Reluctant heartthrob

MANILA, Philippines - Call him the reluctant TV heartthrob, but Richard Yap never expected he’d get elevated to leading man status opposite Jodi Sta. Maria in the light romantic daytime series Be Careful With My Heart.

He plays Richard Lim, a widower and father of three, who “because of being heartbroken and busy with work,” enlists a provincial lass named Maya (Jodi) as nanny to help him with his kids.

While the show’s theme is a tried-and-tested formula, particularly on the big screen (think Sound of Music!), still it’s a “huge responsibility” for the 44-year-old showbiz newcomer.

After all, Be Careful With My Heart is Richard’s third TV project only — with a top-billing role at that — following his break as the “crushable father figure” Papa Chen in last year’s My Binondo Girl. (He also appeared in Walang Hanggan.)

He says, “I guess, yeah, (this) is a bit surprising for someone who has just started acting last year. It’s a very big break and a very big responsibility given to me by ABS-CBN, and I’m very thankful that they’ve given me this trust. As much as possible I would like to show them that I’m responsible enough to bring this show together.”

He stresses though that just because he has one project after another, it doesn’t mean he considers himself popular.

“I don’t think of myself as popular. In fact, I still do the same things that I do. I still go to work aside from tapings. I still go to where I want to go. I don’t think I am someone different from who I was before.”

As for the heartthrob tag, he’s not one to deny it’s flattering especially for someone his age. “It’s flattering to be called as such because medyo mature na tayo. I’m no longer a teenybopper.”

For Richard, who was discovered through a commercial (you may remember him from a popular fastfood chain’s TVCs as the Chinese chef), getting recognized now by people as he goes about in his everyday life would need some getting used to, but he’s not giving it much thought either.

“I don’t put it in my head. (But) sometimes it does make us uncomfortable because we’re just new to this, so we try to be inconspicuous as possible so as not to draw attention to ourselves. But I try to acknowledge (those who greet me).”

And what does his family think of all this?

“With my family, they’re all very supportive. Sometimes, they make fun of me, especially my kids,” shares the father of two, a girl and a boy, aged 16 and nine.

With co-star Jodi Sta. Maria, his ‘loveteam’ partner in the ABS-CBN light romantic drama Be Careful With My Heart.

As his “loveteam” with Jodi gets positive feedback and kilig points especially from fans online, since the show debuted last week, he also gets some pointers from his wife of 18 years, Melody. 

“She’s even the first to say that if ever (there will be a kissing scene), ‘Mag-toothbrush ka muna.’ She’s also a critic. She tells me, ‘Di maganda yun, ayusin mo naman.’”

One thing is for sure, he feels “so blessed and I’m very thankful to God because this came and siguro alam Niya I’ve been working for so long in another industry so maybe (it’s time for) a change of scenery.”

Outside showbiz, this Cebuano is a businessman who manages a furniture company. “So, we service a lot of multinationals for their furniture needs. I also do other businesses on the side. Before (showbiz) came along, that was my life.”

Does being an actor help his businesses?

“Yes, of course, there’s a premium to it,” he muses. “People want to meet you. People want to take pictures with you. People, who don’t want to see you before, would like to see you now. Those who weren’t your relatives want to be your relatives now (laughs).” 

And does Richard see showbiz as a full-time pursuit in the future?

“It depends. If the opportunity is there, and the work is there, why not?” he says.

Be Careful With My Heart airs on ABS-CBN’s Prime Tanghali before It’s Showtime.