Napakasuwerte ni Riza Santos. Dahil sa unang pagkakataon na nagkaroon ng katuparan ang pagsasama sa pelikula nina Dolphy at Vic Sotto, siya ang naging leading lady ng dalawa. Kahit sabihin pa na second choice lang siya to Marian Rivera na siyang original leading lady sana. Hindi lang kasi magtugma sa schedule ni Marian ang shooting for the movie.
Kahit baguhan pa lang sa showbiz, alam na ni Riza ang pagiging "higanteng" artista ng dalawang kasama niya sa pelikulang Dobol Trobo, Ready To Rambol. Ayon kay Riza sa press conference ng movie kagabi, July 5, sa Imperial Suites, Quezon City, ine-expect na raw niyang magiging big hit ang movie nila.
"My expectation is that it will be a very huge blockbuster hit because it's being starred by Tito Dolphy and Bossing. I'm sure a lot of people are very excited to watch the movie, so, I'm very confident that it will be a blockbuster," pahayag niya sa press na kaharap, kabilang ang PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
STARSTRUCK. Sa dalawang kasamang batikang komedyante, kanino siya mas na-starstruck?
"I admire both of them in good ways. Si Tito Dolphy, he's been admired by my family for three generations na, my grandparents, parents and myself. With Bossing, I watch Eat Bulaga! and the first Filipino film I've ever watched is Ano Ba ‘Yan? And I really enjoyed the film, their sense of humor, and working with them, as well, definitely.
"I not only get to admire them as artists but I got to know them in a more personal level, which is very nice."
Mismong ang dalawang co-stars na niya ang nagbuking na at first, talagang naiilang at halatang nahihiya pa siya, ngunit pagkaraa'y naging kumportable na rin. Ano ba ang masasabi niyang ginawa ng mga ito for her to be more at ease with them?
"They are very down-to-earth! Of course, when you're on set, out of respect, you'll be the first one to approach them and say hello, but after that, you don't expect that they will come talk to you and give you pointers because they don't have to, but they do! They are really very nice. So, I didn't expect that.
"That's the first time, that an artist who is more experienced than I am, more admired and respected, approached me."
WOMEN LIKE HUMOR. Napangiti si Riza when PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked her kung aware ba siya na kilalang lover boy ang dalawang lead stars ng movie?
"I'm quite familiar with that, I'm aware..."
Nakita niya ba kung ano ang mga qualities meron ang mga ito, kaya nga nagiging habulin ng mga babae?
"I think, one thing that a lot of women like is for a guy to have a great sense of humor. Someone that can make them laugh. I think, that's a great trait that both of them have. Obviously, that's the reason why they we're so loved by a lot of women."
Yun din ba ang katangiang hinahanap niya?
"That's something that I want my future partner to have."
THINGS WITH MARIEL. After niyang masangkot sa intriga dahil sa diumano'y pang-iisnab nga raw niya sa ilang Kapuso stars, naikuwento ng PEP kay Riza na ang dating nakaintrigahan din niya noon sa Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2 na si Mariel Rodriguez ay isa sa naging defender niya at nagsasabing mabait naman siya.
So, how are things between her and Mariel now?
"Oh, yeah, I even talked to her, when I guested in Entertainment Live! Regarding Startalk," tukoy ni Riza na interview raw ng mga Kapuso stars na "sinungitan" diumano niya.
Nagulat naman si Riza when PEP told her na si Mariel pa pala ang nag-insist na ito mismo ang mag-i-interview kay Riza.
"Oh really? I didn't know that! Wow! It's interesting because even after that issue came up, even before, she's been really sweet."
Ramdam ba niyang sincere si Mariel?
"Oh, yeah, I think she is sincere. Even for that one single event na parang wala naman sa akin, it got publicized, but still the same, I still view her as one of my friends."
GOOD OR BAD, STILL PUBLICITY. Pagkatapos ba ng nangyaring yun ("sungitan issue" sa FHM sexiest show), may natutuhan din siyang lesson?
"Hindi naman...I still put my trust on people. I still want to see the best in people. So, with regards to being conscious, I guess, with my face, I became more smiling. Kasi kapag hindi ako naka-smile, I look like more mataray. So, it's not being conscious, it's being more aware, especially sa industry na ito."
May kasabihan, good or bad publicity, it's still a publicity. Puwede niya bang sabihin na kahit paano, nakatulong din sa kanya para makilala pa ang nangyaring isyu?
"I think sa kabila, sa GMA-7. Because in regards to the issue, hindi naman malaking issue. Parang it just got blown out of proportion. I think, it's more on misunderstanding. But I think, people can understand that.
"I think, it works for me because I get to be known in GMA-7, " natatawa niyang sabi.
SUCCESS AFTER PBB. After naman daw ng Dobol Trobol, she is set to do a new film under Viva Films, ang horror movie na Bulong. Obviously, among their batch in PBB, isa siya sa talagang nagtutuluy-tuloy ang pag-angat ng career.
"I feel blessed, but I also feel that we are all successful in our own ways. Like with Jon Avila, he had his Kapitan Boom. And then, Will [Devaughn], he's in Australia right now. We're all successful in our own ways."