Actor Tony Labrusca is set to appear in GMA Network’s upcoming afternoon drama Binibining Marikit, marking his first project with the Kapuso network.
Labrusca, who was recently seen walking the red carpet at the 2024 GMA Gala, confirmed that his involvement in the series does not mean he has transferred from ABS-CBN to GMA Network. Instead, the ‘Nag-aapoy na Damdamin’ actor clarified that his appearance in ‘Binibining Marikit’ was made possible through an arrangement.
“Well, technically, I don’t know if I’m Kapuso. I don’t even know how this works, just cause we were offered this show and we asked permission, and they [ABS-CBN management] said okay,” Labrusca explained.
When asked if his contract with GMA was on a per-project basis, he confirmed that there was no formal contract.
“I mean, there is no contract. Hiniram lang,” he said.
Labrusca expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying that his inclusion in ‘Binibining Marikit’, which stars Herlene Budol, was something he sees as fate aligning.
“Puwede naman silang mag-no, e. Puwede silang humindi. Ire-respect ko naman yung mga boss ko,” he said about seeking approval from ABS-CBN. “Pero since um-okay sila, then you know, I think si Lord na yun, hindi ba?”
Labrusca emphasized his excitement for the project and his desire to give his best performance.
“Gusto ko lang talaga galingan itong binigay sa akin, kasi napakagandang project, maganda rin yung timeslot. I wanna do my best and sana matuwa yung mga tao sa mapapanood nila,” he shared.
When asked if he is open to becoming a Sparkle artist, Labrusca remained noncommittal.
“I honestly don’t know how to react,” he admitted. “I think right now, I just wanna focus on what’s been given to me.”
However, he did not dismiss the possibility of future collaborations with GMA Network, saying: “That all sounds nice, di ba? Pero ang point ko lang is, parang gusto ko muna i-focus yung energy ko dito.”
Labrusca acknowledged the challenges of making commitments about long-term plans, saying, “I’m sorry if this comes off too strong, pero ako kasi yung mapapahiya kung ang dami kong sasabihin ngayon. If it happens or if it doesn’t happen, ayaw ko kainin yung sasabihin ko ngayon.”
Joining Labrusca and Budol in ‘Binibining Marikit’ are Pokwang, Kevin Dasom, Almira Muhlach, Thea Tolentino, John Feir, Ashley Rivera, Jeff Moses, Migs Almendras, and Cris Villanueva.
Directed by Jorron Lee Monroy, the series will air Monday to Saturday at 2:30 PM on GMA Afternoon Prime and will also be available on GMA Pinoy TV for international audiences.
Labrusca first rose to fame in 2016 after joining ‘Pinoy Boyband Superstar’ and later became known for his work in ABS-CBN projects. His most recent series was ‘Nag-aapoy na Damdamin’, a collaboration between ABS-CBN and TV5.
