Mula sa Chismosang Kapitbahay: Behind the Scenes of Mosang

By Eliesha Phoebe Masiglat & Loudette Kate Tupal

Success is not as easy as it looks. It is not like the four corners of our television show, and it is not the glamorous life we think.

Maria Alilia Bagio, better known as Mosang, is a passionate actress, outstanding comedienne, caring mother, and a loving daughter. Making people laugh is a talent she mastered throughout her years in showbiz.

She starred in the biggest shows in the Philippines, such as - Teysi ng Tahanan, her very first show, and where her screen name Mosang was born. The name was derived from her role, and the Filipino phrase “chismosang kapitbahay.” It was given to her by one of her first directors, Director Wenn V. Deramas.

She did such a phenomenal job on her role that her co-actors kept calling her the name even after the shoot, and it eventually stuck.

Esperanza and Basta't Kasama Kita, where she met one of her best friends in showbiz, Judy Ann Santos. And one of her lengthiest shows on television, Pepito Manaloto.

But behind all the achievements is a strong and inspiring woman who fought hard to achieve her definition of success in life.

"Just a simple Tondo girl" is what she described herself in an interview one peaceful Sunday afternoon.

Maria Alilia grew up in a crazy and funny household with an affectionate father, an appealing mother, a sister, and brothers surrounding her.

She described childhood as colorful and active, and they grew up in a simple household. She says that her family was not well-off, but they enjoyed life to the fullest.

Starting from a young age, Maria Alilia loved performing in front of her family.

Her father, her number one supporter, always encouraged her to perform on various occasions, which led to her love for acting.

"Siguro nga yun talaga ang first love ko, umarte."

She often looks up to her idols, the legends - Imelda Papin, Nora Aunor, and Vilma Santos, which sparked a whole new world of performing. She first felt her passion and love for acting in high school while watching a theater play in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

"I fell in love with theater when I was in high school... I knew, in the end, I'll be performing."

Her mother was really against her acting career, but her father was the one who pushed her to pursue her dream.

As more people watched Mosang on the television and more people recognized Maria Alilia as Mosang. Her mother quietly supported her and was proud of her daughter for achieving her dreams.

Although her mother had always pushed her to finish her studies instead of acting, Mosang still called her mother one of her biggest supporters besides her father.

Mosang continued with her theater career until her eventual television breakthrough.

She first auditioned for ABS-CBN through a program in CCP, with the help of her friends from the University of Santo Tomas. She often reminisces on her very first TV shoot, in which veteran actress Tessy Tomas praised her for her skills. This then led to her career as a modest actress in ABS-CBN, where she also worked as a producer for Star Cinema.

But the peak of her career began when she transferred to GMA, with her first Soap Opera in the network Luna Mistika, which she filmed alongside Pepito Manaloto.

Nearly 12 years later, she is still in the same network, working as an actress and mentor for other beginning actors.

Other than her life, Mosang has had other tribulations as well.

Separating from her partner, suffering through the death of her parents, and having to handle her pregnancy on her own while working, Mosang reveals that she also suffered from depression for nearly two years.

Her way of dealing with her grief was by throwing herself into her work.

For years, she made herself busy with producing programs and acting for different series, even when she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

But when asked about her greatest achievement in life, she proudly says, “My son.”

Despite everything she has achieved in life and her successes in her career, she still chooses her son and the fact that he was raised well as the most successful thing she has done.

Knowing how much women go through in everyday life, stories like Mosang’s help inspire fellow women who may be having the same struggles as she did.

Inspirational women like her are the bright beacons of hope that shed light upon those who are lost in their way.

As long as there are women like Mosang in the industry, hope will continue to flourish for the next generations to come.

May these women continue to inspire others, and may we continue to be inspired by them.