“Blood vs Duty” went above and beyond in introducing its immensely harrowing premise on the primetime screen during its premiere week. The show was likewise entirely unflinching in grappling with painful realities that mirrored actual Philippine society.
In the heartfelt April 11 episode of Jeepney TV’s “Stars On Stars,” Kapamilya celebrity couple Richard Gutierrez and Barbie Imperial opened up about their relationship dynamics, nostalgic backstories, and the way “Blood vs Duty” brought something new into their lives and careers.
As the first person to raise insightful questions about their teleserye, Richard sought out which particular scene in the show would probably make Barbie’s younger self surprised that she was capable of such a feat. The Kapamilya actress then clarified that it wasn’t merely one scene, but instead, every single scene, and went on to further spotlight the top-notch actors and actresses around her whom she had to measure up to.
“Here sa ‘Blood vs Duty’ ang gagaling n’yo… Feel ko kailangan ko kayong sabayan. I think ‘yun ‘yung akala ko hindi ko kayang gawin kasi sobrang nakaka-pressure being with you guys,” Barbie expressed.
Following that, Richard heartily praised Barbie for her relentless efforts to accurately portray the inspiring Muslim woman character of Jamilah Abubakar. “Sobrang dedicated ako. Inaaral ko isa-isa talaga, and I get affected kapag hindi ko siya naaaral,” she added.
When it was Barbie’s turn to pose questions to Richard, it was mainly about what specific moment during the show made him feel proud about himself. The Kapamilya actor further explained that there weren’t any special features, but rather, the level of passion that he brings to his performance.
“Dito sa ‘Blood vs Duty’ siguro na-push ako ni Direk FM Reyes to give my best sa mga eksena, especially [sa] mga emotional scenes… Dito ko rin minsan nase-share ‘yung growth ko as a person, sa emotional scenes nailalabas,” he underscored.
In light of the personal growth she underwent as the series progressed, Barbie talked about the simultaneously granted blessings she was grateful for. “During ‘Blood vs Duty’ doon nagsabay-sabay ‘yung blessings and everything, kasi ‘d iba last year medyo quiet ako,” she recounted.
Apart from all the good things, Barbie also acknowledged the obstacles surrounding her personal growth, specifically when it comes to staying true to herself regardless of being surrounded by different people, adversities, and even good fortunes. Richard then did not cease to applaud Barbie’s transformation as an actress, which Barbie embraced, emphasizing that she’s definitely more serious in her career and relishes the times when she’s studying the script with Richard.
Given that Barbie’s latest progress in acting is also greatly shaped by her culturally relevant role in the show, she meticulously researches the Muslim identity and culture of Jamilah, wanting every detail to be as precise as possible. “Jamilah is a Muslim woman. I always make sure na tama ‘yung ginagawa ko… Ayaw kong maka-offend ng mga mahal nating Muslim [and] I’m thankful na merong consultant na Muslim sa set,” she shared.
At the very end, Richard honestly commented on the lessons he unexpectedly absorbed while serving as Marcus Reyes, the head agent of Task Force Alpha, assigned to lead missions that dealt with gun-related violence, ruthless syndicates, and pervasive smuggling.
“Ang nire-represent ng character ko dito is ‘yung mga sundalo at law enforcements natin na nagigipit din… Gusto nilang maging marangal, maging mabuti, magserbisyo nang maayos, pero maraming mga pulitika at corrupt [at] napupunta sila sa sitwasyon na wala silang choice,” he pointed out.
Richard also disclosed that he willingly visited Marawi City, where he became acquainted with stationed Filipino soldiers for several days, highlighting the way the accounts they shared allowed him to fully understand his role.
Be sure to watch Richard and Barbie as Marcus and Jamilah in “Blood vs Duty,” streaming on iWant and airing weeknights at 8 pm on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL).