Fast-rising actress Ashtine Olviga has reached a new milestone in her career as she headlines her own drama anthology series, Ashtine Anthology, featuring four distinct chapters: ‘Who’s The Boss?’, ‘Bahay-bahayan’, ‘Balik-Eskwela’, and ‘My Melody’.
The young actress expressed deep gratitude to her home studio for entrusting her with the project, which she considers a major breakthrough.
During the series’ media conference at Viva Café, Ashtine was introduced as the ‘Phenomenal Star’ and ‘The Nation’s Mutya’ — titles she admitted she feels shy about embracing.
“Parang kapag may mga ganyang puri, parang hindi po ako sanay,” she said. “Na-awkward po ako. Parang mas gusto ko, sabihin mo na lang Ashtine Olviga. Yun na lang, ganoon na lang.”
Despite her humility, she acknowledged the significance of the recognition.
“Pero kung nakikita po na ganoon, siyempre thankful and grateful po ako na parang at last, naa-appreciate at nakikita po ako ng mga tao. Kung ganoon po ang tingin sa akin, sobrang nakakataba po ng puso,” she added.
Among the highlights of the anthology is her collaboration with veteran actresses Claudine Barretto and Rufa Mae Quinto — an opportunity Ashtine described as a “bonggang privilege.”
She shared that she deeply admired Claudine’s humility on set. Despite her stature in the industry, Claudine personally closed a door during a shoot instead of calling on staff to do it.
Ashtine also praised Claudine’s acting prowess, saying she was in awe of the veteran star’s performance.
From Rufa Mae, on the other hand, Ashtine said she learned the value of enjoying one’s work. The set atmosphere, she recalled, was consistently lively and joyful.
The young actress even admitted that she has unconsciously picked up some of Rufa Mae’s mannerisms.
“Kahit wala sa harap ng kamera, napapasalita raw ako sa style ni Rufa Mae,” she shared, joking that she sometimes feels “sinapian” by the comedienne. She added that even at home, her responses occasionally come out “ala-Rufa Mae.”
However, she acknowledged that mimicking the seasoned comedienne’s comedic timing and energy was no easy task and proved to be a challenge.
In ‘Ashtine Anthology’, the actress takes on four different characters, each episode helmed by a different director and featuring a varied roster of co-stars. The format allows her to showcase her range and versatility as a performer.
