MANILA, Philippines - It’s hard to imagine that a relative newcomer, who has no big-screen credentials under her belt, could instantly join the band of Philippine cinema’s A-Listers —from Judy Ann Santos and Claudine Barretto to Toni Gonzaga and Sarah Geronimo — who became leading ladies to eternal matinee idol Piolo Pascual.
Teleserye actress Yen Santos herself can’t quite believe her luck when she was tapped to star opposite everyone’s Papa P in the upcoming drama Northern Lights: A Journey to Love, a collaboration between Regal Entertainment, Star Cinema and Piolo’s Spring Films, and will be released by Star Cinema on March 29.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to know Piolo Pascual not only in front of the cameras,” says Yen. “He’s so generous, so supportive of me in the scenes I’d find challenging, and you won’t feel that he’s popular because he’s approachable, very kind and very humble. I thought to myself, that’s why he’s still No.1.”
At Monday’s press conference arranged by Regal bosses Mother Lily Monteverde and daughter Roselle, Yen was every inch a leading lady with a radiant Pinay beauty that grows on you, her svelte frame sizzling in a silky, peach cocktail dress, as she charmed the movie press with her candid answers beside co-stars Piolo, child superstar Raikko Mateo (of Honesto fame) and the film’s director Dondon Santos.
“I know fully well that this project is huge that’s why it’s really overwhelming and humbling that I was tapped to be the leading lady of Mr. Piolo Pascual considering that this is my very first movie,” reveals Yen. She became a household name via TV fantasy-drama hits All of Me and Pure Love, along with our personal favorite Magpahanggang Wakas, where she was cast in a supporting role to Jericho Rosales, but nearly stole every scene she’s in.
“It’s such a great feeling that there are people who believe in me and who trust in my capability that they gave me this project,” she says. “I’m very honored and this project is very memorable for me.”
Yen admits she’s quite intimidated by Piolo’s smoldering looks and larger-than-life image that it took her fours days before she got used to working with the leading man of Starting Over Again and The Breakup List.
“First shooting day namin sa New Zealand, I couldn’t look at him in the eye,” Yen giggles. “Parang laging may ‘slo-mo’ moment every time I saw him in the morning. It was only on the fourth day when we were able to break the ice, that I could look at his eyes, and we were able to talk.”
Direk Dondon says he’s always been enamored of Yen’s talent and beauty since directing her in the 2015 teleserye All of Me.
“I noticed her rawness, her beauty on small screen,” says Dondon. “Magaling siya, maganda siya and she has so much to offer...she can soar on her own.”
“What’s good about Yen’s acting is she knows what to give for a particular scene,” Dondon explains. “She delivers what’s only necessary — nothing more, nothing less, whatever she’s feeling in a particular scene, that’s what you’ll get from her. Very natural.”
Yen, nonetheless, admits she’s also under pressure to help make Northern Lights a box-office success. After all, the film will either make or break her future as cinema’s newest leading lady.
“The pressure is really there and it won’t go away but I believe the film is beautiful that it will be worth the time spent watching it,” she says.
Dondon agrees. He says he’s hopeful that Northern Lights’ compelling story and its topnotch production values — with great acting from the cast — will help the movie become a surprise hit of the year.
Northern Lights also stars Tirso Cruz III, Joel Torre, Sandy Andolong, Maricar Reyes, Glydel Mercado, David Chua, Anna Vicente, Jerald Napoles and K Brosas.