Louise Delos Reyes (CDN PHOTO/ DR. FRANCIS XAVIER SOLIS)
After being hailed as the drama princess of the Kapuso network, Louise de los Reyes is out to prove that she’s one of the most promising young actresses of her generation.
Louise plays a dual role in the current GMA 7 primetime series “Kambal Sirena,” as twin mermaids Alona and Perlas.
Like the two characters, who conquer their respective “worlds” (Alona rules over the underwater kingdom, while Perlas wins the heart of the man she loves) Louise is doing well in her professional and personal life.
As an actress, she has top billed the hit teleseryes “Alakdana” (2011), “One True Love” (2012), “Mundo Mo’y Akin” (2013), and now “Kambal Sirena.”
She’s just as accomplished in her private world—consistently in the dean’s list as a student, a degree in BS Foreign Service, and financial independence at a young age.
The 20-year-old actress shares in this interview her love for reading, greatest ambition, dauntless take on every challenge, and how she manages to gain the best of both worlds.
You earned a degree in BS Foreign Service at the Lyceum of the Philippines University last year. How useful will it be in your career as an actress?
We had lessons in diplomacy, so minsan nagagamit ko ito sa pakikipag-usap, yung proper way to conduct yourself. Nagagamit ko rin ito pag may mga public appearances katulad nitong presscon.
In the future, do you plan to pursue a career related to your course, for example, at the Department of Foreign Affairs?
That’s my second plan. Kasi yung first plan ko gawin ko siyang pre-Law, because I really want to be a lawyer someday.
Is there a timetable for this dream of becoming a lawyer?
Before, sa mga essay asking you to look 10 to 15 years from the present, ang lagi kong sinasabi sa mga professors ko eh by 20 dapat graduate na ako. At nangyari naman. Then, by 23, magsa-start na akong mag-law. Tapos, by 25, nagpa-practice na ako, at dapat meron na akong fianceé.
Tapos, by 27, magpapakasal na ako. And by 29, dapat may anak na ako. That was my plan then, pero may nagbago.
How old are you now?
I’m 21. Ako naman, inaamin ko sa sarili ko na hindi lahat ng artista, magsi-stay sa showbiz. Yung init ngayon ng career ko… hindi ko naman dina-downgrade ang sarili ko… pero open ako na once na mawala, o kunwari magkaroon na ako ng kapalit… doon ako papasok sa law school. Kailangan kasi ng focus sa pag-aaral, eh.
What if you remain in demand in showbiz until your 30s? Are you going to forego law school?
Kaya pa naman ng utak ko. Ano lang naman yun eh… dapat, constant reading lang. Kahit hindi ka nag-aaral, basta palagi kang nagbabasa, marami pa ring pumapasok sa isip mo na mga ideas and napi-freshen up ka.
Are you a voracious reader?
Yes.
What do you usually read?
Every morning nagbabasa ako ng mga newspaper, mapa-broadsheet man yan o tabloid, binabasa ko siya para ma-widen din yung vocabulary ko. Tapos meron din akong mga books na fiction and non-fiction. Mga magazines, para alam ko rin yung mga nangyayari sa showbiz. Kasi dahil nga wala na kaming masyadong time manood ng TV, hindi na updated yung mga nalalaman namin kung minsan. Also, I check social media.
Marami akong binabasa. Kaya nga ako nagka-interes sa paglo-law kasi na-amaze ako. Meron akong tito na may library na puro books, so every time, nagpupunta kami doon, palagi kong binabasa yung cases ng mga ganyan-ganyan. Basa ako ng basa without knowing na sobrang bigat na pala ng binabasa ko. At that time I was just eight years old.
What kind of lawyer would you like to be?
‘Yung first choice ko talaga… ang first love ko is to become a criminal lawyer. Pero naisip ko, business-wise, corporate lawyer din para mas safe, and sabi nila, mas malaki daw ang sweldo. (Laughs)
Which law school are you planning to attend?
