Janine Gutierrez (Images courtesy of Dreamscape Entertainment)

The much-talked-about Kapamilya series "Dirty Linen" is now in its final week, ending the thrilling and unpredictable storylines that have captivated audiences for weeks. The cast has delivered an exceptional performance, taking viewers on a roller coaster ride of emotions throughout the show. Since its debut in January, the series has gathered over 2.5 billion online views.

In the series, the families of Alexa (Janine Gutierrez) and Aidan (Zanjoe Marudo) resort to drastic measures in a do-or-die fight for justice. Will Alexa finally get her justice? Who among them will survive?

During an interview held at the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City recently, some of the stars of "Dirty Linen" - Janine Gutierrez, Zanjoe Marudo, Christian Bables, and Tessie Tomas - met members of the entertainment press to share their thoughts about the impact of the show and their proudest moment in the series.

"It's several notches above an ordinary teleserye. Doon na lang sa intensity of the plot, then the complexity of different characters and the issues involved. Nakita mo naman gumalaw galaw yun at saka pinag aralan ng mga writers. Pangalawa, expensive production design. Kasi ginawa niyang lahat. Walang fake doon di ba? Pati mga pagkain namin totoo lahat yan. My costumes are very expensive. It's very opulent. So hindi ka basta-basta nakakanood ng ganung teleserye. At saka alam mo, pinaghirapan at pinagkakagastusan. So yung cast naman na halos handpicked, if I may say yo, lahat magaling. So kapag nandun ka na sa set, dapat alerto ka para alam mong makapantay k sa performance ng co-actors mo," said Tomas.

(It's several notches above an ordinary series. There's the plot's intensity, then the complexity of different characters and the issues involved. You saw it move, and then the writers studied it. Second, expensive production design. Because they did everything, there's nothing fake there, right? Even our food is all real. My costumes are costly. It's very opulent. So you don't just watch a TV series like that. And then, you know, they worked hard and spent money for the series. The cast is almost handpicked. Everyone is good. So when you're on set, you should be alert so you know you can match the performance of your co-actors.)

Zanjoe Marudo

Marudo said: "Matapos namin yung show na maayos. Nakapagbigay kami ng isang palabas na hindi typical series. Kasi minsan alam na natin ang mangyayari eh. Doon ako naging proud na naging matapang ang ABS-CBN sa paggawa ng ganitong show. I think natuto ang audience at nagkaroon sila ng bagong napapanood. Mababasa naman natin sa comments kung ano talaga ang pakiramdam nila everytime na manonood sila. Siguro nga simula na ito ng bagong atake sa paggawa ng series. Hindi na nila kailangan pang manood ng mga Hollywood series para makakita ng ganung intensity sa mga scenes. Kasi may gumagawa na ng ganun sa PIlipinas. Doon ako pinaka proud."

(We finished the show well. We were able to give a show that is different from a typical series. Because sometimes we already know what will happen. That's when I was proud that ABS-CBN was brave to make a show like this. The audience learned, and they had something new to watch. We can read in the comments how they feel every time they watch it. This may be the beginning of a new approach on making a series. They no longer have to watch Hollywood series to see that intensity in the scenes. Because someone is already doing that in the Philippines, that's where I'm most proud.)

Gutierrez answered: "Proud ako sa ipinaglalaban ng kwento. Katapangan niya at katapangan lahat ng cast to show something that's not just na kailangan mabait ako rito. Everybody was game to show the god and the bad sides. Lahat aligned so proud ako na napabilang ako rito. Proud ako sa kwento. Proud ako tuwing meron tayong napapaiyak. Or merong naiinis sa ginagawa ng mga characters natin."

(I'm proud of what the story is fighting for. It's courage and the courage of all the cast to show something that's not just that I need to be nice here. Everybody was game to show the good and the wrong sides. Everyone is aligned, so I'm proud to be included here. Proud I'm in the story. I'm proud every time we make someone cry. Or someone is annoyed by what our characters do.)

Tessie Tomas (Donya Cielo)

Gutierrez added: "Meron akong kaibigan na napanaginipan daw niya na hinahabol siya ni Donya Cielo. Ganung level na. Sabi niya binabangungot na yata ako rito sa Dirty Linen hindi ko mapigilan. I'm just proud lang sa naging impact niya at hindi nila mapigilan ang 'Dirty Linen.' So yun very grateful."

(I have a friend who said she dreamed Donya Cielo was chasing her. It's that level. He said I'm having nightmares watching 'Dirty Linen.' I can't stop it. I'm proud of its impact; they can't stop 'Dirty' Linen.' So I'm very grateful.)

"Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako or magi-guilty ba?" Tessie laughed. (I don't know if I'll be happy or guilty?)

Bables said: "Tama yung sinabi ni Janine. Kung meron man akong nakaka-proud sa show na ito is yung chance na ibinigay sa amin na we were able to give voice to the voiceless. Ang daming hindi mabigyan ng pagkakataon na malaman kung ano ba talaga ang mga nangyayari sa mga ito? Somehow kami naipakita namin through our craft."

(What Janine said is correct. If there is anything I am proud of in this show, it is the chance that was given to us that we were able to give voice to the voiceless.)

Christian Bables

The stars also recalled highlights or memorable scenes from "Dirty Linen."

Tomas: "Sa akin lahat ng scenes ni Donya Cielo memorable eh. Lalo na laging galit or agitated. Last night was a memorable scene because doon lang na-reveal na na-rape ako ni Alejandro (Simon Cruz). So the pain and yun din pagkaka sumbat sa akin ni Carlos (John Arcilla) na talagang sakim daw ako at wala pala akong mana. Siyempre masakit yun. At saka yung mga quotable quotes ko like 'are you blackmailing me?' or 'if you are going to bring my family down, you will also go down."

The famous stand-up comedian said that she made sure to watch the series every night.

"Minsan nanginginig din ang laman ko sa galit. Minsan hindi ako nag-dinner with friends. Sa lunch lang kami. Kasi gusto ko makita talaga gabu-gabi yung palabas. Galit kasi ako kay Mila (Janine Gutierrez) at carried away na ako na talagang niloko na niya si Aidan (Zanjoe Marudo). Hindi na ako Donya Cielo kundi kung sino man akong viewer galit nba ako sa kanya as Donya Cielo of course. Noong nagkita na kayo doon sa restaurant na nagtatarayan na kayo doon. Tapos yung sinuntok na niya si Lemuel (JC Santos). Tapos ano nga yung linya mo doon? Gustong-gusto ko yun," Tomas added.

Marudo answered: Gusto mo bang tumira uli tayo sa iisang bubong at magsiping pa tayo? Kaya mo bang gawin yun? Sige gawin natin kung kaya mo!"

"Ganda ng mga linya. Bakit parang mas natatandaan ko?" Tomas also said. 

The cast of 'Dirty Linen'

Marudo added: "Weekly may mga highlights talaga sa mga eksena namin, kung ano ang mangyayari sa 'Dirty Linen.' Sa dalawang characters at sa lahat pamilya may mga nangyayaring highlights. Sa role ni Aidan marami ng highlights na ipinakita pero meron pang mga hindi nasasagot sa palabas. Isang malaking pasabog ang ending ng show."

Gutierrez said: "Ang hirap po pala pumili ng isa pero ang dami talaga. Pero favorite ko rin po yung pilot, yung nakapasok sa mansion. Favorite ko rin yung nagkita kita kaming tatlo. Parang first taping namin yun eh. In the beginning, ginather kami ni tatay tapos parang dun din yung unang na-establish ng character namin na ganito si Alexa (Erika Clemente) ganito si Max (Christian Bables) at ganito si Lala (Jennica Garcia-Uytingco). Meron lang isang line na ibinilin sa akin ni direk Onat (Diaz) na kailangan masabi mo ito ng maayos. Yung linya ni Alexa na 'ngayong namulat ka na sa katotohanan, kasalanan ang pumikit. Isa yan sa favorite line ko na binitiwan. Gustong gusto ko rin yung nga eksenang nag huhulihan kami ni Aidan."

Bables: "Every scene is a highlight. If I were to choose some of my favorite scenes na nagawa ko, that is yung sa amin ni Aidan. Gusto ko yun kasi parang sa character ko, It's the first time for me a Fiero right straight to his face na this is what you did to my father. Ang sarap ng feeling na kinuha ko yung power somehow na parang kinuha nila sa akin. Kahit sa konting scene na yun, naramdaman ko yun."

"Dirty Linen" tells the story of Mila (Janine Gutierrez) who doubles up her revenge efforts against a grieving Fiero family following the apparent death of their patriarch Carlos (John Arcilla). 

Witness the gripping finale of “Dirty Linen” on Friday, Aug. 25, at 9:30 PM on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Viewers who use any digital TV box at home, such as the TVplus box, only need to rescan their device to watch “Dirty Linen” on TV5 and A2Z. The show is also available to viewers in and out of the Philippines on iWantTFC, while viewers outside of the Philippines can watch on The Filipino Channel (TFC) on cable and IPTV.