Major characters
Perlita Mendoza † /- Smith
Portrayed by Sunshine Dizon, Perlita is Marilyn Mendoza's loving and protective adopted-mother and Darlene's biological mother from George Smith. Perlita is a simple woman who, although deprived of a beauty appearance, has a kind heart and an adorable character. For her, "it is what on the inside that counts!" She works as a household helper at the Carbonel mansion, wherein she crosses paths with Giselle—the wife of her boss, Ziggy Carbonel—oblivious that the former is her own best friend Rodora Santos in disguise. As a mother, Perlita is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of her beloved daughter. But what she does not know is that her daughter is actually not hers. [4] [5]
Later in the series after she reveals Giselle's real identity as Rodora Santos to Ziggy due to plastic surgery made by Dr. Ron Reyes and her scheme of switching her own daughter Marilyn to her daughter Darlene, she reunites with her penpal, George Smith who is now a multi-billionaire and wants to propose his marriage to her. But after Darlene accidentally knocks Marilyn in the stove during their physical brawl, it causes fire in the kitchen when she attempts to save Marilyn from the fire until she dies from suffocation. Her death causes both Darlene and Marilyn to end their rivalry.
The series served as Dizon's comeback television project after her four-year hiatus from showbiz. Dizon described the project as "A very good one that is hard to refuse. The story itself convinced me to accept the job. When they laid down the storyline, I was really moved." Mundo Mo'y Akin is one of the two television dramas she signed-up for the network for the year 2013. [6]
Giselle Atienza-Carbonel / Rodora Santos
Portrayed by Angelika dela Cruz, Giselle is Ziggy Carbonel's wife, adopted mother to Darlene and the mother of Marilyn. With a beautiful face, an impeccable figure, plus a handsome and wealthy husband, Giselle holds the world in her hands. But behind her beautiful appearance and perfect life is a secret past. In reality, she is Rodora Santos, a dark-skinned and ugly woman who underwent plastic surgery. Worse, to make her deception more realistic, she switches her ugly baby with Perlita's beautiful child. Giselle, however, still dreads the moment when she will have to tell Ziggy the truth. Fears of abandonment push her, however, to keep the secret hidden. [7]
However, her dark secret is exposed by Perlita as well as her scheme. Causing Ziggy to get angry and dismayed from her actions and leaves. But he accepts Marilyn as their daughter after her face is disfigured by Darlene in a car accident. Giselle also apologizes to her husband for her actions as they reconcile for their daughter.
In an interview, Dela Cruz said that at first, she had qualms accepting the role because "she finds it a bit weird and unrealistic for her age to play a mother to a teenage girl." After several discussions with the production people regarding the concept, story line and her character, Dela Cruz finally accepted the role. [8]
Lauren Young as Darlene Atienza Carbonel / Darlene Mendoza Smith
Portrayed by Lauren Young, Darlene is Perlita Mendoza's biological daughter but was switched with Marilyn. Safe in the make-believe that Ziggy and Giselle Carbonel are indeed her real family, Darlene grew up in affluence and is used to getting whatever she wants, except for one thing — the love of her mother, Giselle Carbonel. She finds comfort in Marilyn Mendoza's company, the daughter of their household helper, Perlita. Despite the apparent differences in their social status, the two became best of friends. However, their relationship starts to falter when they fell in love with the same man – Jerome Alvarez. [5]
Later after her biological mother, Perlita exposes Giselle's real identity and her schemes. She could not accept the truth but she begins to care for her mother as the series progresses but her rivalry with Marilyn still remains. The car accident made by her causes Marilyn's ugly face to be disfigured as a result she ends up in jail for her actions. Her actions sterns for jealousy, disrespect and bratty which she imitates Dona Charito Carbonel's mean and strict actions which is the main reason why Jerome rejects her for Marilyn. When Darlene returns for being a mean streak after revealing she was a daughter of Perlita and George Smith who is a multi-billionaire, she still treats Marilyn as ugly despite her face made by plastic surgery. Her behavior causes her own downfall when she accidentally knocks Marilyn in the stove that causes fire but at the cost of her own mother's life when she saves Marilyn from the fire before she dies in suffocation. At her mother's funeral, Darlene finally apologizes for her actions as she cries of her mother's death as Marilyn thanked Perlita for taking care of her. Both her and Marilyn's rivalry had ended as they reconcile their friendship. In the end, she goes with her biological father, George in Italy.
