It’s in the blood

MANILA, Philippines - Taking it from the title of his Kapamilya soap, Arjo Atayde has dugong showbiz, having Sylvia Sanchez for a mom. But there’s more to his mestizo mien and showbiz connection. His E-Boy and Maalaala Mo Kaya performances already hinted at a promising career for Arjo. From the look of it, he can be bida or kontrabida or why not, both.

“I’m focusing on my career,” offers the Dugong Buhay star when asked about the status of his heart. “First, I want to develop my body (for the role). Second, I want to develop my acting skills. Third, I intend to get into the character more. I’m also looking forward to do action scenes.” By the time the director summons him for some fight sequences, Arjo is ready to show his ripped-out body and tip-top shape.

Arjo welcomes whatever roles will come his way. After all, there are 300 plus Star Magic artists waiting for their much-needed break to jumpstart a budding career. “I’ve been in the industry for a year and two months now,” says Arjo. “Imagine. Sinong mabibigyan ng ganung roles in that span of time?” That’s why the business student couldn’t contain his happiness.

“If they’ll ask me to choose (which genre I want to explore), I want drama-comedy,” shares Arjo. “I’m not a superstar to demand. I’m just starting and I need to comply and to absorb what they want for me. I’m enjoying (the experience) a lot.”

Arjo’s interest in acting started on the set of Esperanza where mom Sylvia played stepmother of Judy Ann Santos.

“There were times when we would join mama,” he recalls. “After taping, I would get her script and imitate Ate Juday without them knowing it. I was seven or eight at that time. I really wanted to act then.”

Arjo did rounds of audition but never got lucky in his initial attempts. But he carried on until an ABS-CBN public workshop gave Arjo the ticket to showbiz.      

“People have different reasons of entering show business,” says Arjo. “I loved it from the very first start. Ever since, I’ve never lost my passion for acting. My friends were surprised when they learned about it.”

In La Salle high school, Arjo could have participated in plays or performed for Kundirana. But he “never joined” any of those. “Hindi ko feel mag-stage. Gusto kong umarte. Now that I’ve experienced acting in front of the cameras, I could try stage acting. Back then I had a different mentality and I wasn’t yet part of the industry. I never thought then that doing stage could help me somehow.”

Asked if mom Sylvia gives him a tip or two in approaching a role scene after scene, Arjo replies, “Sa acting, sinabi ko nga sa kanya, kahit anong ituro ninyo sa akin, kung ano ang lalabas sa screen, kung ano ang lalabas sa set, ’yun yung lalabas. ’Yun yung nararamdaman kong gawin which she understands.” One can say that Arjo believes in reacting organically to his character’s imagined world. The set is like a classroom to Arjo who is ready for a surprise quiz or a graded recitation, so to speak. “Before I step on the set, I’ve already studied my character. Instead of sleeping in between takes, I would be behind the monitor watching each scene. I want to know the connection of each character, so that when it’s my turn to do drama, I can get (hugot) the right emotion from the character and not from myself. I like what I’m doing. It feels like I’m just playing on the set.”

Whatever genre he will get into in the future, Arjo has just made his baby steps in pursuing his happiness — which is doing show business.