On December 13, Kapamilya director Cathy Garcia-Molina admitted that she didn’t find Ivana Alawi ‘pretty’ at first.
At the media conference for Partners in Crime, which LionhearTV covered, Garcia-Molina cited how her perception of Alawi’s beauty and personality changed during their look test.
“Tapos ang totoo, hindi ako nagagandahan kay Ivana, until nag-ano kami, look test, sabi ko, ang ganda naman palang bata nito. Mahal siya ng camera. Tapos ‘yun, mabait, hindi naman pwedeng hindi mabait sa akin, di ba? Hindi, mabait, tapos naggo-grow siya sa akin.”
She then considered Alawi’s acting range and talent as a revelation.
“Ano siya, isang revelation. Kasi ‘yun na nga, nakikita ko siya sa drama nakikita ko–well, hindi ko siya masyadong napapanood sa vlog kasi hindi naman ako ma-online na tao.
“But I have seen some of her scenes, so I was scared, no to be honest, na ano kaya ang kaya ibigay ng isang Ivana. Kasi si Meme [Vice], mayroon na siyang whole, kumbaga libong plaque na pinapakitang kaya niya ‘to. Eh kami, ako rom com, tapos siya galing drama, tapos vlogging, ano kayang ibigay ni Ivana.”
She then cited how Alawi’s co-star, Vice Ganda, helped and supported the young Kapamilya star while filming their Metro Manila Film Festival 2022 entry.
“Tapos sa totoo lang, with the help of Vice, tama ‘yung sinabi ni Vice, I told him, hindi ka maramot na tao, nakikita ko kung paano niya alalayan si Ivana sa mga scenes. Minsan nagbibigay siya ng punch line kay Ivana. Minsan bubulong ‘yan kung anong ginagawa– naku, minsan ano nanaman niluluto ng dalawang ‘to kasi may sarili silang usapan.”
She then praised Alawi’s portrayal of her character in the upcoming MMFF2022 comedy film.
“And I think Ivana portrayed this character well. Last night, nasa music ako, nagmu-music kami, sabi ko, in fairness ha, walang Ivana sa movie. And I [hope] you see that too–that when you watch the movie, you won’t see Ivana, you will see Barbara Rose Nicole Alobano.”
Vice Ganda and Ivana Alawi star in the MMFF 2022 entry Partners in Crime. Directed by Cathy-Garcia Molina, the Star Cinema film opens on December 25, Christmas Day.
