Agua Bendita is the newest teleserye to touch the hearts of many Filipinos. It is being shown on ABS-CBN directly after TV Patrol World. In the beginning, teasers of this teleserye were shown during the Primetime Bida timeslot. It shows Andi Eigenmann, daughter of Mark Gil and Jacklyn Jose, emerging from the pool looking so much like Angel Locsin.

ABS-CBN must admit that the teaser showing Andi did not generate that much interest for the show. Agua Bendita is a classic komiks story from Rod Santiago and to be quite honest, I watched the pilot episode because I was a fan of that komiks when I was a teen. An aunt used to buy Liwayway magazine every week and I would read the Agua Bendita komiks. That’s mainly the reason why I watched at first, to see how they will translate the komiks into a teleserye.

But then I saw the little girl playing the dual role of Agua, the good little girl who looks like water, and Bendita, the bad twin. She’s Xyriel Anne Manabay. You can say that Xyriel made a huge impact on everybody including me. It got me hooked to the teleserye in no time at all!

The little girl undoubtedly captured the hearts of the many viewers of the teleserye. When she’s Agua, the little girl can really make you cry and sympathize with her. When she’s Bendita, you feel this urge to make her stand in the corner and face the wall all day long! She is that good!

Critics are actually raving about the little kid playing the dual role. It is said that Andi and her mom Jacklyn are already pissed with ABS-CBN because the deal was the little kid will only stay onscreen for two weeks and then Andi will come in. But it’s been two months already, if I am not mistaken, and the little kid is still playing the dual role. Xyriel captured the hearts of the viewers of the teleserye that there’s actually a clamor for Agua and Bendita to stay as kids.

I guess after Santino, the viewers are looking for another good little kid that they can watch every night. A kid who can be a role model for the little kids who are still awake and watching tv with their parents. A kid who can show us that we can all be good despite the setbacks we encounter in life.

Watch Agua Bendita. It’s really good! I hope that when they start showing Andi Eigenmann, the story will be as good as right now.

I find Only You dragging and forced. I catch portions of it when I am waiting for Tayong Dalawa. Sure, the actors in it are way better than the ones from the GMA-7 soaps. But then they don’t jive in my opinion. Angel Locsin looks madungis, disheveled most of the time. We are always wondering why no one from the production or her team is telling her that she doesn’t look good with her bangs. Or that Dimples Romana is more put together than her. Even Candy Pangilinan is prettier than her in that soap.

Also, when you are following that soap, you will notice that Dimples is the lead star in it, not Angel or Diether Ocampo or Sam Milby. My sisters and I were laughing about it, actually. And we’re thinking that the title of the soap should be changed to “Ang Pagbibida ni Dimples Romana”. She’s given more in that soap, no doubt about it. While Angel is relegated to the madungis co-star category.

I don’t know if it’s just me but have you noticed how Angel Locsin is being pushed to different big named actors of ABS-CBN? First, it’s Piolo Pascual. Have you seen an episode of Lobo? Corny grabe! Now, it’s Diether Ocampo and Sam Milby via the Koreanovela remake, Only You. The network giant is forcing the viewing public to buy the supposed chemistry between Angel and her leading man/men but it’s just not there. I suggest they find the perfect partner for her first or let her do a teleserye where she need not have a love interest. Masyadong pilit kasi!

But there’s no denying the fact that Angel has come a long way since her Kapuso days. Acting-wise, she’s better now than in her Mulawin days. Even critics are praising her improved acting skills.

And she can’t complain about not being known abroad anymore. Remember her London stint? Nobody knew her then! Now, I just hope she’s ready to get mobbed when she go to places abroad where there’s TFC.