Kapuso actress Alice Dixson admitted that she perceived Muslims as terrorists like most people.
“I always had a misconception about the terrorists living in the South. Ano kasi eh, when you live abroad also, nagkaro’n ng mga balita about kidnapping and all those things. So it was quite foreign para sa ‘kin na… ano ‘to? Nakakatakot. At nabanggit din sa ‘kin na we were going to shoot pa in the South. Is it something that we should fear?” said Dixson during the virtual press conference for the upcoming teleserye Legal Wives, on Monday, July 19.
Dixson’s way of seeing Muslims changed after she portrayed a Muslim woman in the series, adapting how they live.
“… Hindi naman ako dapat matakot. Because I’ve learned that in general, Muslims are a very peaceful community, religion,” said the actress.
She then urged the public to not label Muslims as ‘terrorists’ since it is far from the truth.
“Also, they shouldn’t be generalized as terrorists. That’s so far from the truth. And nabura sa’kin yung mga ganyang pag-iisip when I started to learn more about our project.”
There is a truth behind Dixson’s realization.
Contrary to popular belief that terrorism originates by being Islamic, those who follow the teachings of Islam were prohibited to be violent nor inflict harm on living things.
The Holy book of Muslims, the Quran, explicitly forbids violence in any form. In the book’s Al Maidah chapter it said, “Whoever kills a person [unjustly]…it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.”
Another statement from the Quran showing that it does not promote terrorism is found in chapter 60 verse 8.
It said: “God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers.”
Aside from her misconception about Muslims, Dixson also had reservations about the character that she is about to play in Legal Wives.
She revealed that she thought that she had doubts that the series will be authentic.
“Siguro ang naging reservation ko lang, early on, nung tinanggap ko yung role is… gusto kong maging authentic yung palabas namin. Though at that time, wala pa akong masyadong nalalaman. I also had to do my own research, kumbaga,” she revealed.
However, her doubts were erased as she found that GMA Network, along with the production team of the series, were showing their dedication to making Legal Wives the best they can do.
“No’ng nalaman ko at nakita ko that GMA was really working hard. Kumbaga sa pag-research pa lang ng mga writers natin, the production, the quality of the set, the costumes, talagang pinag-aralan. Those were the qualities that made me so very proud up to this day,” she added.
Dixson will be playing the first legal wife of Dennis Trillo’s character in Legal Wives.
The series follows the story of a wealthy Muslim man named Ismael (Trillo) who marries not one, but three women, Amirah (Dixson), Diane (Andrea Torres), and Farrah (Bianca Umali).
Catch the series, which is directed by Zig Dulay on GMA Telebabad, starting July 26.
