One of the most highly anticipated Kapamilya series, “The Alibi,” is already shaping up to be a must-watch, led by acclaimed actors Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu at the helm of its impressive cast.
The murder-mystery romance series is also set to be the first-ever acting project for rising actor Robbie Jaworski and promising actress Angelina Cruz. Both children of prominent public figures, the pair are even more determined to carve their paths in the entertainment industry through their talent and hard work.
On the topic of the show’s high anticipation among viewers, Robbie and Angelina highlight mixed feelings of excitement, nervousness, and gratitude, mostly at the thought of it being their first acting roles in a teleserye and as a pair.
Sharing the same sentiments with Angelina, Robbie expressed, “[It’s] our first experience [acting] in [a] teleserye, and it was my first experience as an actor. It was very meaningful… going through the process of learning how to act together.”
Going on to their individual auditions, Angelina explained how, after initially being confused by being assigned a different role than the one for which she had auditioned, she finally felt more appreciative of the sudden change.
With change comes challenges, which inevitably came for the actress, as her character, Catherine Morales, is very different from her own experiences growing up. The role was particularly challenging because it required her to speak entirely in Tagalog. Her first acting experience was in the DonBelle film “Love Is Color Blind,” where her character aligned more closely with her English-speaking upbringing.
“But I feel like this is also how I’m able to grow as an artist and as an actor, because I’m able to step out of the box and out of my comfort zone,” she shared.
For Robbie, who will play Edward Cabrera, the youngest child of a wealthy family, his audition came after his management informed him of a role that might suit him, which he eventually auditioned for. It was there that he met Angelina and began attending workshops with her, leading to the first cut of the series.
In response to questions concerning the acting workshops, both expressed greater enjoyment and the effortless development of their connections with each other and with their coach, Alecx Lorica.
“Angelina was a very generous scene partner… Sobrang saya ‘yung nagiging usapan when we really like to analyze our characters [and] our lines,” Robbie detailed.
The two also didn’t think twice about asking their parents, who are also veterans with unquestionable acting talent, for advice on their first teleserye.
Angelina, the daughter of actress Sunshine Cruz and actor Cesar Montano, turned to her mother for tips, which mainly include speaking Tagalog whenever she’s at home to better immerse herself in the linguistic nuances and the script’s context.
It was more a matter of spontaneity for Robbie, the eldest son of former actress and television host Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and former PBA player, now politician, Robert Jaworski Jr. To align with his acting role as the youngest, he focused on the trait of being oblivious, and his mother advised him to start by simply reading the lines first.
When asked about their personal preparations for the series, they were determined to make their scenes count. Angelina made sure to listen to OPM songs and watch Filipino films, again focusing on the language and culture, even immersing herself in real-life situations surrounded by people who speak Tagalog: “He [Robbie] helped me immerse myself in his dad’s city hall.”
Robbie, on the other hand, studied his youngest brother’s personality in-depth. “My youngest brother, si Renzo, ininterview ko siya. I assessed him. Tinanong ko ‘yung mga magulang ko kung ano ‘yung tendencies ni Renzo,” he explained.
In handling the pressure of being surrounded by experienced co-actors, breaking the ice wasn’t a problem at all, as the entire cast was not intimidating in the slightest. “They were all very kind [and] very friendly. Especially sina Ate Kim and Kuya Pao, ang laki po ng tulong nila sakin,” Angelina mentioned.
Robbie would also often engage in enlightening conversations with the actors and actresses on set, mainly imparting useful tips to the youngsters. “Those are one of the things that I’ll never forget. That wisdom they so passionately share with us,” he added.
Firsts can be a little bumpy, and it really was for the pair, but they handled the mishaps like champs. For Angelina’s first scene, she had to perform a long and complex one, memorizing her lines as well as the blockings. The actress panicked but was able to notify Director FM Reyes, who eventually helped her compose herself.
“It was memorable first day, because I guess that showed din how seriously I take it,” she reasoned.
Fully prepared with lines and everything, Robbie thought it would go smoothly until the actual filming. “One thing I was not ready for was ‘yung pakiramdam ng ilaw at ‘yung lente ng cameras sa mukha mo. I remember feeling so rattled, affected, shaking, and sweating,” he recalled.
Paulo, who was in the scene with him, calmed Robbie and gently guided the young actor. “As you go through the motions of the scenes, mas lalo kang masasanay, mas lalo mong mae-enjoy. At least pagkatapos, hopefully nakabawi ako,” he conveyed.
In remembering the noteworthy messages from their co-stars, Angelina mentioned, “For me it was just to relax and take it one scene at a time.”
“To make sure na before you go on set, you memorize your lines in a neutral way so that you can execute them in different ways,” Robbie added.
Catch the premiere of “The Alibi,” this November 7 on Prime Video.