‘Maja was discovered for showbiz when
she appeared in the talk show, “The Buzz,” which Boy hosts, together
with Kris Aquino and Cristy Fermin, on ABS-CBN.
Maja shows
big potential
M
AJA
Salvador chose not to hold a grand party when she turned 18
yesterday. But she still had a celebration at the Gazebo Royale
in Visayas Avenue Ext., Quezon City. The presence of close
friends and relatives simply overwhelmed her. She considers
the party as the first event she has ever organized for herself
as a celebrity. "I don’t think I’ll forget this ever,"
says Maja.
In the morning of her big day, Boy Abunda
threw an "on-the-air" party for Maja in his show
"Homeboy" on ABS-CBN. Maja was dressed for the occasion
with her hair and make-up beautifully done, just right for
a debutante.
But what made Boy’s party for Maja truly
special was the effort Boy and the staff exerted in gathering
all the people whom Maja owes personally and professionally.
Also present were people whom she holds dear like her mom,
Thelma; her half-brother, Ivy; her Lola Poy; her Uncle Philip
(Salvador) and her father, Ross Rival (real name: Rosauro
Salvador).
Maja was discovered for showbiz when she
appeared in the talk show, "The Buzz," which Boy
hosts, together with Kris Aquino and Cristy Fermin, on ABS-CBN.
Charo Santos, ABS-CBN top gun, happened to be watching that
time. After that, Charo called for her and talent manager
Chit Ramos, who facilitated her guesting in "The Buzz."
Charo said she saw the potential of a big
star in Maja. She offered Maja and Chit a contract. The rest
is history.
For Maja, the box-office success of her current
movie, "First Day High," was a great birthday gift.
The film, produced by Star Cinema and directed by Mario Cornejo,
reportedly grossed a cool P38 million during its five-day
run. "First Day High" also stars young and aspiring
talents Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Jason Abalos and Geoff
Eigenmann.
Maja relates, "At first, there were
apprehensions, of course, that the film, will fail in comparison
to other Star Cinema box-office movies. For one, there was
typhoon Milenyo which devastated the entire, well, almost
of Luzon. E, second day of showing ‘yon ng ‘First
Day High,’ which opened on Wednesday (September 27). ‘Diba,
ang tagal bago din nagkaroon ng electricity.
"But God is truly kind. He listens to
sincere prayers. I feel so grateful that He listened to my
prayers."
In "First Day High," Maja plays
a social climber who hates her parents’ business. They are
engaged in meat business and sell meat in the market. She
wants them to be like her friends’ parents who are sosyal.
Maja is getting kudos for her performance
in the movie. She claims that she is far from being a social
climber. She says, "I know where I belong. And I’m happy
as I am."
The band Kamikazee, which Maja admires, graced
her party in the Gazebo. Kamikazee composed and performed
the song "First Day High," which was also the jingle
used for the Rexona commercial. The song embodies what the
new generation stands for, which is what the film is all about.
"First Day High" tells of campus
life and shows how students cope with their problems and their
relationships with their peers and their families.
"I specially like the lesson the movie
conveys," says Maja. "‘First Day High’ promotes
being true and honest, friendship, camaraderie and good relationships
with parents."
She adds, "I hope more people would still watch ‘First
Day High,’ now on its second week of exhibition."
