Ashley Ortega fulfills dream role in Hearts on Ice

Before heading to the entertainment industry and heeding the call to play roles, Ashley Ortega was a professional figure skater. It’s safe to assume that she was preoccupied with trainings and routines then for potential and upcoming local and international competitions. School and the skating rink were some of the places she would frequent.

“I was a competitive figure skater (from) three to 12 years old. I started skating at the age of three,” recalled the Sparkle GMA Artist Center actress in a brief chat with The STAR about her journey in the sport. “And then, I retired as a competitive figure skater at the age of 12 before I entered showbiz. So, within those years, between three and 12, I was competing abroad and represented our country, I was in the Philippine team, and then, I stopped when I entered showbiz.”

At the age of 19, however, she made a comeback to figure skating for a year and competed locally. After, she resumed her showbiz career and “last year, I went back to training for this project.”

Ashley was referring to the now airing GMA Telebabad primetime series, Hearts on Ice, in which she is the female lead.

“I consider this the biggest break,” she said of playing Ponggay, the childhood friend of Enzo, the musically-inclined son of a mall owner, played by Xian Lim. “This one, I can

say, is a dream role for me, I consider this the best and biggest break.”

It is indeed a dream project, wherein Ashley gets to put her figure skating know-how and skills to good use and enter into the life of Ponggay, with an aspiration of becoming a champion, despite challenges that may come her way.

“I think perhaps they thought of a new concept about it (the figure skating sport) and they found out that I was a professional figure skater,” said the Kapuso talent of how she secured the role. “After Widows’ Web (in which I was a part of), I went back to figure skating training. After a couple of months of training, that was the time I found out that I had a show about figure skating.” And Ashley’s reaction was one filled with joy.

“Duon talaga ako natuwa and everything, siguro the advantage (that I have) is, I became a professional figure skater before, which led (me) to this show,” she reflected.

Even if the role fits her to a T, skills- and interest-wise, Ashley considers the role challenging, “The character Ponggay has a leg disability. So, when she skates, she wears a leg brace. I had to learn how to skate with a leg brace on. Siguro yun yung challenge nila sa akin (that was perhaps the challenge the people behind the show presented to me) and duon ipapakita sa story na kahit anong hadlang sa life (and through it, the story shows that no matter what the hindrance in your life is), you’ll get to pursue your dreams,” said she, who has found an onscreen and figure skating partner in Xian.

“It’s such an honor to be paired with (him),” shared Ashley, whose training on the skating rink with the actor gave them the ample time to be comfortable with each other and establish working rapport as well as chemistry. After that, they became friends.

As for the way things are going in her career, Ashley said, “I’m so happy and beyond grateful, I’m really fulfilled.”

Being the show’s other lead star, she can feel the pressure or weight on her shoulders.

“Since people know that I also figure skate and I’m doing acting, siyempre mas mataas yung pressure sa akin kasi mas mataas yung expectations ng mga tao sa akin (the pressure and expectations are high) and of course, there’s the idea of… what if it didn’t go well, siyempre parang nanduon yung pressure ko, hindi rin ako pwedeng makapante dito (I should never feel complacent).” It means that Ashley has to bring her A game, and even perhaps to go above and beyond.

Also joining her in the country’s first figure skating drama are Amy Austria, Lito Pimentel, Tonton Gutierrez, Rita Avila, Ina Feleo and Cheska Iñigo.

“I always pay attention to them and I listen to their (pieces of) advice,” said Ashley of working with experienced actors. “When they give me advice, I listen to it at siyempre importante talaga yung pakikisama mo sa lahat sa set. I really admire the veterans. I wanna be like them also, I look up to them, ‘pag tinatanong ako nang mga tao (about) yung (when people ask me of my) main goal as an actress, (my answer) is tumagal sa industriya (to stay long in the industry). I wanna see myself grow old in showbiz. Ang fame kasi nawawala din naman yan (Fame also fades away). What those I have worked with would always tell me, ang pinaka-importante is yung pakikisama mo at ugali mo (what matters the most are you get along with everyone and your attitude), that’s the secret to stay long in the industry.”

The Ashley-and-Xian starrer airs weeknights at 8:50 p.m.