Protégé season 2 female winner--Thea Tolentino--is delighted to know that her first major project on GMA Network after winning the reality artista search is consistently beating its rival shows in the National TV Ratings.

Thea Louise Tolentino topbills the new GMA Afternoon Prime series “Pyra” where she breathes life to the character of a girl with pyrokinesis power. The said fantaserye marks the first title role of the 17-year-old’s budding career after appearing in various Kapuso programs like “Teen Gen,” “Love and Lies,” “Anna Karenina” and “Maynila.”

Just like her character as Pyra, Thea is “on fire” because her new soap is currently beating its rival programs on ABS-CBN and TV5 not only in AGB Nielsen’s Mega Manila TV Ratings but also in Kantar Media’s National TV Ratings as well.

During a blog conference for “Pyra” on September 24 at GMA Network building in Quezon City, Thea expressed her joy upon learning that her TV show is doing very well in the ratings game.

“Masaya kasi pinagtatrabahuhan po namin ng mabuti [Pyra] para sa ikabubuti ng show at nakaka-wala ng pagod. Talagang nakaka-proud kasi siyempre lahat po kami rito nagtutulungan,” she said.

What does she likes to be known for, good acting or high ratings of her show?

“Acting kasi para saan pa ang quality ng show kung hindi naman sila ganun kagaling. ‘Yung naman pong following, marami namang lumalabas na mas bago na mas magaling so lilipas po ‘yun so ‘yung galing hindi po nawawala, ‘yun po ang tingin ko so ‘yung quality ng show depends on the acting of the actors and actresses,” she pointed out.

According to the producer of the drama-fantasy series, “Pyra” was inspired by a report in 2012 about an eleven year old boy with super psychic abilities that drew hundreds of curious people, including the media, to his home in Gubat, Sorsogon. It was mentioned in the news that the boy has the ability to mysteriously produce fire. There is also a similar case of a three-year-old in Antique documented in March 2011 that also relates to pyrokinesis.

In the series, Pyra has the ability to create, manipulate and be able to hold fire in her hands and this usually happens when she experience extreme anger. Because of this, she learns how to control her emotions and develops a sunny disposition and positive outlook in life. Although she grew up not knowing who her real parents are, Pyra is raised by a very loving and fiercely protective mother Merly.

Playing Pyra’s leading man is the male winner of Protégé season 2, Jeric Gonzales, who portrays Jeffrey Calida, an uptight and perfectionist geek who will eventually fall for the female protagonist.

The series also stars Angelu de Leon as Merly, the fiercely protective mother of Pyra. Character actress Gladys Reyes plays the role of Susan Del Fierro, an achiever, go getter and someone who will not stop until she gets what she wants. New Kapuso star Roxanne Guinoo plays the role of Barbara Del Fierro, the biological mother of Pyra.

Other cast-members include Ryan Eigenmann, Christopher Roxas, Polo Ravales, Elle Ramirez, Zandra Summer and Mr. Janno Gibbs.

Under the direction of Roderick Lindayag (“Alakdana,” “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin,” “Kakambal ni Eliana”), “Pyra” airs Mondays thru Fridays after “Maghihintay Pa Rin” under the Afternoon Prime block of GMA Network.

Follow Pyra on Twitter: @PyraGMA and like their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/PyraGMA.

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