Ben Madilynn
January 13, 2025 | 12:00am
Jillian Ward is further transitioning into a more grown-up artist with her latest GMA Network project, “My Ilongga Girl.” The primetime series, which premieres tonight, represents an exciting new chapter for the soon 20-year-old former child star, allowing her to venture into the world of love teams and romantic-comedies after her hit medical-themed afternoon series “Abot-Kamay na Pangarap.”
In the GMA Public Affairs-produced show, which premieres tonight at 9:35 and airs Mondays through Thursdays thereafter, Jillian takes on the dual role of Tata, a humble Ilongga from the province, and Venice, a glamorous actress, according to the synopsis. Things get exciting if not complicated when Tata gets thrust into Venice’s world, leading to a series of encounters that forever changes her life.
This project marks Jillian’s first time in a serious love team with Michael Sager, and it’s an experience she described as challenging. “It’s really my first serious love team po na nasa script talaga. In ‘Abot-Kamay na Pangarap,’ I had (sweet) dialogues, but they weren’t planned. Kumbaga bigla nalang po nagustuhan ng tao and biglang nagkaroon ng chemistry (with my co-stars),” she told The STAR.
“So, this is really more challenging for me. Although in ‘Abot-Kamay,’ there were kilig scenes, dito po talaga merong sobrang lapit na titigan, mga hug. It’s really new for me.”
Though the romantic moments push her acting limits, Jillian is thriving with the help of her leading man, Michael. “With Michael, he really makes sure that I’m comfortable. So he always talks to me, he messages me and sometimes, he complains, ‘Makikipag-communicate ka naman.’
“But I have a side in me that’s still shy. I mean, I talk to everyone, I greet everyone, but I have this side na bigla akong na tatahimik, I don’t know why. But he makes sure that the taping every day is going to be fun.”
Although Jillian is embracing the rom-com genre, she remains focused on exploring diverse roles and establishing her identify in the business with or without a love team partner. “Well, of course, my views are the same. But also, I want to explore other characters,” she said.
“As a standalone artist, I’m also exploring the idea that you can have a leading man and have kilig scenes.”
The series boasts a powerhouse cast composed of both young, and seasoned actors, including Michael Sager, Teresa Loyzaga, Arra San Agustin, Lianne Valentin and Arlene Muhlach, alongside Empoy Marquez, Yasser Marta, Richard Quan, Andrea del Rosario, Vince Maristela, Patricia Ismael, Yesh Burce, youngsters Sabreenika Santos, Geo Mhanna, and veteran actress Carla Martinez.
Another essential aspect of “My Ilongga Girl” is the opportunity it gives Jillian to connect with her Ilongga roots. “Actually, my mom is from Bacolod po,” she said.
As her busy schedule often keeps her from traveling for leisure, she admitted she’s only able to visit Bacolod and her relatives there whenever she has a regional show. “But somehow po, I’m able to communicate with the Ilongga side of my family.”
Jillian also takes pride in learning Hiligaynon to connect more authentically with her character. “On the set we have a Hiligaynon coach who has been teaching me the basic stuff, for now. But I really want to be fluent in Hiligaynon,” she shared.
Meanwhile, Jillian is turning 20 years old on Feb. 23. She plans to spend her birthday at work. “I’m at my happiest when I’m at work. If I have no work, I feel like getting sick. Even when I go abroad, I still think of work like, ‘Am I not wasting my time here? I should be in the Philippines training and doing workshops,’” she said.
“But we’ll see what happens because this year, 2025, I am planning to explore more of life,” said the actress, who’s been acting for 15 years now.
As for a real love life? She reacted, “That’s what’s funny about the (romantic) scenes in ‘My Ilongga Girl,’ there’s still awkwardness. Because I’m used to roles without a leading man, and my past roles were parang bata (more childlike). Now, it’s really different. It’s like a version 2.0. So maybe in real life, too, it’s time to grow, transform and experience new things.”