I have three choices. My first choice is UP Diliman, second is San Beda, tapos ‘yung third is Ateneo de Manila. Pero nagtanong-tanong na ako sa mga kaibigan ko from UP so mayroon na ako ng mga insider’s scoop kung paano ba yung kalakaran nila sa law school. Pero naniniwala pa
rin ako na depende pa rin yun sa estudyante, na kahit saang law school eh pwede kang mag-aral.
Tell us about your internship in the Senate.
Nag-OJT ako under their development department. Actually, nag-apply ako kay Senator Miriam Santiago, pero hindi pala siya tumatanggap ng OJT. Sayang, kasi feeling ko, marami talaga akong matututunan sa kanya. So yun, nakaka-amaze mapanood ng live na nagbabalitaktakan lahat ng Senador.
Did you participate in debates during college?
Yes. Noong college ako, naging president ako ng debating society.
How did you manage your time between showbiz and studies?
With the help of my handler and my mom. Inasikaso nila yung schedule ko talaga, kasi kung ako yun, gusto kong gawin lahat. Pero yun, kailangan talagang i-traffic yung kailangan ko gawin.
How were your grades?
Consistent akong nasa dean’s list for three years. Sa third year kasi ako naging active sa showbiz. Kasi yung ginawa ko noong nasa first year, kumuha ako ng pang-second year na walang pre-requisites so nag-advance ako, tapos nag-summer pa ako. I did the same on my second year. So bale, ang naiwan lang noong nasa third year ako eh yung major subjects ko… mga 16 units nalang so medyo maluwag.
“Kambal Sirena” is one of GMA’s top-rating shows. To what do you attribute its success?
Honestly, hindi ko talaga alam… masaya lang talaga ako sa ginagawa ko. Kada project, kahit anong natatanggap ko, ginagawa ko talaga yung best ko. Sa pag-aaral man yan, sa showbiz, or sa pag-arte. Siguro I’m just very passionate lang na narerehistro yun sa TV, at nakaka-affect yun ng tao.
Louise as Pearl with Aljur Abrenica who plays the role of Kevin on the right and as Alona with Mike Tan who plays the role of Jun.
From where do you draw your emotions?
Empathy and, I guess, imagination. Also my personal experience. Kunwari sa ”One True Love,” hindi pa naman ako naging ganon ka broken-hearted, pero iniisip ko lang na kung ako talaga si Elize at pinaghihiwalay kami ng boyfriend ko dahil ayaw ng parents ko, ano kaya ang mararamdaman ko.
Ganun din sa character ni Marilyn sa “Mundo Mo’y Akin.” Since nagbabasa nga ako, medyo wild yung imagination ko in creating a scene or reacting sa events sa buhay ng character ko.
Tapos dito naman sa “Kambal Sirena” na dual role… I had this wish before na magkaroon ng kakambal. Sabi ko dati sa nanay ko, lagi ko syang kinukulit… Wala ba talaga akong kakambal, sigurado ka ba na isa lang talaga ako ng pinanganak mo? Kasi sobrang saya ko siguro kapag meron. Medyo naughty pa yung iniisip ko noon, na siya yung papasok kapag absent ako para walang mami-miss.
Kaya ini-internalize ko talaga yung kambal character ng maigi, at ipakita din yung difference kahit kambal. Kasi si Alona, yung mermaid, siya yung feisty one, yung palaban, and she knows what she wants. Typical na matigas yung ulo. Sabi nga nila first time nila makakita ng sirena na matigas ang ulo kasi nga kapag sirena, mabait. Dito, pasaway talaga si Alona as opposed to Perlas. Actually, kay Perlas ako mas nahirapan, kasi si Perlas ay mahinhin, soft-spoken, tapos mababa yung self-esteem. Mas nakaka-relate ako kay Alona.
Are you feisty in real life?
I think I am. Matigas ang ulo, yes, definitely. Ako kasi yung tipo ng tao na kapag inapakan mo ako, hindi ako papayag. You should know your worth, and I know mine.
