Charo Santos-Concio credits the late legendary director Mike de Leon for teaching her invaluable acting technique.
Her memorable experiences working with Mike were among the things Charo reminisced during the panel interview at PEP Spotlight: Sine x Cinemalaya, held at Cinema 3 of EDSA Shangri-La on August 10, 2026.
She made her film debut in his 1976 gothic horror film, Itim, which also marked Mike’s debut as a feature-film director.
Charo went on to collaborate with the acclaimed filmmaker on two other notable films, Kakabakaba Ka Ba? and Kisapmata. Both films are included in Summit Books’ 100 SINE. FILM. PELIKULA: The 100+ Greatest Movies in Philippine Cinema.
The book is co-authored by Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon, a respected Philippine entertainment journalist and editor, in collaboration with Dr. Joel David, a film critic and academic who holds a Ph.D in Cinema Studies at the New York University.
Talking about how Mike's films influenced her, Charo narrated: "Yung Itim, yung una kong pelikula. So, niraramdam ko pa kung anong klaseng pagganap ang kakayanin ko, yung appreciation ko for portraying another character, 'no?
"But in my first film, si Direk Mike, tinuruan na niya ako that good acting doesn't necessarily have to be announced.
"So, yun ang natutunan ko. That sometimes, you know, mas nakukuha mo yung mensahe sa isang tingin, sa silence, sa hesitation, at hindi kailangan dalhin lahat ng dayalogo. Ayan."
She added: "Mike really shaped me as a performer. I think my kind of acting is quiet, restrained.... There's a lot of curiosity. There's a lot of courage also and truth in my performances.
"So, that's the biggest influence of Mike de Leon."
Charo further described Mike as a master of storytelling and film technique, which meant that he also sets uncompromising standards in his craft.
"So, si Mike bilang director, alam na alam niya yung punto de vista na gusto niyang sabihin sa mga pelikula niya.
"So, hindi lang siya tungkol sa istorya o kuwento ng mga characters niya. Kailangan maintindihan mo rin the world that the characters inhabit.
"Kasi hindi lang naman simpleng kuwento ang gusto niyang ilahad. Gusto rin niyang magbigay ng mas malalim na mensahe tungkol sa pamilya, sa komunidad, sa mundo in general, 'no? The world that the characters inhabit."
Charo pointed out that Mike knew exactly what he wants from his actors.
"And so, yung collaboration niya, it's not the modern take on collaboration where you discuss everything, because he's very clear about his expectations, of the characters and his point of view.
"You have to live within his boundaries of storytelling, within his framework. And he's very sure about his framework.
"But he trusts that you understand your character. Yeah. So in that sense, he gives you that freedom. He gives you that freedom."
Charo was only 20 years old when she did Itim. And at that age, she learned not just how to act but having the right attitude at work.
"So, ganun si Mike, demanding as an artist. He expects you to know your role. He expects you to be prepared."
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CHARO SANTOS ON MIKE DE LEON'S FIERY TEMPER
It was at this point when Charo candidly recalled having experienced the late director's fiery temper on the set of Kisapmata.
The drama film tackled dictatorship and violence in the context of a young couple's troubled marriage.
Recalling how hectic the shooting was, Charo explained: "In fact, yung Kisapmata, which was also my first project as line producer na umaarte rin ako, may isang eksena, yung sa dining room, yung pamamanhikan ni Jay Ilagan at saka nung father niya, si Ruben Rustia.
"So nandoon si Vic Silayan, Charito Solis. Wow, my god, di ba? The icons of cinema.
"So, nag-rehearse na kami, nag-dialogue, nag-technical rehearsal.
"Eto na. Sabi niya, 'O sige na, puwede nang palit sa continuity ng costumes.'
"My god, dahil ang dami kong inaasikaso behind the scenes, nakalimutan ko yung continuity, yung blouse. E, malapit lang naman yung bahay ko."
Charo, however, was surprised when her minor mistake trigerred Mike to blow up.
"Sabi ko, 'Give me five minutes. Kukunin ko lang po yung blouse ko.' Naku, biglang sumigaw, 'Pack up! Pack up!'
"Yeah. So, I had to go to Vic Silayan, Charito Solis, yun talagang I had to apologize to everyone."
Worse, the shoot got delayed because Mike refused to return to the set.
Describing her frustration at the time, she continued: "And for three days hindi kami nag-shoot. Hindi ko alam kung babalik pa [si Mike] sa set.
"E, festival movie. May deadline.
"So sabi ko, wala akong choice. I have to approach another director. I have to go to him and ask him, 'Babalik ka ba sa set? Kasi kung hindi mapipilitan akong maghanap ng ibang director.'
"Pero hindi ko alam kung sino tatanggap, di ba? But wala, e, di ba? You just have to step up to the plate."
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CHARO SANTOS ASKED MIKE DE LEON TO RETURN TO WORK
Left with no other choice, Charo mustered the courage to pay Mike a visit at his house.
"So I went to his house. So through his mayordoma, sabi ko, 'Pakitanong lang kung babalik si Direk Mike sa set ng Kisapmata. Kasi kung hindi na, mapipilitan akong kumuha ng ibang director.'
"Alam kong it's not done, di ba? But I have no choice. I have a playdate to meet.
"Tapos bumalik yung mayordoma, 'Babalik na po.'"
Looking back, Charo said she and Mike finished Kisapmata without ever discussing that nervewracking incident.
"And we never ever talked about it until the day he passed away. Never binalikan.
"So I guess, he must have realized also that, you know, he overreacted," Charo said.
Mike died on August 28, 2025.
Smiling, Charo paused, looked up, and exclaimed, "Hi, Mike!" as if to say that the late director could hear that she is talking about him.
Continuing, she said: "Siguro yung parang, give me naman some some leeway na first time kong producer, ganun.
"But yung lesson na yun will stay with me forever, di ba? So, yeah, you just have to pay attention to all the details, ganyan."
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MIKE DE LEON IN SINE FILM PELIKULA
A scion of big film studio LVN Pictures, Mike de Leon finished Humanities at the Ateneo de Manila University and studied art history at Heidelberg University in Germany.
In the book SINE. FILM. PELIKULA., film scholar Bliss Cua Lim's Translating Time was quoted as saying that Mike's acclaimed film Itim remains relevant to this day because of "its critical inspection of the relationship between materialism in media technology and the anxiety provoked by supernatural phenomena.
Maglipon and Dr. David also pointed out that the same film showcased Mike's brand of storytelling that showcases "class and gender critiques, the rejection of authoritarian figures, and an abiding confidence in the power of cinema."
Read more short reviews about Mike de Leon's select body of works together with other iconic Filipino films showcased in SINE. FILM. PELIKULA.
100 SINE. FILM. PELIKULA: The 100+ Greatest Movies in Philippine Cinema retails for P1,799, and is available on leading bookstores National Bookstore and Fully Booked as well as online via Shopee and Lazada.