Kapamilya star Jane de Leon looked every inch a beauty queen during the grand media conference of "Mars Ravelo's Darna" held last Monday, Aug. 8.
"Talaga po? Thank you," said Jane, when told she could easily pass for a beauty queen.
But her mom Hearty smiled and said pageantry is not Jane's cup of tea, although her daughter joined several schools and community pageants. "Mas gusto niyang maging artsta."
At the same mediacon, Jane recalled her journey in showbiz when she and her mom would commute from Laguna to ABS-CBN in Quezon City just to attend acting workshops.
"Taga Laguna po talaga kami. Minsan nga yung P100 pesos pinagkakasya namin yun ni mama. Kung hindi po sa nanay ko, wala po ako rito. Yung P100 pesos pinagkakasya po talaga namin yun sa pamasahe. From Magallanes, baba po kami run para sumakay ng MRT. Tapos pagkakasyahin naming dalawa yung Sky Flakes pati na yung tubig. Ganun po talaga kahirap yung ginagawa namin noon. Tiyaga lang talaga," Jane added. "Kung ano man ang natutunan natin sa buhay, maging inspirasyon tayo," said the 23-year-old star.
Hearty also said that her daughter is saving up to buy a house soon. "Sa ngayon kasi nag-re rent pa rin po kami pero naghahanap na rin kami ng sariling bahay."
Jane revealed she was really heartbroken when Darna was postponed on several occasions. Initially, ABS-CBN planned to make a movie version of Darna, but they decided to make it a TV series. Now that Darna is finally airing, Jane admitted there's pressure in taking the time slot of the blockbuster series "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano" which aired its final episode last Aug. 12 after seven years.
Though she was first announced as the new generation’s Darna back in 2019, to this day, Jane is still in awe of this amazing opportunity. “It’s really a big project and, siyempre, iconic role ’to si Darna, but everything has a reason. I tried. Nag-audition ako for this role and ’yun, may tiwala ako kay Lord kung ano ’yung plan Niya—kung bakit Niya ako nilagay dito bilang si Darna.”
“Ito na po ang pagkakataon namin para ipakita sa buong mundo ang pinaghirapan ng production, lahat ng cast, mapa-staff and directors. Matagal na rin po itong hinintay ng sambayanang Pilipino,” said Jane. "Maraming-marami po kayong aabangan pagdating sa effects, costumes, villains, at syempre sa bagong istorya ng ‘Darna."
The Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos, who starred in several Darna movies in the 70s, gave some inspiring words to Jane via Zoom.
“Yung pagiging Darna, relevant yan, lalo na ngayon na napupuno tayo ng challenges sa buhay. Ang karakter niya ay nagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa mga tao,” the multi-awarded actress, who starred in four Darna movies, said. “Jane, na sa’yo na ang bato! Pangalaan mo yang mabuti. Maging ehemplo ka ng henerasyon ngayon," said Ate Vi.
Jane said that she was surpised to get a special message from Vilma. "Gagawin ko talaga ang best ko."Veteran star Rio Locsin, who also became Darna 43 years ago, shared some words of wisdom with the young star.
"Lagi kong sinasabi kay Jane napalakaking karangalan na maging Darna. Mahirap pero hindi lahat nabibigyan ng pagkakataon maging Darna. Andito lang kami at hindi ka namin pababayaan. Lahat ng suporta ibibigay namin sa'yo. Buhayin mo sa sarili mo kasi sayang ang pagkakataon na binigay sa kanya," said Rio.
Asked about the real Darna in her life, Jane said: "Ang tunay na Darna sa buhay ko po ay ang mga magulang ko po: si mama at si papa. Kasi sa simula po, hindi naman kami ganun kayaman at lumaki po ako sa hirap. Nakita ko po yung sakripisyo ng mga magulang ko kung paano po nila pinalaki yung kanilang mga anak."
The series will chronicle the life of Narda, an emergency medical technician (EMT) and a loving breadwinner to the Custodio family, who is destined to become the next protector of the powerful stone that enables her to transform into a superhero who has special abilities to help those in danger.
Joining Jane in this year’s most awaited program are Iza Calzado who plays Narda’s mother Leonor, the first Darna; Janella Salvador as vlogger and lawyer Regina and Darna’s mortal enemy Valentina; Joshua Garcia as a police officer named Brian; Zaijian Jaranilla as Narda’s geeky younger brother Ding.
Also part of the series are Paolo Gumabao, Rio Locsin, Richard Quan, Simon Ibarra, Jeffrey Santos, Eric Fructuoso, Levy Ignacio, and many more.
Darna’s modern-day TV adaptation, based on the creation of Pinoy comics legend Mars Ravelo, is directed by the Master Director Chito S. Roño, Avel Sunpongco, and Benedict Mique and produced by ABS-CBN’s JRB Creative Production unit.
Direk Chito shared good words about this generation’s Darna. “I’m very pleased not only that she focused, not only that she concentrated, she has done very well as an actress for ‘Darna,’” complimenting Jane for how she has portrayed the role of the iconic superhero.
Viewers are eagerly awaiting the show’s premiere following several sightings of Darna’s character in various places culminating in the “DarnaCon” event last Saturday at Robinsons malls where the show’s cast got to meet and greet their fans. Its trailer, launched just last month, already earned almost 10 million views across ABS-CBN Entertainment’s social media platforms.
P-pop boy group BGYO was also announced to sing the official soundtrack of “Darna” titled “Patuloy Lang Ang Lipad” to be launched very soon.
- Metro cover
Before Jane soars even higher to take on this iconic superhero role, she lands on the covers of Metro first. Released ahead of ABS-CBN and JRB Creative Production’s “Mars Ravelo’s Darna” series, this cover feature further stirs up excitement for the much-awaited small screen adaptation.
It’s no secret what this project has been through to materialize, but it’s definitely worth the wait. On her preparations for her breakthrough role, Jane told Metro.Style, “More on exercise, diet, and dapat hindi ka lang okay physically, but dapat okay ka rin mentally and emotionally.”
This cover was photographed by Seven Barretto of Studio 7 Manila, with creative direction and production design by Erwin Botin of Botin Studios as well as the supervision of Metro editor-in-chief Geolette Esguerra and beauty editor Kate Paras-Santiago.
Jane’s glam team was composed of makeup artist RB Chanco; hair stylist Valerie Corpuz; and fashion stylist Cath Sobrevega along with her associates Jem Arboleda, Charishka Mutya, and Krizia Sembrano. Cath dressed up Jane in pieces by fashion designers Rajo Laurel, Michael Leyva, Patty Ang, Joe San Antonio, Kristine Ordinario, and The House of Vilrique. The video outputs were by Gian Escamillas. Photography assistants Claude Villahermosa and Dariel Miraflor complete the shoot’s team.
The new series will air from Monday to Friday beginning Aug. 15 at 8 pm on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Jeepney TV, and TV5 and will also be available on Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC, and The Filipino Channel.