MANILA, Philippines - For someone who focuses on working behind the cameras — giving performers the right cue and proper blocking or pacing on stage — you’d expect him to initially dilly-dally to an offer of facing the camera again. The rigors of taping thrice a week which usually last ‘til the wee hours of the morning is bound to take its toll on him.
But Rowell Santiago finally agreed to star on ABS-CBN’s latest teleserye Tanging Yaman after two weeks of contemplation. He even went to Hong Kong to prepare for the role of Juan Policarpio, president of the Philippines.
Tanging Yaman is a first in teleserye history since it tackles the life of a president.
“Never in my life that I did a teleserye but this is something worth doing and too hard to resist. I guess they (ABS-CBN bosses) chose me because I’m like what they say ‘fresh na luma.’ I’ve been acting before but unlike other actors televiewers never see me in different characters,” shares Rowell.
While in Hong Kong, Rowell started thinking how Policarpio would physically leave a mark on his audience. He looked for a pair of eyeglasses that could also protect his eyes from the long hours under glaring klieg lights. It surprised him to find out that the rimmed pair handed to him was similar to Ninoy Aquino’s. “But Ninoy was never a president so I’m not endorsing anyone. I don’t have a presidentiable yet,” Rowell explains.
Seeking advice from fashion designers on how a president should dress up came next on his list. Paul Cabral was among those Rowell consulted.
“Most of them hoped for Barong Tagalog to be promoted because for a long while the Barong industry dropped (in the market),” he elaborates.
He, too, personally ordered a pin especially made with a seal as accent to his “presidential look.”
Acting-wise, his appearance in the John Lloyd Cruz-Sarah Geronimo starrer A Very Special Love introduced Rowell to the younger generation who he said, “only knows me as a director.” But the workshop under Laurice Guillen helped him swing back to acting mode.
“I work mostly behind the scenes kaya nanibago talaga ko yet it is exciting to be with the same faces in the industry and also the younger set,” he reveals.
Still, he dreads the long working hours. “They understand because all my directorial commitments happen on M-W-F and T-TH-S are my taping days here. After the taping at 9 a.m., I go straight to my directorial job.”
Thus, Rowell requested for a curfew time of 2 a.m. which the Tanging Yaman team happily granted but not for now when the team is still working on the show’s pilot week.
Did he dream of becoming a politician?
“I’m not closing my doors but I didn’t wish to be in politics. Ang tanging yaman ko ay ang kaalaman na iniwan ng tatay ko (direk Pablo Santiago) sa akin at itutuloy ko ang paggawa sa sining na ito. Directing is my priority.”
In fact, Rowell is the director of Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez’s concert in February.
Does he see himself working with Sharon Cuneta on-screen?
“More than acting, I’d like to work with her as a director.”
Tanging Yaman airs weeknights beginning tomorrow, Jan. 11 on ABS-CBN.