Betty la Fea (ABS-CBN) and Kim Sam Soon (GMA)

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Young actress Bea Alonso will play the lead role in ABS-CBN’s adaptation of the Mexican telenovela “Betty La Fea.”

The confirmation was made by television director Wenn Deramas.

“Yes, gagawin na nga ‘yung Betty La Fea,” said Deramas.

Deramas said he will be meeting today with other network officials to discuss the series.

“May meeting nga ako kasi gusto na nila na simulan ‘yung Betty La Fea. Mayroon pang “Dyosa” kaya pag-iisipin ko din kung paano,” Deramas added.

Betty La Fea is the story of a not-so-pretty but intelligent woman who falls in love with her boss and decides to have a makeover.

Contenders for La Fea

Prior to Deramas’ confirmation that Alonso will play Betty La Fea, there were other actresses being considered for the role.

They were “Lobo” star Angel Locsin and “Maging Sino Ka Man” mainstay Anne Curtis.

Earlier reports had said singer Regine Velasquez was also considered for the series.

In February, Velasquez appeared on the entertainment show “The Buzz.” She said she was the one who broached the idea to “someone” that she wanted to play the role of “Betty La Fea”, or Ugly Betty, in the Philippine edition of the popular TV series. The show was first aired in Mexico and it later had a successful US version.

The singer said that her interest in doing “Betty La Fea” and her excitement over the subsequent offer from ABS-CBN first made her decide to say good-bye to GMA-7.

Velasquez emphasized that she was genuinely interested in doing the series. She pointed out that she would not have risked employment at GMA-7 and her good relations with the station if she was merely creating a ruse to get better terms for her new contract.

In the end, Velasquez decided to stay with GMA-7.

Regine has also started taping for the Pinoy version of the Koreanovela My Name Is Kim Sam Soon and her solo musical show titled Songbird. In My Name Is Kim Sam Soon, the singer-actress will be paired for the first time with Mark Anthony Fernandez and Wendell Ramos.

Earlier this year, Regine almost transferred to ABS-CBN after being considered to play the lead role in the Pinoy version of the Colombian telenovela Betty La Fea. But in the end, the Asia’s Songbird opted to stay in the Kapuso network.