MANILA, Philippines--Last Feb. 15, we caught the premiere telecast of the new soap, ?Rubi,? only to realize that we would have to bide our time before finally being able to appreciate lead player Angelica Panganiban?s portrayal of the new series? title character.

The first telecast concerned itself more with the show?s back story, involving older characters like Rubi?s mother (Cherry Pie Picache) and adoptive mom (Cherie Gil). Not to get completely sidetracked, but we must note that the tandem of Cherry and Cherie is supposed to be a big casting deal since the two actresses are among the best TV thespians we have and are expected to act the socks off their co-actors as the story?s briskly complicating melodrama heats up.

We must further note, however, that what passes for ?heavy? and ?intense? drama on teleseryes these days is generally a far cry from genuinely affecting theatrics, because they go for emotionalizing for its own livid and showy self, instead of being used to clarify the material?s thematic points.

Avoid pitfalls

We pray that seasoned thespians Cherry and Cherie will be able to avoid the shallow pitfalls of this popcorn view of drama. But, if the show?s initial telecasts are any indication, they may opt to play along, to loudly and lividly keep fans of mordant melodrama happy.

Local TV dramas are also hobbled by too many complications, the better to keep viewers fixated on how impending events will sort themselves out. Often, however, the multiple complications have a negative effect, since they distend and defocus the storytelling, and leave a production with too many loose and even contradictory ends to tie up before its big finale.

?Rubi? doesn?t seem to be an exception to this desultory rule. Aside from the characters played by Cherie and Cherry Pie, many other supporting players figure in its quickly unfolding subplots.

Basically, most of them are there to give the series? title character a really hard time, so that she becomes one tough and sassy cookie. Unfortunately, most of the sadistic ploys that the show thinks up to make Rubi suffer have all been done before, so we aren?t genuinely touched or engaged.

Palpable angst

Thank goodness, when Angelica finally shows up as the young-adult Rubi, she generates enough on-screen excitement and palpable angst to reenergize the series? somnolent storytelling. She doesn?t come up with anything that?s really new, but the pain and anger she summons up are charged with enough visceral unction to merit our sympathy and empathy.

Even better, she?s a real looker, so she vivifies and affirms her character?s power over so many men, as she claws her way out of poverty and her traumatic past?gasping into the light.

Best of all, Angelica is a good actress, so she understands Rubi?s complicated character and makes sure that her sexy scenes don?t call too much attention to themselves and distract viewers from her deeper, more troubled and traumatized core. Sure, this is still a sexy melodrama, but Angelica?s portrayal sometimes makes it more than that.