Living the Fantasy! How Bianca de Vera transformed into a manananggal for iWant’s “Half Sisters”

We’ve seen her breathe life into teleserye roles that gave us kilig, drama, and endless feels. Now, as she takes on a new character in iWant’s newest microdrama series, “Half Sisters,” Bianca de Vera reveals another side of her versatility in this vertical, bite-sized format. 

As we laugh and feel the thrills of “Half Sisters,” let’s rewind to Bianca’s behind-the-scenes preparation for the role, capturing her transformation from our favorite kikay girlie to an unexpected manananggal. 

Bianca portrays Emily, the half-sister of Ramon (Esnyr Ranollo). On the night of her 18th birthday, Emily transforms into a manananggal—a mythical creature said to detach its upper body from the rest of its body—after inheriting the same family curse that has haunted her brother. 

The revelation weighs heavily on Emily as she prepares to meet Pancho (Brent Manalo), the guy she’s been dating online, who openly despises creatures like the manananggal. Having introduced herself to him as Jessa, Emily now finds the curse casting a shadow over their plans, fueling her fear that her true identity could be exposed.  

While Emily faces a tough challenge, off-cam Bianca radiates lively energy as she transforms into her manananggal look. From the black scar on her face to the vibrant wings she wears, Bianca embraces the chance to bring this side of her character to life for the first time.

Asked about the experience, Bianca quipped, “Kumbaga, nili-live natin ‘yung lahat ng mga fantasy natin nung bata tayo.” She even tried jumping and flying like a true manananggal, joking around with Esnyr about her wings. 

All episodes of “Half Sisters” are now streaming exclusively on iWant. Catch the first five episodes for free on iWant and on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube pages.  

Episodes 6 to 30 are available to stream through iWant’s subscription plans, starting at P35 per month in the Philippines, and USD 4.99 per month in the United States* (*promo price until October 31, 2026) and for the rest of the world. 

Enjoy all the feels you want, only on iWant, the Home of Filipino Feels. Download the app and subscribe via Google Play or the Apple App Store.