A role that’s ‘new’ to Richard

MANILA, Philippines - By the time you are reading this, Richard Yap must have already appeared as Carlo Asuncion on ABS-CBN’s Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita. Carlo is the childhood friend and admirer of Vina Morales’ character, Cecilia, who she crosses paths with after 20 years. Based on the show’s backstory, the two have lost touch when Cecilia left their province to live with her mom in Manila.

According to Richard, playing Carlo is far different from the characters he has done before. “When they offered the role to me, I said, ‘Why not?’ because it’s something new for me. Medyo mas ma-drama s’ya so I agreed to give it a try.”

Attending an acting workshop, Richard added, was no longer required of him before the taping of his scenes with Vina started last Tuesday. The only pointer he got was a brief yet vivid description of the character.

“Medyo positive naman si Carlo dito; he is not as ‘burdened’ as the other characters,” he observed. “My part here is to be a positive influence on the show like lifting (up) the character of Cecilia so that made it a bit easier for me to adjust.”

It also helped that Vina is easy to work with, he added. “Probably, because we are both from Cebu so we have something in common. Actually, I’ve met her dati pa when she was still starting out as an actress. Nagkita kami sa Cebu Plaza (hotel), nagkasalubong kami and she smiled at me. She’s very nice even before. I brought it up with her but she cannot recall anything, anyway matagal naman na yun.”

What matters most to him now is the opportunity to work with the singer-actress and the rest of the cast. “It’s (the show) been very successful so I’m glad na nakapasok ako dito.”

Did he feel the need to watch the show’s past episodes?

“Well, they (production team) don’t really require me but there were a few episodes that I was able to watch also even though I never thought that I was coming into the show. I just try to learn what’s going on in the past for me to have a background and to know what I have to do in the show.”

Before joining the cast of the afternoon drama series, Richard starred in the Wansapanataym mini-series My Kung-fu Chinito with Enchong Dee. He was supposed to star in a teleserye with Judy Ann Santos titled Someone to Watch Over Me but the soap has been put on hold due to the latter’s pregnancy. But Richard is certain that it will resume once Judy Ann is fit to work on the project.

In the big screen, Richard is in the cast of Felix Manalo The Movie where he plays the bestfriend of the Iglesia Ni Cristo founder. Asked what are his requirements before giving his nod to a project, Richard replied, “Well, probably, it has to be something I’m capable of doing or I’m capable of acting out the part kasi mahirap din naman na di magawa what is required of you. But so far, I haven’t accepted a role that I couldn’t do. The only time I turned down a project was due to a conflict in my schedule.”

Richard started his acting career in 2010 and was initially dubbed as the Accidental Actor. But due to the success of Be Careful With My Heart, which he topbilled with Jodi Sta. Maria, the actor has been bestowed with a new title: Daytime King. Visibly delighted, he humbly said, “A title doesn’t really affect who we are but of course, I am thankful to be given a title but (still) we have to work hard in everything that we do.”

Asked if he has set certain limitations when it comes to drama acting, Richard replied, “Perhaps, doing a heavy drama, baka di ko pa kaya like in crying scenes, I have to really feel the scene for me to be able to do it but if I, myself, is not convinced that it is needed in the story, I really cannot emote; so for me, ‘yun ang limitation ko siguro.”