Your show competes with another mermaid-themed program in the other network. Do you feel the pressure to beat them at the ratings game?
The pressure is laging nandyan so ikaw na ang bahala kung magiging good or bad pressure ba siya. Kapag sinabi mong bad pressure, madi-discourage ka na at hindi mo na magagawa yung best mo. Magiging underdog ka na lang forever. So ginagawa ko siyang good pressure para maging better ako, maging better as an actress at mas mag-focus ako sa trabaho ko kasi alam ko kung ano yung mawawala sa akin. At alam ko kung anong makukuha ko kung magiging-focused ako at ibibigay ko ang best ko sa show na binigay sa akin.
What’s it like to play a mermaid?
Cool. Natutuwa ako na may tail ako. Mystical kasi ang itsura ni Alona, with all the gems and glitter.
How long does it take the crew to make you look like a mermaid?
Mabilis lang. Ididikit lang naman ‘yung mga gems and glitter. Ako kasi nagmi-make-up sa sarili ko. Minsan
kasi nagiging super Asian na ‘yung mata ko, eh Asian na nga ako. O kaya nagiging sobrang dark. At least kapag ako, tantyado ko na lahat ng ilalagay ko na magko-complement sa itsura ko.
We heard that you joined beauty pageants before. What did you join?
Miss Teen Philippines at naging Miss Teen Luzon ako doon. Tapos, Miss Lyceum, sumali lang ako doon sa dalawang yun kasi sa Lyceum meron kaming advocacy, meron kaming matutulungan… So sabi ko, why not? Tapos sa Miss Teen Philippines, naman nag tie-up sila with DENR, so maganda rin yung advocacy nila.
What is your personal advocacy?
Youth empowerment. Hindi naman kasi maliligaw ng landas ang kabataan kung may proper guidance lang sila, not only from their parents but from people in the community.
Did you run for SK in your area?
Muntik na, pero hindi rin kasi ako pabor na magpa-politics pa ako. Makakatulong pa rin naman ako kahit hindi na pumasok sa politics. Minsan nga, masama pa ang nagiging tingin sa iyo kapag nasa politics ka.
Are you still living with your parents?
I’m living on my own na. I moved out after I graduated, kasi feeling ko grown up na ako, and I really try na hindi sumandal sa parents ko.
So you’re managing your own finances?
Yes, ngayon lahat sa akin na. First three months ko medyo drastic for me, kasi yun ang adjustment period.
Meron rin palang mga deadline ito na kailangang ma-meet, parang school project na babagsak ka kapag hindi ka naka-submit sa deadline.
Walang palugit! Kapag nagpalugit ka, meron ka na agad penalty. Since I need to work for myself, yung value ng money sa akin eh mahigpit na. Naging mas matipid nga ako, mas naging responsible ako in a big way.
How do you avoid bad habits such as drinking or partying?
In the first place hindi ko siya gusto. Meron akong chance like every night kasi sa Eastwood ako eh. Every night pwede akong lumabas since mall yung nasa baba ko. Actually puwede any time, puwede akong magpakalasing kung gusto ko. Pero pinipili kong mag-stay sa bahay… anong mapapala ko kung iinom ako if I’m not with my friends, yung real friends? Parang sini-save ko na lang yung time ko, so matutulog or magpapahinga na lang ako. At naiisip ko rin na sayang yung pera.
Who do you consider your real friends?
I have non-showbiz friends. Kasi ang kaibigan, kahit hindi kayo nagkikita madalas, hindi kayo nagkaka-usap, kapag nagkausap na kayo ulit, nandun yung connection, nandun yung trust.
You’re being touted as the next primetime princess.
Nakakatuwa, nakakataba ng puso. Pero hangga’t hindi ang mga tao mismo ang magsabi sa akin, ayokong pumasok sa ulo ko. Iniisip ko pa rin na marami pa akong projects na kailangang patunayan, marami pa akong dapat gawin as an artist para ma-deserve ang title.
What is your dream role?
A superhero.
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