Jean and Jennica Garcia

Jean Garcia and her daughter Jennica inspired GMA-7 to adapt the komiks serial-turned-movie, “Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita?” to the small screen.

“Since we have them [in our stable of stars] we decided to buy the rights from [komiks writer] Gilda Olvidado,” revealed GMA-7’s vice president for drama, Lilibeth Rasonable, at the Jan. 19 press conference for the afternoon soap also titled “Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita?”

Jean and Jennica, who were both in the cast of the 2007 primetime soap, “Impostora,” but hardly had scenes together, are honored to be given the opportunity to star opposite each other.

“Ang gusto ko lang [ay] hindi magsisi ang GMA na binigay nila sa amin ang trabaho,” said Jennica.

She added that there’s more pressure to be compared to Lorna Tolentino, who originated her Rizzi role in the movie, rather than to her own mother.

“Parang ang pakiramdam kailangan mahigitan ko s’ya,” she pointed out, referring to Lorna. “Sa Mama ko kasi like ‘pag may nagsasabi na sexy s’ya, proud pa ako. I don’t feel pressured when people compare me to her.”

Jennica also found working with Jean a breeze. “Kaya lang po sa eksena namin na sobrang taray n’ya, natatawa po ako. [I tell her] Ang taray mo. Hindi ka naman ganyan,” she laughed.

Jean, on other hand, had some reservations. “Hindi lang kasi pag-arte ang nasa isip mo,” she reasons. “Gusto mo rin s’yang suportahan [as a mother]. Mahirap turuan kasi hindi ako ang klase ng nanay na dahil pareho kaming artista tuturuan ko ang anak ko sa pag-arte.

“Sa ibang tao nakakapagsabi ako ng ‘Parang hindi yata tama ‘yan’ or ‘Parang mas maganda yata ang ganito.’ Pero ‘pag sa anak ko, hindi ako makapagturo. Gusto ko na ilabas n’ya ‘yung natural na galing niya.

“At napakagaling naman n’ya talaga. Hindi s’ya nagpapatalo. Hindi s’ya nagpapaiwan [sa mga eksena]. Pinapatunayan n’ya talaga na gagawin n’ya ang lahat dahil sa tiwalang binigay ng GMA.”

Jean also described the experience of acting alongside her daughter as extraordinary. “Nakakatensyon na nakakailang. May mga eksena kami dito na inaaway ko s’ya na hinawakan ko ang kamay n’ya. Hindi ko pa na-experience ‘yan sa totoong buhay dahil naging mabuti s’yang anak,” she said.

On “Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita,” Jean is unconventional Alvina, who has three children – Rav (played by Dion Ignacio), Rossan (Iwa Moto) and Rizzi (Jennica) by different fathers. Alvina is closest to Rizzi but their bond breaks when the latter’s father Daniel (Ariel Rivera) surfaces and tries to build a relationship with his daughter. Alvina looks down on Daniel, causing Rizzi to resent her.

Jean and Jennica are expected to figure in explosive confrontation scenes just like in the 1985 movie starring, aside from Lorna, great actress Rita Gomez.

“Napakagaling nila,” said Jean of Rita and Lorna. “Mga icons kaya may pressure para kahit paano’y mapantayan sila at mabigyan ng magandang pag-arte. Dahil mahal naman namin ang aming trabaho, gagawin namin ang lahat.”

“Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita” is the latest installment in GMA-7’s “Sinenobela” afternoon soap series and it will debut on Jan. 25 after “Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit” on the station’s Drama sa Hapon block.