Barbie Forteza Shuns Primetime Princess Of GMA Title, Says She's Just Happy That Her New Show 'Meant To Be' Is A Big Hit

BARBIE FORTEZA is aware that some quarters are calling her the Primetime Princess of GMA-7 because her show, ‘Meant to Be’, is a certified hit. She and her four leading men Ken Chan, Ivan Dorschner, Jak Roberto and Addy Raj, have become so popular that malls are now requesting GMA Artist Center for them to do free shows in their respective malls. What can she say about this?

“Grabe talaga kasi ang response sa kanila ng crowd,” says a GMA insider. “Kapag na-announce na may personal appearance sila sa isang mall, humuhugos talaga ang mga tao para manood at napupuno ang malls. Ganyan din ng dalhin sila sa Sinulog at Dinagyang Festivals in Cebu and Iloilo. May demand talaga sa kanila kaya nakatakda sila ngayong bumisita sa Baguio, Davao and other places na nagde-demand mag-show sila roon.”

So what can Barbie say about her being the Primetime Princess? “Naku, ang ganyang titles, madaling ibigay, so hindi dapat sineseryoso. Ang daming iba pang nagre-rate din ang shows sa primetime, no? Basta happy ako at lahat ng kasama ko sa ‘Meant to Be’ na tinangkilik kami ng tao.”

What can she say now that her four leading men has his own legion of fans who are now quarreling with each other? “Nakakagulat. Kasi yung dalawa lang ang partner ko, nag-aaway na yung fans, e ngayon, apat pa sila. Kapag tinatanong ako kung kanino ako mapupunta, ang sagot is: hindi ko po alam. Kasi maski yung writers ng show, they say hindi pa nila alam at this point kasi pinupulsuhan pa nila kung sino talaga ang mas papaboran ng viewers.”

But it’s said she obviously favors Ivan among them all. “HIndi naman. Pare-parehas lang ang tingin ko sa kanilang lahat. Pare-parehas! As of now, mas nagiging close na kaming lahat sa isa’t isa kasi halos araw-araw ang taping namin. Sa story, nagiging mas close na ako kay Jak Roberto after finding out may girlfriend na si Ivan. Si Addy naman, full Indian siya, pero ang bilis matuto. Ang bilis pumick up ng instructions at pinapa-translate niya talaga ang buong script sa kagustuhan niyang matuto.”

How about Ken Chan as Yuan Lee? Why do they continue to fight like “aso’t pusa”? “Yes, hindi ko pa alam kung kailan kami magkakabati at magiging more friendly sa isa’t isa. Basta as of now, magkaaway pa rin yung characters namin and viewers find it intriguing nga, e.”

And Ivan, what did she see in the shower where she was supposed to have seen him totally in the nude? “Daya lang yun. Wala akong nakita. Ang haba kaya ng shorts na suot niya roon. At saka wholesome po yung show namin.”