Erich Gonzales as the lead star in the television series Katorse (2009) may have paved the way for a new trend on primetime TV.
Katorse—which was originally done as a movie in 1981 starring Dina Bonnevie—carries the coming-of-age plot and tackles the story of a simple barrio girl named Elena "Nene" Reyes, whose transition from innocence to adolescence is marred by unwanted pregnancy.
The ABS-CBN primetime show caught the attention of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), which expressed concern over the program's teenage pregnancy theme and the wrong impression it might create on its young viewers
It also didn't help that Katorse was pegged at the time as Erich's coming-out project to announce her reinvention as a mature young actress away from the teenybopper image she once cultivated after winning Star Circle National Teen Quest in 2005.
Katorse, along with another daring TV remake Eva Fonda (2008), can somehow be seen as the catalyst to the sexy imagery currently being utilized by ABS-CBN's past and present primetime shows Rubi and Kristine.
SEXY IF NEEDED. Erich explained during her launching as the new endorser of Careline Cosmetics held at Max's restaurant in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, "Ako naman po, 'yang pagpapa-sexy na 'yan ginagawa ko lang po 'yan kapag kailangan sa project, ganyan, or sa movies, or teleseryes."
"Like ako po, ayoko po i-restrict 'yong sarili ko na puro pa-sweet roles lang. So, as long as kailangan sa eksena at mas makakaganda, gagawin ko po 'yon. But I won't do sobrang sexy."
Posing for a men's magazine, however, at this point in her career remains out of the question.
"Honestly po hindi ko pa talaga kaya," Erich told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
"Ayoko naman magsalita ng tapos. But now po, hindi. Nahihiya pa po ako. Hindi naman ako sexy! 'Tsaka na lang and magpe-prepare muna ako."
How does she keep herself fit and healthy?
"I just eat normal lang po. Actually, sa family namin kahit na gaano ka kalakas kumain hindi po talaga lumalaki," replied the Shout Out! host, who also confessed that she's not fond of going to the gym to workout and diet programs.
Erich makes the most of her downtime by sleeping and just relaxing at home. But she has another stress reliever that she loves doing whenever she can.
"Pag may free time naman po, nakakatanggal ng stress 'yang mga videoke!" she laughed.
BEAUTY IDOLS. Erich cited Gretchen Barretto and Angel Aquino as her beauty icons, "Bow ako sa beauty nila and not only sa panlabas but sa inside din talaga."
Erich has always been proud of her provincial roots and her stay in the entertainment industry has taught her important lessons worth sharing with newcomers out there.
"You're only good as your last show, di ba po? And dito sa showbiz hindi lang kailangan puro sexy, kailangan may talent ka and 'yong pakikisama mo sa ibang tao, 'yon talaga 'yong importante.
"Kasi kahit na sobra ka pa kagaling pero kung ayaw ka makatrabaho ng iba, wala din. So 'yon po: professionalism and talent talaga ang mahalaga."