Kapamilya actress Julia Montes, lead of “Saving Grace,” the Philippine adaptation of the hit Japanese series “Mother,” hopes their version of Asia’s most exported scripted format will bring healing to its viewers.
“It is close to home. I am praying this will help children, battered wives, physically or emotionally through whoever— sana may mag speak up and magkaruon ng strength lalo na kung nabubugbog ka ng salita o pisikal. 'Di mo na alam minsan kung tama pa ba lumaban ng tama,” she said during the grand media conference of the gripping drama held in Quezon City, Friday.
“Sana po mas marami maresolve sa bawat isa. I am not saying sa abused lang ito, sana may ma-heal para din sila din maging healign ng ibang tao. Sana mas marami ma-inspire. Sana may ma-save kayo and nag save sa inyo.”
For Christian Bables, who plays the abusive partner of Grace’s mother, Sarah, the role offered a chance to soothe and overcome past traumas.
“Napagdaan ko kasi pinagdaanan ni Grace dati. Ako din ay nakaranas ng physical abuse. Emotional and verbal. Noong na-offer sa akin project, isa lang sinabi ko sarili ko it is about time to heal through Grace. Ipapanalo ako ni Grace. Sana 'yung mga bata katulad ko and Grace maipanalo ng serye na ito. At the end of the tunnel may liwanag,” he said.
But to effectively convey the message of healing in the drama delving on motherhood, love, and sacrifice, several cast members, like Jennica Garcia (Sarah), confessed she had to dig deep and again open old wounds.
“It was mentally draining Ang hirap kapag lalagay mo sarili mo sa position na kailangan mo lalaki mabuhay. Parang trinabaho mo hindi maging ganon. Trinabaho mo yung lakas mo na kaya ko tumayo magisa. Tapos babalik mo character mo sa isang babae na di kaya tumayo sa sariling paa walang nobyo. Yung taon kong pinaghirapan, napagtagumpayan, dahil sa isang proyekto kakalimitan mo para magawa ng wasto,” she explained.
Director FM Reyes meanwhile spoke about the gravity and responsibility of adapting a story as significant as “Mother.”
“I’d like to think story telling the other versions took an omniscient point of view and medyo singular. Napaka delikado ng materyal, kailangan namin latagan ng malinaw na storya bawat karakter. At makikita mo sa series, Kumpleto ang journeyz Wala kami pinabayaan. the source of the wound of each characters i coming from the poverty of being unwanted,” he said.
To prepare for the adaptation, the director revealed he watched several adaptations of the series.
“I studied seven versions. Right after the presentation, pinanuod ko isa-isa,” he noted.
“Saving Grace” is coming on November 28 on Prime Video.
Also part of the cast of the adaptation is Sharon Cuneta, Sam Milby, Janice de Belen, child star Zia Grace, etc.