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PH’s 1st HIV-Themed Drama Series ‘Positive’ Premieres Tonight

"Positive," the country's first HIV-themed drama series starring Martin Escudero as a young man who is diagnosed with the dreaded disease, is set to premiere Thursday night on TV5.

POSITIVE TCARD

Award-winning young actor Martin Escudero (“Zombadings I: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington”) plays the titular role on TV5’s “Positive,” the network’s daring move to discuss one of the most relevant yet silenced issues we face today. Supporting him in the socially-relevant program are Bianca Manalo, Felix Roco, Malak So Shdifat (“Artista Academy”), Mercedes Cabral, Bing Loyzaga, Helga Krapf (“Boracay Bodies”) and Rufa Mae Quinto.

The edgy weekly series revolves on the story of Carlo – a young and successful professional who reformed from his former life of partying and drugs after he fell in love and found his life’s purpose with his wife, Janis (played by Helga Krapf). Now working as an Operations Manager of a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company and expecting his firstborn, it seems that Carlo lives a perfect life of change and redemption–until he is diagnosed with HIV.

In so much pain and despair, Carlo goes on a vindictive streak and decides to track down that one person who may have infected him and single-handedly destroyed his life. While he shares his dilemma with his best friend Peejay (Felix Roco), he eventually decides to hide his condition from his loving mother Esther (Bing Loyzaga) and his wife. In his search for answers, his life becomes intertwined with an HIV peer counselor named Anne (Bianca Manalo) – a strong-willed woman who also happens to be a person living with HIV.

During the recent press conference for “Positive,” Escudero shared how his character as Carlo got infected with the disease.

“Marami siyang pinagdaanan muna. Yung kabataan niya, yung pagiging maloko. Kung paano siya pumarty, magsaya sa buhay—yun yung kabataan niya, e. Pero nung nakilala na niya yung napangasawa niya yun nga si Helga [Krapf], kung paano siya nagbago, kung paano siya naging seryoso, kung paano siya nagkaroon ng AIDS, pero medyo may konting kalokohan pa rin sa opisina, pero hanggang doon na lang ‘yon,” he said.

“Nung nalaman niya na buntis yung asawa niya at manganganak na pilit niyang baguhin lahat ‘yon. Nagpakatino siya, gusto na niya maging matinong ama at matinong asawa. Yun ‘yong pinagdaanan niya hanggang sa desidido na siyang maging matino doon na niya nalaman na may sakit siya,” he added.

The young actor also revealed that he and other cast-members have undergone immersion to accurately portray their roles. With the help of the AIDS Society of the Philippines (ASP), the cast of “Positive” was able to meet some persons living with HIV and learned more about the disease as well.

And as part of the immersion, Escudero volunteered to get tested for HIV.

“I wanted to get tested. Marami kasing natatakot magpa-test for HIV. So I want to get tested to fully understand the feeling, para magamit ko sa role ko bilang si Carlo” he said.

Helmed by Eric Quizon, “Positive” airs every Thursday at 9:00pm, beginning tonight (October 17) on TV5’s “Everyday, All The Way!” primetime block.

Watch the teasers here:

1 Comment on PH’s 1st HIV-Themed Drama Series ‘Positive’ Premieres Tonight

  1. Sa totoo lang // October 18, 2013 at 6:41 pm //

    Hiv is std panu mo itatago sa asawa mo un eh kung nahawa? Pati anak mo baka meron din. So hindi realistic ung theme na hindi alam ng asawa

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