Jane de Leon recalls enduring hardships of life before playing iconic ‘Darna’ role

Jane de Leon toiled long and hard before she finally reached a highlight in her career: playing “Darna,” an iconic role coveted by many actresses.

De Leon recalled the many hardships she had gone through in life before fate smiled at her.

“Taga-Laguna po ako. Minsan nga ‘yung P100 pagkakasyahin namin ng Mama ko. Kung hindi po dahil sa Mama ko, wala po ako ngayon dito. ‘Yung P100 na ‘yun, pinagkakasya po namin ng Mama ko,” she recalled during the live face-to-face grand mediacon for the series, August 8.

(I am from Laguna. Sometimes I and Mama had to make do with P100. If it weren’t for Mama, I wouldn’t be here. That P100 was what we all had for our needs.)

“Bababa po kami sa Magallanes, sasakay kami ng MRT tapos ‘yung Skyflakes, pagkakasyahin na naming dalawa kahit po ‘yung tubig. Ganoon po kahirap talaga,” she recalled. (We would alight at Magallanes, take the MRT, and make do with [limited] Skyflakes [biscuits] and [equally limited] water. That was how poor we were.)

Now that “Darna” is finally taking finally, the actress is “overwhelmed.”

“Ito na po ‘yung pagkakataon naming para ipakita namin sa mundo ‘yung pinaghirapan ng production, mapa-staff and directors.  Siyempre, matagal na po nitong hinintay ng sambayanang Pilipino at marami po kayong aabangan pagdating sa effects, sa costume, sa mga villains at siyempre sa bagong istorya ng Darna,” she said.

(This is now the chance to show to the  world the product of hard labor by the production, staff and directors. Of course, this was long anticipated by the public and you can look forward to see much in terms of effects, costume, things related to villains and of course the new story of Darna.)

When asked who’s Darna in her life, De Leon instantly mentioned her mom and dad.

“Simula noong una,  hindi naman  kami ganoon kayaman. Lumaki po ako sa hirap. Nakita ko po ‘yung sakripisyo ng magulang ko, kung paano niya pinalaki nang mabuti ang kanyang mga anak,” she said.

(At the start, we were not that rich. I grew up poor. I saw the sacrifices of my parents, how they raised well their children.)

And now that she’s playing the iconic role, De Leon reminds herself to stay humble and make her feet stay on the ground.

“Dapat po talaga stay humble lang kasi nire-remind ko ang sarili ko kung saan ba talaga ako galing, kung ano ‘yung pinagdaanan ko. For me, gagampanan ko lang po ang isang role. Basta stay humble at ipagpatuloy ko lang po kung ano ‘yung kailangan kong gawin,” she said.

(I really should stay humble because I remind myself of where I came from, of what I’ve been through. For me, I will just play a role. Just stay humble and I will just continue what I need to do.)

“Darna” starts  airing  on Aug. 15 via Kapamilya Channel, A2Z and TV5.  /ra

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