The many faces of Ashtine Olviga
Having an eponymous anthology is no small feat. In local showbiz, the format was reserved for actresses whose formidable talent and star power could carry a series under their own name—Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Maricel Soriano, Judy Ann Santos, and Claudine Barretto, to name a few.
That Viva Entertainment has revived a dormant television concept in the streaming era and placed Ashtine Olviga as its first headliner is making a statement. Of course, they’re not suggesting that the rising talent is anywhere near the level of her predecessors. But at the very least, the decision to give her such an opportunity is a clear vote of confidence.
After all, you don’t call it “Viva One Originals: Ashtine” if you aren’t betting that the momentum she has built as the “Nation’s Mutya” will set the tone for the rest of the project—and help drive the platform’s subscriptions and streaming figures.
Rising to the occasion
But as prestigious as the project is, it also serves as a showcase—and a test—of mettle in more ways than one.
The success of her love team with Andres Muhlach—who’s also pursuing a solo venture with “Bagets: The Musical”—was a key factor in Olviga’s rise, but her shift to an anthology puts Viva in a position to gauge her solo viability.
While the series “Ang Mutya ng Section E” and the film “Minamahal” focused on romance, the anthology was created to present Olviga’s range across four episodes in different genres: “Who’s the Boss?” (available March 13) flexes her knack for comedy; “My Melody” (March 20) is a lighthearted mix of music and kilig; “Balik-Eskwela” (March 27) plunges her deep into horror; and “Bahay-Bahayan” (April 4) lets her sink her teeth into heavy drama.
And because each episode had to be shot in only two days, she didn’t get the luxury of feeling her way into her role as she would in a regular series. She had to be in character from the get-go and then let go for the next episode.
Serendipitous collaboration
Looking good in a mostly young cast is one thing—but holding your own with icons is another. Olviga has already proven capable of the latter in the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Manila’s Finest,” where she shared the screen with the likes of Piolo Pascual and earned praise from critics like Philbert Dy, who described her as “rising to the occasion” every time she delivered a crucial line.
Now, she builds on that breakthrough performance by working with Rufa Mae Quinto and Claudine Barretto—heavyweights in comedy and drama, respectively. She found her body-swap scenario with Quinto in “Who’s the Boss?” the most challenging, because, unlike her other roles where she could shape the character as she saw fit, she had to impersonate Quinto’s signature comedic inflections, which she knew would inevitably invite comparisons.
Olviga’s collaboration with Barretto, on the other hand, is especially intriguing—and perhaps even serendipitous—since “Claudine” (2010) was arguably the last prominent anthology named after an actress. It’s also worth noting that in her seminal film “Anak,” Barretto played a rebellious daughter who resented her mother working abroad.
This time, in “Bahay-Bahayan,” there’s a role reversal of sorts: Barretto turns into the returning OFW struggling to reconnect with her fiercely independent daughter, played by Olviga.
Focused and composed
While all of this may seem like a tough ask, Olviga appeared refreshingly composed and focused when she recently faced the press to promote her upcoming solo outing. The outside pressure, she says, is something she tries not to entertain; the pressure she puts on herself is enough.
“The way I handle the pressure I feel within is by praying. ‘Di ako makaka-work nang maayos kapag marami akong boses na narininig sa utak ko: ‘Kaya ko ba ‘to? Magagawa ko ba ‘to?’” she says. “It’s more of, kapag andiyan na ako, I jump—tinatalunan ko ‘yung pressure.”
But with every project she takes, those questions become fewer and farther between. Her doubts have turned into confidence and motivation to push herself further. You can see it now in the way she talks about her process—how she knows when to draw from her personal experiences and when to just put herself in the character’s shoes. And she no longer panics during heavy scenes, she says, as long as she knows the script by heart.
“Kapag may heavy scenes, ‘di ako sure if magagawa ko o hindi. Doon ako kinakabahan. But if I see after na okay ‘yung take, ‘di ko iniisip na magaling ako. Mas nakakahinga lang ako nang maluwag,” she says.
Holding on to faith
Despite her undeniable growth, Olviga doesn’t let it get to her head. In fact, given titles like “Phenomenal Star” make her feel awkward. Just call her Ashtine Olviga, she quips. But while her first impulse is to deflect praise, she’s also grateful, she says, that at last, she’s finally being seen and appreciated.
“Pero kung ganun ang tingin nila sa ‘kin, sobrang nakakataba ng puso,” she says, adding that diligence and willingness to learn are key to sustaining her career.
And that’s exactly what she accomplished in the anthology, she tells Lifestyle Inquirer.
From Quinto, she learned the value of keeping things light on set. She was touched seeing Barretto’s small acts of humility, like doing errands she could have easily left to others. She admires her “My Melody” leading men: Korean actor Lee Daewon for his persistence despite the language barrier, and singer Rob Deniel for his boundless creativity. Marco Gumabao, her co-star in “Balik-Eskwela,” reminded her not to neglect her health, no matter how busy she gets.
“Huwag tamarin,” she says. “Dapat ‘yung passion mo 100 percent.”
And no matter how the project turns out, Olviga will continue to hold on to the very thing that got her to where she is in the first place: her faith in God. “Walang sigurado sa mundo. Kaya kahit na anong pinagdadaanan mo, malungkot man o masaya, kailangang kumapit ka,” she says.
