Rainier in wonderland

Rainier Castillo would rather make people roll down the aisle than take out their hanky and sob till they drop. Not that it’s a walk in the park. Everybody knows that it’s much harder to make people laugh at your jokes than cry over your sorrows.

Comedy requires timing; drama can do without this crucial but important part of a performer’s life.

It’s just that the StarStruck (batch 1) survivor is jolly by nature. Rainier grew up in a typical Pinoy home where his extended family of titos and titas would crack jokes at the dinner table. The memory of those happy family meals is enough to light up Rainier’s lonely nights, now that his titos and titas have moved out of the compound they used to share.

This also explains why Rainier is non-plussed at the emergence of the Yasmien (Kurdi)-JC (de Vera) loveteam on GMA 7’s Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita. Rainier is not at all flustered that the network is pairing Yasmien with another guy every weeknight on primetime TV.

“Yasmien’s teamup with JC is for drama; mine is for comedy,” says Rainier.

Make that comedy-fantasy. Years after they first hit it big as a duo on StarStruck, GMA is bringing Yasmien and Rainier back together again in Tasya Fantasya, which starts today after SOP.

The new afternoon series, based on Carlo J. Caparas’ story of friendship, adventure and love, casts Yasmien in the title role. Rainier, on the other hand, is Raz, her secret admirer and confidante.

Yasmien is the same girl he has known since their StarStruck days, observes Rainier. And he is basically the same guy who took a shot at the talent search in the hope of helping his family financially.

“I’m still the breadwinner,” he relates. “That’s why I don’t mind taking supporting roles as long as I have work.”

Thanks to his work, Rainier was able to buy a lot in Antipolo and a car he can call his own.

And since the responsibility of providing for the family falls squarely on his shoulders, Rainier doesn’t mind taking the slow but steady route to stardom.

“I’d rather do things step by step,” he explains. “I’m in no hurry.”

And if this means waiting longer to reach the peak because he wants to avoid scandals and intrigues, so be it. Rainier would rather keep his private life private than talk about it and hog showbiz column headlines the next day.

Yes, it could be a shortcut to the big time, but no thanks. Rainier will keep his mouth shut about the real reason for his breakup with Sheena Halili and other juicy items about his private life.

How true is it that he just disappeared from Sheena’s life without any warning? Rainier refuses to confirm or deny the accusation.

“All I can say is I know the truth,” he replies with a straight face.

It speaks a lot about this guy known for his killer smile. Rainier would rather talk in riddles than hurt someone else’s feelings.

The guy has dreams — big ones. This, you can’t take away from him. Aside from putting his family on easy street someday, Rainier wants to feel how it is to be a king, even for a day.

“That’s my fantasy, you see. Kings get what they want,” he says.

Still another fantasy is snagging a date with Ehra Madrigal, and, where stateside beauties are concerned, the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

As for a fantasy figure, Rainier would choose Spider-Man, he with the belief that with great power comes great responsibility.

Again, it speaks much of this guy who would rather let his actions do the talking for him. Rainier may be no hunk like Spider-Man. He may not land a full-page splash on men who display their abs and rippling muscles.

But in his heart of hearts, this simple guy knows that these things are not the only traits that make a real superhero. Rainier knows that at the end of the day, what matters most is not how many fans swarm around you or ask for your autograph.

What’s important is that he has been facing the responsibility of taking care of his family for years now with that killer smile still lighting up his face.

That’s Rainier’s strength, and source of power.