Tough love has no place in work environments for Dolly de Leon.
The Golden Globe Award nominee shares this perspective during a masterclass at the Samsung Performing Arts Theatre on August 7, 2024.
She applauds this generation's inclination to challenge and reject harsh mentoring practices in favor of more empowering approaches.
In promoting the must-see play Request sa Radyo, which she will star in alongside Broadway Diva Lea Salonga, they address how to foster and manage creative growth without relying on strict methods of instruction.
Read: Dolly de Leon lands British Vogue's 2023 Hollywood Portfolio
DOLLY CITES TRAUMA FROM NO-NONSENSE MENTORING
In today's more progressive landscape, nurturing and respectful guidance have become the favored method.
When asked about this shift, Dolly responds, "I love it, actually, I welcome it. And that's how it should be.
"I don't welcome any environment where there's name-calling or screaming."
She reflects on her own experiences with tough love, acknowledging, "Even if I grew up in a world like that, and I am who I am today because of people like Sir Alex Cortez [former Dulaang UP artistic director] right here.
"Right? We're all familiar with that. That was a very big part of shaping us into the people that we are today," she says.
"I can't say that was the best method, but it was the method that I went through. And it equipped me with, it made me strong. It made me manhid. It made me, yeah, medyo manhid ako ngayon."
However, she admits that witnessing similar harsh treatment towards younger people, deeply unsettles her.
"Pero, the thing is, if I witness people screaming, especially young, if I witness a director or a big person in a production screaming or name-calling or insulting students, it really throws me off.
"It really makes me feel... Yeah, it triggers me," she admits.
"I think that's the word, no? It triggers me and it brings back so many negative feelings that I don't like how it feels.
"So now, what I do is, if malakas loob ko, kino-call out ko sila at sinasabi ko, ‘Puwede bang wag naman tayong... let's be nice naman.’ Let's be like ganon, di ba?"
The award-winning actress concludes, "Growing up in that world, I mean, I've been called boba, tonta, stupida, gaga, tanga, pangit, when I was growing up.
"And I can't say, despite the fact na masama iyon, I can't say na pinagsisihan ko na ganon ang ginawa sa akin, e, because dahil don, it shaped me into the person that I am today.
"I think I'm really strong because of that. And I'll still be forever grateful to them for treating us like shit, basically."
Read: Liza Soberano grateful for Dolly De Leon's advice, mentorship as she pursues Hollywood career
LEA SALONGA ADVISES NOT TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY
As a performer whose name stands among the most notable in theater, Lea has much to say on the matter.
"I think there are a lot of younger artists who want to get into this industry, who probably find themselves slammed against a wall, not anticipating how hard it is," she notes.
"I would like to think that because of how hard we had it at the beginning of our careers, where you have Bibot Amador [Repertory Philippines' 'Mother'] yelling at you.
"Yes, the yelling was normal. The yelling is real.
"But I don't know. It was just, there's something about her [Amador] though, I didn't take it too personally.
"Because it was a kind of a hampas-hampas approach. But then after rehearsal, it's over. She will be nicer. She will be kinder."
She adds: "I mean, obviously, my experience is a little different because I was very young, when I was working with Repertory Philippines.
"I just learned a lot from watching her as an actor, as well as a director. And, yeah, I heard the yelling. I heard that yelling so much.
"But maybe some calluses must have built up at some point."
"Because when I got to working in New York, I was like, ‘Oh my God, they're not yelling at me,’" she recalls.
"But the expectation to perform, that you'll still get yelled at, maybe. But if you were not performing up to the level that you were expected to, then you'll get yelled at. Sure.
"I'm not against getting yelled at if you deserve it. Sure," she says.
"But I just get ahead of that. I think about it as passion rather than anger. And it's not personal.
"It's yelling to try and get the best out of you."
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