Shaina Magdayao Shines As A Former Drug Addict Who Becomes Derek Ramsay's Trainer In Public Speaking In 'My Candidate'

SHAINA MAGDAYAO started as a child actress and then became a teen star at ABS-CBN. Now 25 years old, she was given leading lady status only on TV, like in her most recent shows, “Nathaniel” and “Single/Single”. But on the big screen, she always plays supporting roles, like in “Pagpag”, “Four Sisters & a Wedding” and “On the Job”.

She now gets to play her most challenging role in her movie career as the leading lady of Derek Ramsay in Quantum Films’ timely offering for the coming elections, “My Candidate”, directed by Quark Henares.

We’ve seen the movie in its press preview and she gives justice to her role as Billie, a life coach who teaches other people how to put their life in order. But the irony of it is that her own life is a mess and she’s a former drug addict who spent one year in rehab. She is then hired to be the trainer of a senatorial candidate, Derek Ramsay, so he can do better in public speaking and sparks soon fly between them. So how is it working with Derek? Didn’t she have any hesitation being paired with him as he’s known for doing sexy scenes with his leading ladies?

“No hesitation,” she says. “I’ve done love scenes naman before, like in ‘On the Job’. Also, maganda ang story, maganda ang role ko in ‘My Candidate’, so it would be my pleasure to do the movie with Derek. Good friend niya ang sister ko (Vina Morales) so dati na rin kaming magkakilala.”

But we heard she was ill at ease in doing a kissing scene with him it took seven takes before they perfected it. “Sabi kasi ni Direk Quark Henares, hindi convincing yung unang halikan namin, kulang sa passion. Kailangan daw, mas romantic, so we had to reshoot.”

Derek says he enjoyed it. “It’s a very romantic kiss, very short but still very passionate. Masarap halikan si Shaina kasi maganda ang lips niya. I like her lips.”

Shaina laughs. “Dapat ba akong magpasalamat doon? Basta, kung anong pinagagawa ni Direk, ginawa ko na para hindi na humaba pa at matapos na.”

She remains loveless after her breakup with John Lloyd Cruz, who has since hooked up and also parted ways with Angelica Panganiban. What can she say about this?

“Nothing. Ayokong makisawsaw sa love affairs ng ibang tao. It’s none of my business. As for me, hindi ako nagmamadali. Hindi naman yan hinahanap. I will just wait kung sino si Mr. Right na ibibigay sa akin ni Lord in His right time. Baka naman na-traffic lang siya. Basta as of now, I feel complete as a person and I’m okay being alone.”