Ryan’s voice of love

He has proven himself as a good TV host in programs like Studio 23’s Breakfast and Y Speak, ABS-CBN’s Talk TV, Star in a Million and Magandang Umaga Pilipinas, and Cinema One’s Review Night. He even won a KBP Golden Dove Award for Best Talk and Magazine Show Host.

He ventured into acting too with the fantasy series, Krystala, and went on to do several other TV drama projects for ABS-CBN, including the latest soap series, Bituing Walang Ningning, where he gets to work with Zsa Zsa Padilla, Sarah Geronimo and Ai-Ai de las Alas. He also made his big screen debut last year with Joey Reyes’ award-winning opus, Kutob.

But Ryan Agoncillo as a recording artist may sound far-fetched. He did not dare croon any love songs, though. Ryan releases a unique compilation CD, Love Speak, where he shares his thoughts on love and life in classic songs interpreted by OPM greats.

Ryan admits he thought of releasing his own CD and dreamt about it as a child. He was a guitarist in his high school band. But coming out with an album which highlights his forte on talking about sentiments and feelings is a dream come true for him.

"The concept of the album readily appealed to me," Ryan shares. "I was receptive to the idea of coming out with this unique album. Of course, I did not dare sing. But my stint as host of Y Speak allowed me to share my thoughts on love and life with this album."

Love Speak is full of romantic tunes recorded by topnotch local artists like Martin Nievera, Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, Pops Fernandez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Basil Valdez, Side A, The Tux, Ric Segreto, Raymond Lauchengco, Paolo Montalban, Aiza Seguerra and Nyoy Volante, with special guest performances by Rowell Santiago and Panjee Gonzales.

Ryan’s significant other, Judy Ann Santos, provides the rare treat in the album by recording No Ordinary Love, which she dedicates to her boyfriend of one year now. Judy Ann also gets to revive her singing career – she has two multi-platinum albums to her name – with the said track.

Ryan provided the positive messages to all the feel-good songs in the compilation album under Vicor Music, as part of the recording company’s 40th anniversary celebration. Aside from the lineup of the songs, Ryan’s affinity with the artists who recorded the tunes was also considered.

He has worked with Zsa Zsa as co-host in Star in a Million and now in the series Bituing Walang Ningning. Gary has always been Ryan’s idol as a performer, while Martin was part of Ryan’s Tuesday lunch group at ABS-CBN and was the first who interviewed him when he joined the network.

Ryan directed the Singapore segment of Pops Fernandez’s summer special while on tour aboard Star Cruises.

Director Rowell Santiago was the first who saw the chemistry between Ryan and Judy Ann and offered him a role in Luv Text, which Ryan turned down due to lack of acting experience. Ryan wanted to establish himself then as a host before venturing into acting.

Panjee is Ryan’s cousin. They discovered how they became next of kin during a guesting stint in Martin Nievera’s talk show. In the album, Panjee displays her vocal prowess with Lagi na Lang, a duet with Side A vocalist Joey Generoso.

Acting and hosting are two things which Ryan loves to do. The shift from hosting to acting wasn’t too tough for him, though, but making a choice between the two tasks is something that Ryan refuses to do.

He gets to display his flair for acting anew in Bituing Walang Ningning, where he essays the role of recording executive Nico, the character originally played by Christopher de Leon in the film version.

Ryan is also wrapping up a digital film, Umaaraw, Umuulan, a tribute movie in honor of his late director-friend, Luigi Santiago, who was at the helm of the horror-drama, Nginiiig on ABS-CBN. The movie is slated to be shown in June in time for Luigi’s first death anniversary.

Despite his celebrity status, Ryan’s pleasures remain simple and he is firmly grounded as he looks forward to better, bigger things. He has proven how good looks and brains, coupled with innate talent, can be an edge when it comes to sustaining a career in showbiz.