Actress Eula Valdes went through panic attacks as soon as the country was hit by the pandemic one year ago.

Valdes recalled the day when the spread of the novel coronavirus led to the lockdown of the country and shared her thoughts about it during the online press conference last Monday, March 15, for the upcoming TV series “Huwag Kang Mangamba.”

“One year ago, March 14 ang taping namin ng ‘Love Thy Woman.’ Last taping ‘yun and then kinabukasan lockdown na ang buong Pilipinas,” she recalled.

(One year ago, March 14, was our taping for “Love Thy Woman.” That’s our last taping and then, the day after, the country was placed on a lockdown.)

That was when Valdes had bouts of anxiety attacks.

“Parang iniisip ko kung ano na ang mangyayari. Hindi mo alam kung ano ang itatagal ng pandemic na ito na hanggang ngayon ay kumbaga nasanay ka na lang and nag-iingat na hindi ka tamaan,” she said.

(I wondered what will happen to us. You don’t even know until when this pandemic will last, and that now you just got used to it, and you just try to be careful so you would not get sick.)

By July of last year, taping for “Love Thy Woman” resumed. She cited how work has helped her overcome her bouts of anxiety, as she also considers it a miracle that she is still able to work despite the ongoing pandemic.

Valdes who plays Deborah, a prominent faith healer with a cult following in “Huwag Kang Mangamba,” is all praises for the Gold Squad composed of Seth Fedelin, Kyle Echarri, Francine Diaz and Andrea Brillantes.

She was particularly impressed with the work attitude of the four young stars as they were respectful of the veteran stars on the set.

eula valdes HKM — Eula Valdes. Image: screenshot from trailer of “Huwag Kang Mangamba”

“At saka hindi katulad ng mga ibang bata na sila-sila lang ang mag-uusap, ‘yung magkaka-age lang. Sila nakikihalubilo sila sa amin. Para bang nagkukuwentuhan kaming mga seniors, nakikinig sila. Parang nakakapulot sila,” she noted. “Aware sila na ito ‘yung kailangan nilang pagdaanan siguro o paano nila malalampasan ang ganitong bagay. Very eager to learn silang lahat.”

(They are not like other kids who talk to themselves only. They join us. It’s like while we seniors discuss, they listen. It’s like they get to pick up things. They’re [made] aware that they have to go through this, or [learn] how they can surpass things. They are all very eager to learn.)

Viewers will be able to catch the pilot episode on March 20 on the iWantTFC app and website, and on March 22 at 8:40 p.m. after “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” on TV5 and A2Z channel on free TV; also via digital TV boxes like ABS-CBN TVplus. Digital TV box users can scan and look for A2Z channel in Metro Manila and in some parts of Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan and Pampanga. JB

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