MANILA, Philippines -- Jessy Mendiola will appear as a character popularized by Mexican superstar Thalia in the highly anticipated summer station ID of the Kapamilya network.
Jessy Mendiola is Maria Mercedes in the summer station ID of ABS-CBN. Photo: HandoutSet to air on Sunday during the concert variety program "ASAP 18," the ABS-CBN summer station ID will feature the 20-year-old actress as the title character in the hit "telenovela" "Maria Mercedes."
The throwback to the popular series is part of the Kapamilya network's celebration of 60 years of Philippine television.
Aired locally by ABS-CBN in 1996, "Maria Mercedes" sees Thalia as a street urchin whose life takes a turn when she agrees to marry an immensely rich man who is terminally ill.
Mendiola, whose afternoon series "Paraiso" will air its finale on Friday, was reported to take on the role of Maria Mercedes in a Kapamilya remake of the "telenovela."
Star Magic, the talent management firm which handles Mendiola's career, has yet to confirm, however, if she will indeed reprise the lead role in the reported planned retelling of the rags-to-riches story.
The actress' appearance as Maria Mercedes in the upcoming summer station ID of ABS-CBN will be the first time she will be seen as the character.
Should the reported planned remake of "Maria Mercedes" hit local TV, it won't be the first time ABS-CBN has tapped a Kapamilya actress to reprise a role popularized by Thalia.
In 2011, a remake of the TV drama "Maria la del Barrio" starring the Mexican actress had ABS-CBN talent Erich Gonzales portray the title character.