Young signed on to portray the antagonist character, Darlene and is served as her first project after she transferred and inked an exclusive contract with GMA Network. [9]
Louise delos Reyes as Marilyn Atienza Carbonel / Marilyn Mendoza
Portrayed by Louise delos Reyes, Marilyn is the rightful heiress of the Carbonels but was switched with Darlene and grew up in poverty. Marilyn is a caring and obedient daughter who strives to better herself for the sake of her foster mother, Perlita Mendoza. She is intelligent, brave and kind-hearted, but despite all of these good qualities, Marilyn experiences being bullied and humiliated by others because of her unattractive appearances. During these hard times, Marilyn finds comfort in the company of Darlene Carbonel, the daughter of the family that her mother Perlita works for. But their friendship will be put to test as one guy comes between them – Jerome Alvarez. [10]
Their rivalry begins with only Jerome Alvarez as Darlene treats her like trash. After revealing she was Giselle's daughter and the rightful heiress to the Carbonels after Perlita exposes her biological mother's scheme. Darlene could not accept the truth as she takes her to her car for a joyride as a result of the car accident, Marilyn's ugly face was disfigured causing Darlene to be in jail for her actions and she along with her family to take her in the US for her face surgery. In later episodes, Marilyn becomes beautiful and fine lady after the accident as Jerome likes her appearance. Despite the Carbonels ending up bankrupt, she decides to help her family. Her rivalry with Darlene continues when she was revealed to be the daughter of both Perlita and George, both girls went into a physical brawl. Darlene accidentally knocks her in a stove causing a fire in a kitchen. Marilyn was later saved by Perlita before she dies in suffocation. After her step-mother's death, she thanked her for taking care of her. In the end of the series, she and her family decide to travel the US as she gives farewell to Jerome before she leaves the airport.
Jerome Alvarez
Portrayed by Alden Richards. Good-looking, street-smart, romantic with the soul of a dreamer, Jerome finished Culinary Arts and now working as a sous-chef in the resort owned by the Carbonels. Jerome has an unrequited crush on the bratty Darlene Carbonel, and has been long-time friends with both her and Marilyn Mendoza [a girl who despite possessing an ugly appearance lies a heart of gold]. He eventually embroiled in a complicated love triangle between the two girls. [10] [11] Jailed by Doña Charito a while makes an incident at mall to Fight at Marilyn's new Boyfriend Harry.
Zenaida "Aida" Carbonel
Portrayed by Jolina Magdangal, Aida is the niece of Charito Carbonel's late husband, Ziggy's cousin and the surrogate mother of Jerome Alvarez. Aida finished her degree in Business Management but ended up working for the Carbonels as a constant aid to Charito's every whim and demand. Aida believes that she also has the rights for the Carbonel's vast properties and is determined to reclaim what is rightfully hers. She holds the key to the secret behind the real identities of Darlene Carbonel and Marilyn Mendoza and uses it to blackmail Giselle Carbonel to get what she wants, as well as to exact revenge on Doña Charito and Ziggy. [12]
The role, Aida was originally offered to Agot Isidro but the actress turned it down because she found the role "quite similar" to her popular character Leila Samonte in the 2012 hit series, One True Love . [13] The role went to Magdangal, who says in an interview "it's my first time to play antagonist role [...] it's kinda weird but challenging." Mundo Mo'y Akin was Jolina last television on GMA, before returning to ABS-CBN in 2014. [14]
Ziggy Carbonel
Portrayed by Gabby Eigenmann, Ziggy is Doña Charito Carbonel's only son, Giselle's husband and father to Darlene. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Ziggy is used to being given everything he wants. He works as the general manager of "Carbonel Barongs"–their family business, and later as a resort owner. Happy-go-lucky and vain, Ziggy believes that life is all about pleasure. He is also known for being a womanizer and loves being surrounded by beautiful and sexy women. A vicious man, he can stand up to anyone and he never hesitates to speak his mind on things. But behind his seemingly "perfect world" hid a deep, dark secret that his wife, Giselle has been hiding for him for a long time. [15] [16]
Eigenmann was the first actor cast and said "I do not mind it playing another antagonist. There is so much challenge from it. People never get bored of it, including myself." [17]
Doña Charito Vda. de Carbonel
Portrayed by Jaclyn Jose, Charito is the matriarch of the prominent Carbonel clan. A former beauty queen and model, Charito now owns and runs "Carbonel Barongs", a well-known Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana shop. Arrogant and highly judgemental, Charito believes in the importance of beauty and hates ugly people [making Perlita and Marilyn the objects of her scorn]. A perfectionist and ambitious woman, she will do anything and everything just to accomplish her goals. Unaware of her granddaughter's true identity, Charito treats Darlene like a real princess—she spoils her to no end and sees to it that she has everything. [18] [19]
