Glaiza de Castro – The Rich Man’s Daughter

By starrymag | September 21, 2015

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) We know that during filming there were some restrictions, but do you know if there are any juicy behind the scenes or extra content that fans will get to see with the upcoming DVD?

 

A) I’m also hoping they will release behind the scenes and extra content for the DVD, but as far as I know there will be a digital release which will include downloads, digital kiosk or viewing via the internet or through mobile devices. As of writing, “The Richman’s Daughter” is set to air in Iflix, an internet TV.

 

Q) If given a chance to work with other musicians, both local and international scene, who would it/they be?

A) I’ve always been vocal about wanting to collaborate with Armi Millare from Up Dharma Down. I like her voice and her music has been my inspiration. Internationally, I’d like to work with Damon Albarn. I love how diverse he is when it comes to collaborating with other artists. From Blur to Gorillaz and beyond, he’s amazing because he doesn’t stick to one genre and he still knows what he wants.

 

Q) “The Rich Man’s Daughter” has become quite the beacon for LGBT fans not just in Philippines but internationally, what has this significance meant to you?

 

A) Every time I hear people say that we’ve changed their lives or we gave them hope I feel like, as an artist, we’ve fulfilled our purpose – that we made something right. That’s the most important thing – the impact that we have left the viewers that will stay even after the show is over.

 

Q) The finale gave us such amazing character dynamics and diverse storylines, what was it like filming?

Q) I think the creative team did a wonderful job on the development of those characters and storylines and the people behind the show helped us to reach our objectives. The long hours of work and intense scenes were challenging, but I’m thankful that I have co-actors who are so collaborative and generous so it’s easier to connect and find stimulus. I’ll definitely miss that.

 

Q) Which character do you most relate to? Jade, Althea, Wila, Batchi or another character?

A) Althea. I look up to her in a lot of ways; from how she carries herself to how she fights for the ones she love. She’s not perfect but she has dignity. She speaks with eloquence and sincerity.

 

6) How do you handle the negative reactions to your role as Althea and what did you learn by playing this character?

A) I can’t please everyone and I know they have their own opinions on how I played the role, but as long as there are people who saw truth in it, That’s what I focus on. What I learned by playing Althea is that there will always be somebody who’ll accept you for who you are and not for what you’ve achieved. They will fight for you, sacrifice for you. You just have to do what’s right and believe that good things will be given at the right time.

 

Q) Can you talk about your upcoming music tour, what can fans expect and what will the vibe be like?

 

A) It will be very personal since I’ll be singing songs from my album. Every time I perform, I’m giving a part of me to the audience. My goal is to connect to them and make them feel relaxed, excited and inspired.

 

Q) The connection between Jade and Althea runs so deeply and is like a constant live spark, what do you attribute this to?

 

A) Honestly, we didn’t expect we’d have that chemistry. I guess when it’s there, it’s there. You cannot fake it. I think the fact that we are both comfortable with each other is a big factor. Plus, we really get along on and off cam. We discuss scenes before a take, talk about our life, music… We both love to work hard.

 

Q) If there is a next season, what are your hopes and wishes as far as storylines and pushing more boundaries?

A) It would be interesting if there’s another season. I would have loved for the show to tackle more issues beyond the love story and family acceptance. Like Batchi and Althea more as parents could be one, discrimination in the workplace and other universal issues that affect the characters involved in “The Rich Man’s Daughter.”

Q) How do you think “The Rich Man’s Daughter” will impact the societal norms of LGBT relationships in the Philippines and throughout Asia as well?

 

A) The fact that a show such as “The Rich Man’s Daughter” was aired in a conservative country such as the Philippines is groundbreaking in itself. “The Rich Man’s Daughter” showed the layers of personalities that a lesbian can have. It showed that expression is different from orientation and being a lesbian doesn’t equate to being masculine. As for relationships, “The Rich Man’s Daughter” broke the long history of lesbian characters not having a happy ending. We saw Jade (Rhian Ramos) and Althea celebrating love in the finale episode and I think that left a huge impact and gave hope to LGBT couples. I hope that the show and its impact to the viewers left a challenge to the mainstream media to produce more shows that challenge the status quo.