From production postponements and constant changes of lead actors, Filipino superhero Darna is set to finally fly once again with Jane de Leon at its helm.
During the show’s media launch, De Leon shared the things she learned in portraying the iconic character.
“If you can help, help. There’s no such thing as big or small; it’s a big deal for people who are in need. Let’s be an inspiration to other people,” the 23 year-old actor said.
De Leon didn’t expect anything upon auditioning for Darna. When the movie got canceled, she wasn’t prepared for it to turn into a TV series. Yet, she is thankful that everything is finally coming into fruition.
When asked who her own Darna is, she shared, “Si Mama at si Papa. Simula pa noong una hindi po kami ganoon kayaman, at lumaki po ako sa hirap. Nakita ko po ‘yung sakripisyo ng magulang ko kung paano nila pinalaking mabuti ‘yung kanilang anak (Mama and Papa. From the start, we were not well-off, and I grew up poor and saw how my parents made sacrifices to raise their children well).”
Darna, a creation by Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo, follows a provincial girl named Narda who lives with her brother Ding. Both of them were orphaned and were raised by their grandmother.
From the first generations of Darna
“‘Yung pagiging Darna, relevant ‘yan eh, lalo na ngayon na napupuno tayo ng challenges sa buhay. ‘Yung character niya nagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa mga tao (Being Darna is relevant, especially now that there are full of challenges. Her character brings inspiration to people),” said Vilma Santos- Recto who played Darna in 1970s.
“Maraming nag aasam na maging Darna, icon na ‘yung character. Malaking malaking karangalan ‘yan para sa isang artista na tulad kong makaganap na isang Darna. At ngayon, Jane, ikaw ang napiling Darna. Bigyan mo sila ng inspirasyon na meron ka ring pagmamahal, meron ka rin tiwala, at meron ka ring pag-asa (Many want to be Darna. The character is an icon. It is a huge honor for actors like me to take on the role of Darna. And now, Jane, you are chosen to be Darna. Give them inspiration in knowing that you have love, faith and hope),” Santos-Recto said.
“Ang daming humawak ng batong ‘yan. Ngayon Jane nasa iyo ang bato. Pangalagaan mo mabuti. Maging ehemplo ka ng henerasyon ngayon (Many have held the stone. Now, Jane, it is in your possession. Take good care of it. Be a good example of this generation),” she added.
Rio Locsin, who plays Roberta Ferrer-Custodio in the latest adaptation, reminded De Leon to always keep in heart what it truly means to be a superhero.
“Lagi kong sinasabi ‘to kay Jane, napakalaking karangalan, napakalaking prebilehiyo. I-imbibe, dalhin mo sa puso mo. Hindi mo alam kung kailan mawawala ang bato sa ’yo, kaya panindigan mo. Buhayin mo sa sarili mo kasi sayang ‘yung pagkakataon (I always say this to Jane: It is a big honor, a big privilege. Take it to heart. You don’t know when the stone will be gone, so make the most out of it. Live it so that the chance will not go to waste),” she said.
Locsin played Darna in Bira, Darna, Bira (1979).
Joining De Leon in the cast are Joshua Garcia as Brian Robles, Janella Salvador as Valentina and Zaijian Jaranilla as Ding. Darna screens today, 15 August, at the Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live, and iWantTFC.