ALTHEA ABLAN
Like a Flower in Bloom
Althea Ablan was thrust into the limelight and suddenly gained thousands of followers on social media, all thanks to one show. But, still unknown to many, the 17-year-old celebrity once questioned herself if being an actress was her destiny.
Text by: Aaron Brennt Eusebio
Photos by: Prima Donnas
“I’ll give my 100 percent para lang ma-proud sila sa akin, especially my family, kasi sila talaga ’yung nandyan to support me, and ayoko naman na hindi nila nakikita ’yung best ko."
Like her contemporaries, Althea Ablan has gone to countless go-sees and commercials before she got the chance to be an actor and become one of GMA Network’s most promising young stars. Her showbiz beginnings, however, were not as easy as everyone might think.
Growing up with three brothers made Althea feel loved and supported and protected. In her interview with GMANetwork.com, she recalls how supportive her family was of her childhood interests and pursuits.
“Nung mga bata kami, nandyan pa rin ’yung mga kulitan, harutan, away ganyan pero ngayon, super close na kami sa isa’t isa which is natutuwa ako kasi, ’di ba, madalas ’pag magkakapatid laging nag-aaway ganyan. Kami, bihira lang talaga,” she recalls, her eyes lighting up at the memory.
“Actually, sa totoo lang, kami ’yung always nandyan sa isa’t isa kapag may kailangan, or ’yung secrets, sila ’yung naasahan ko.”
Althea's love for her parents and her brothers has always kept her grounded. It is also one of the reasons she’s inspired to become a better version of herself.
“I’ll give my 100 percent para lang ma-proud sila sa akin, especially my family, kasi sila talaga ’yung nandyan to support me, and ayoko naman na hindi nila nakikita ’yung best ko.”
VTR, go-sees, and commercials
Althea’s interest in showbiz started when she was only 6 years old, at the time she landed a stint for a soap brand commercial. Since then, Althea has not stopped finding (and loving) work that would allow her to be in front of the camera.
She recalls, “Nung six years old ako, nagsimula ako sa commercial. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko rin alam paano ako napasok sa pag-bi-VTR pero nung nasimulan ko na, nagmo-mall show na din ako. Nagustuhan ko siya tapos naging routine ko na mag-show sa camera.”
After years of doing commercials, Althea was discovered by television director Albert Langitan on the set of the 2015 GMA drama series Beautiful Strangers, where she played the young version of Heart Evangelista's character Kristine.
“Dalawang beses akong nag-audition sa GMA. ’Yung una, wala na akong balita doon, sabi babalikan ako, hindi ako binalikan. Second naman, nagkaroon ako ng show and nandoon si Direk Albert Langitan, na-discover niya ako, kinuha niya ’yung number ko tapos tinulungan niya ako pumasok sa GMA. And then, ayun, nakapasok na ako sa GMA that time and sunod-sunod na ’yung shows.”
Although Althea became part of such iconic teleseryes as Encantadia (2015) and Mulawin vs. Ravena (2017), she still asked herself if playing the “younger versions” of the lead stars was all that she was ever going to do.
“Ang dami kong na-portray na young, parang nag-Encantadia ako, Mulawin vs. Ravena, meron pang iba, e, tapos na-feel ko, sabi ko, ‘Puro young na lang ba ’yung gagampanan ko?’ And then, nakakagulat na merong wini-work na show na tatlong bida, sabi ko, ‘Ito na ba talaga ’yun?’ Kasi once na nakaka-receive ako ng messages, hindi ko masyadong ini-excited ’yung sarili ko kasi ilang beses na akong naka-feel na may sasabihin na magkakaroon ako ng show pero matatanggal or hindi matutuloy, so hindi ko masyadong pini-feel.”
That show with the three stars that Althea is referring to is the top-rating Prima Donnas, the GMA Afternoon Prime series which also stars Jillian Ward and Sofia Pablo.
“Nung nag-story conference na kami for ‘Prima Donnas’ doon ko na-feel na, ay totoo na talaga ’to, super masaya ako and na-excite ako na ito na ’yung simula,” she narrates, barely hiding the excitement in her voice.
Sweet Taste of Success
In the first season of Prima Donnas, Althea’s character Donna Belle is the ambitious and boyish of the triplets, the complete opposite of how Althea is in real life. Still, she accepted in her heart that Prima Donnas could be her big break in her young showbiz career.
“Sa totoo lang, sobrang happy ako ngayon kasi ito na ’yung big break ko, e, kaya kailangan ko nang i-focus ’to, ibibigay ko ’yung best ko palagi para sunod-sunod na. Before, young character, always ganyan, and then parang same character lang. Dito sa ‘Prima Donnas,’ nag-iba talaga ’yung character, e, mas nabigyan ng laman ’yung character ko lalo na’t boyish, matapang, which is opposite naman ni Althea. Sobrang saya ko lang na nabigyan talaga ako ng big break ng GMA at pinagkatiwalaan nila ako.”
The show met unexpected popularity. It became one of the country’s highest-rated afternoon series, with its peak reaching 14.2 percent rating during its February 11, 2021 episode. This development made Althea a “celebrity” that when she went to Mindanao in 2021 to spend the Holidays with her family, people recognized her as Donna Belle even if Althea was wearing a face mask and a pair of shades.
“Nakakagulat kasi kahit ngayon na pandemic, naka-face mask and everything, nakikilala pa rin nila ako. Pumunta akong Mindanao, ang dami pong nakakakilala sa akin, as in, ’yung pag-punta ko ng mall, naka-face mask na ako and shades, nakilala po nila ako, tinatawag nila akong Donna Belle, nakakatuwa. Nakakatuwa ng puso sobra kasi alam mo na merong nagsu-support sa’yo kahit saang lugar.”
Despite the massive success and popularity of Prima Donnas, Althea managed to stay humble, thanks to her parents, who always kept her feet on the ground. Looking back on her young, budding showbiz career, Althea has found the most important lesson in success, realizing that she only needs to compete with herself and herself alone.
“Ako, masaya ako sa journey ko kasi hindi ko nilalagyan ng pressure ’yung sarili ko, basta parang go with the flow lang ako, and kung ano ’yung ibibigay sa akin, tatanggapin ko. Siyempre, wala pa naman akong name, nag-i-start pa lang ako, so kung ano talaga ’yung ibibigay sa akin, ’yun ’yung gagawin ko.
“Laging sinasabi sa akin ng Mommy at Daddy ko na always be humble. Meron ding nagsabi sa akin na isang veteran actor na kailangan mo maging humble kasi kapag hindi ka humble, hindi ka tatagal sa showbiz. Ako, as my personality din na sobrang mahinhin and ayokong makipag-compete talaga sa iba kasi gusto ko mag-work, e, and acting is my passion. So gusto ko mag-focus lang sa kung ano ang gusto ko at kung ano ’yung dream ko, so ayun.
“Deadma ako sa iba, mas focus ako sa self ko.”
With the way her career is shaping up and her dedication to her job, one could say that it would not take long for Althea Ablan to make a bigger mark in the business. But even if it would take a long time, you know that Althea Ablan has the patience to wait it out.
