-performer is a devotee of the Sto. Niño.
“Ever since, hindi man ako nakikita ng tao pero todo pila kami sa church. Nu’ng Sinulog, madaling araw kasi ako pumupunta. Every Sinulog, dumadaan ako. I make sure I give respect to the Sto. Niño,” she told Cebu’s Entertainment Press in between rehearsals for her “Maja on Stage” concert held Sunday night at the IEC Convention Center in Barangay Luz, Cebu City.
Salvador was also among the Kapamilya stars who joined ABS-CBN’s Sinulog float during the Sinulog celebration last Jan. 21.
The actress said she learned her devotion for Señor Sto. Niño from her mother.
“Yung mommy ko, high school pa lang siya parang sa table nya may gold na Sto. Niño. Then nung ipapanganak niya ako, sabi nya nakita nya si Sto.
Niño and hindi siya nahirapan manganak sa akin. Parang iba ‘yung faith ko kay Sto. Niño. Kaya ‘yun importante sa akin pag Sinulog. Viva Sto.
Niño!” she said.
During yesterday’s rehearsals, Salvador was hands on during the production numbers.
She was even seen directing her dance number with “Wildflower” costar Joseph Marco.
“Iba ‘yung passion and love ko for performing. Parang the whole 2017 nagpaka-actress ako. Wala ‘yung chance na mag concert. Kaya eto na patapos na ang Wildflower, gusto ko ‘yung pagka-miss ko na mag perform, nag-pu-put ako ng add ons (sa concert) at kung ano ang na-isip ko,” she said.
Salvador, who has been in showbiz for 15 years, looked back fondly at how her love for performing started. She said that at the age of 11, she already knew she could dance.
“Bata pa lang ako nakikitira kasi ako sa Tita ko. ‘Yung hagdan nila ginagawa kong stage. Ang music ko pa nuon ay ‘yung ‘Come On Over’ ni Christina Aguillera. So, alam mo ‘yun … if you believe sa dreams mo, talagang mangyayari,” she said.
Salvador said she is aware that the Cebuano crowd cannot be underestimated and that they were excited to bring the concert here for the first time.
“We also want to give our best, our 1,000 percent dahil ito ang pinaka-unang leg. Sabi ko nga, wag niyo i-Cebu Cebu lang ‘yan. Iba ang Cebuanos. Iba sila mag appreciate ng productions, talents, ng mga artista,” she said.
After Cebu, she will hold her dance concert in Singapore (February 18),
Oklahoma (February 23), Las Vegas (February 25), and at the Kia Theatre (March 23).
Other stars who joined Salvador last night were Vin Abrenica, Kakai Bautista, and Anna Fegi-Brown.