After more than a decade, director Rowell Santiago has finally decided to seriously go back to acting by doing his first teleserye, Tanging Yaman, which will be ABS-CBN's first offering for its celebration of 60 Years of Pinoy Soap.
Rowell Santiago used to be the on-and-off-cam screen partner of the Megastar Sharon Cuneta in the early '80s. Just before that decade passed, Rowell stopped working as an actor and turned into the man behind the camera. His works included movies, concerts, and TV specials.
This year, the brother of Randy and Raymart Santiago is starting his entertainment career as an actor in Tanging Yaman.
Rowell said that before accepting this job, he had already turned down several teleserye offers, including Lobo and Lovers In Paris.
"Parang hindi ko matanggihan ang teleseryeng ito dahil para bang may kabuluhan," he reasoned about giving his nod to Tanging Yaman.
When he was told about his role, President Juan Policarpio, Rowell said he had to think twice whether to accept it or not.
He related, "Noong ilapit sakin 'tong role, kahit sa akin 'no, parang ang feeling ko, 'Do I deserve being the President of the Philippines?' To be honest it took ABS CBN to really court me because sinabi ko sa kanila, 'I don't think with my schedule I can do it.' Kasi noong ginawa ko 'yong A Very Special Love (2008), 'tapos nasundan 'yon ng You Changed My Life (2009), ginawa ko 'yon sa ABS-CBN."
Rowell did a small role in these Sarah Geronimo-John Lloyd Cruz hit movie series as the latter's Kuya Art Montenegro.
He continued narrating, "Never in my life din na nagkaroon ako ng teleserye. Siguro ang gusto ng ABS CBN, dahil napapanahon din, kumuha ng artista na hindi nila mare-relate sa iba pang nakapag-perform ng ibang characters.
"Nilapitan ako ng ABS-CBN, pinakita nila sa'kin yung script, buong script. Nagkaroon kami ng conference, 'tapos tinulugan ko. 'Tapos sinabi ko siguro sa akin nga it took me one week, two weeks to really say yes dahil sinabi ko sa kanila na siguro kung gagawa rin ako ng isang role o isang teleserye, yung medyo makabuluhan na.
"'Tapos ang parang sinabi ko, lahat sila nag-aagawan para maging presidente, di ba? E, bakit hindi ko kayang gawin na maging presidente even with this role. So, natutuwa ako at binigay sakin ng ABS-CBN itong particular role na to bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas sa isang panahon na napakaimportante dahil 'yan ang advocacy ng ABS-CBN sa paggawa ng Tanging Yaman. At saka sinabi ko sa sarili ko, 'Kung gagawa man ako ng teleserye, e tatak ABS-CBN na dahil alam ko na dun sila magaling.'"
MORE REASONS TO DO THIS PROJECT. Aside from the relevance of his role to the current political situation in the country, Rowell also thought that it was about time to give in to the longtime request of going back to acting so the new generation would know he's not only a director.
The actor-director said, "Honestly, sinabi ko na 'to nung ginagawa naming yung pelikula ni Sarah [Geronimo] at ni John Lloyd [Cruz]. Parang sinabi ko nung napanood ko yung pelikula ni John Lloyd at ni Bea [Alonzo, One More Chance], naging instant fan ako ni [movie director] Cathy Molina not knowing that after she offered me a role in A Very Special Love. Nagustuhan ko. Parang I accepted it because it's short but very important role. At the same time na parang feeling ko yung generation na 'to parang dapat yata makilala nila ako na kahit papaano naging artista ako dahil ang alam nila direktor ako."
There's also the influence of his family, like his brother Raymart and wife Claudine Barretto, who also appear in TV series.
"Ito hong teleseryeng ito, talaga hong pinag-isipan to dahil alam ko... hindi naman sa ano, di ba? Parang maraming horror stories of the working hours. But sa dami ho, kahit sa pamilya naming mga adik tlaga sa soap, e. So, parang feeling ko pagbigyan ko na sila," he said.
But Rowell said he kept the offer from his family until he finally agreed to be part of Tanging Yaman.
"Nagulat silang lahat [nang malaman nila]," said Rowell. "Kasi, noong dinisisyunan ko 'to, hindi ako nag-ingay, hindi ko pinagsabi. Hindi ko pinagsabi dahil unang-una meron akong, siyempre parang nahihiya ako, ano ba to di ba? Pero nagulat na lang bigla lahat."
ACTING WORKSHOPS. It's been years since the last time Rowell played a major role in an acting project. He thought he needed to re-polish it so he openly submitted himself to an acting workshop.
He reiterated, "Sabi ko nga, kailangan kong mag-workshop. Hindi ba, may ibang artista na ayaw mag-workshop? Sabi ko, 'I need a workshop.'"
For someone who was used to giving direction to his actors or performers, Rowell said that it was hard to shift role.
"Siyempre, nahihirapan ako, di ba? Parang pagdating ko [sa set], 'I am your slave.' Ganun talaga 'yon as a director, 'Gawin mo, direk, kung ano ang dapat kong gawin,'" he admitted.
However, he was glad that his directors, Manny Palo and Lino Cayetano, were there to tell him what they needed for the show.
Rowell said, "Ang laki rin ng [pasalamat] ko sa mga director [Lino Cayetano and Manny Palo] dahil they joined us, e, in the workshop, e. So, alam nila kung saan ang kailangan kong i-develop and alam nila extreme ko."
DIFFERENT WORKING HOURS. Direk Rowell also mentioned that he had to make some adjustments to adapt to the long working hours of doing a teleserye.
Although his requested cut-off time has not yet been followed, Rowell said it was okay because he was having a good time working with the group.
"Naiintindihan ko rin kasi medyo first few weeks ko medyo heavy siya kasi hindi pa pumapasok ang mga bagets, e. So, una ako at ako ang last to go. Kaya sabi ko nga sa kanila, 'Consistent kayo, ha. Palagi akong last artist to go home,'" he said.
This concern was also the reason behind Rowell's decision to wear eyeglasses for the role.
When he was teased about imitating a presidential candidate, he immediately defended, "Noong nagre-research ako bago ko ginawa itong teleserye na ito—dahil alam kong mahirap ang working hours, araw-araw akong magta-trabaho—nagbakasyon muna ako sa Hong Kong. Pagkatapos sinabi ko na sa sarili ko, 'Okay, prepare. Kailangan kong magsalamin.' Pumunta ako isang store, 'tapos sabi ko sa isang Intsik, hindi ko sinabing artista ako, "I just need a pair of glasses." I wanted na may rim sana para maiba doon sa ginawa kong pelikula. Noong binigay nila sakin to tiningnan ko, sabi ko, 'Good, good.'
"I'M NOT LEAVING MY DIRECTORIAL JOB." Although Rowell looked excited with his acting comeback, he swore he would never leave his job as a director.
"Hindi ko tinatalikuran ang pagiging direktor ko," he firmly stated.
He continued, "Kapag natatapos ako ng taping ng nine in the morning dumideretso ako as a director the next day. Kasi my schedule [for Tanging Yaman] is Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday and all my directorial commitments happen on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. As a matter of fact I'm still having concerts, like Martin and Pops in February.
"Bago ko ito tinanggap nakalatag na rin 'yong mga gagawin ko. Regarding the future, it really depends, you know. But definitely direktor pa rin, kahit papaano direktor pa rin ang priority ko dahil I love creating something."