On February 4, National Artist for film and broadcast arts Nora Aunor revealed that Gina Alajar called out a young star while working in the GMA Network teleserye, Onanay.

At the story conference for Pieta at Victorino’s Restaurant, Aunor recounted how Alajar reprimanded a young star for being late and not delivering during the scene with the Superstar.

“Ang naalala ko kasi noong Onanay namin, kasi siyempre magte-taping kami niyan, eh hindi nakuha ‘yung acting na pinapagawa ni Direk doon sa isa naming kasamang artista. Tapos, sumigaw na rin siya, natakot ako sabi niya, ‘Late ka na nga, tapos hindi mo pa makuha-kuha ‘yung mga gagawin mong eksena, na kung ano ‘yung ia-arte mo.’ Talagang natakot ako pero totoo naman ‘yung sinabi niya. Kaya hindi na rin ako kumibo.”

Aunor acknowledged why Alajar had to call out the young star.

“Pero ‘yun talaga siya, parang pagdating mo set, dapat alam mo na kung ano ‘yung gagawin mo. Hindi ‘yung pagdating mo sa set, maglalaro ka pa, hindi ‘yung pag-aaralan mo pa ‘yung eksena, ‘yung dialogue ng lahat, eh siyempre nga naman kapag take, at di mo nakuha, eh magagalit ‘yung director mo.”

Alajar then explained that she scolded the young star because they were in a scene with Aunor, who did her part as an actress.

“Hindi rin naman ‘yun. Kasi ikaw ‘yung ka-eksena niya. Ikaw naman ‘yung ka-eksena niya, if kung pare-pareho lang silang mga kabataan siguro I wouldn’t mind. But because ikaw ‘yung ka-eksena niya I was expecting na kailangan may sistema din siya na minemorize niya ‘yung linya niya, na alam niya kung ano gagawin niya, and kung ano man ‘yung instructions sa kaniya dapat masunod agad. 

“Kaya ako nagalit, kasi unang-una nahiya ako sayo, because you did your part, you as Nora did your part and I know you tried to help these actors, pero kung hindi naman sila seryoso sa ginagawa nila.” 

Alajar and Aunor star in the upcoming film Pieta with the actor-politician Alfred Vargas.