PARAYGON ug kalma ra kaayo mo-estorya si Ms. Charo Santos-Concio apan daghan kang mapupo nga kinaadman ug pagtulun-an. Personal siyang nahinabi sa Superbalita Laysho atol sa 10th anniversary celebration sa DiaGold sa Sugbo, diin gi-welcome siya isip bag-ong ambassadress sa maong sikat nga jewelry collection. Charo Santos-Concio Ssssuper Ka!
What is your consideration in choosing your jewelry?
Everything has to fall into place. The pieces of jewelry have to go with what you’re wearing, the time of day, everything has to be appropriate. I don’t really go for flashy, I’m more of a minimalist. If you look at what I’m wearing I wear very basic stuff and so the accessories would really, you know, come out.
Being the ambassadress of DiaGold, is there a chance that you would collaborate with the company to create designs?
I’d love to. Oh yes, I’m open to it. You see my excitement. One day, when it’s less hectic, maybe I can visit the production and learn more about the business.
I understand you’re also doing a horror movie?
Yeah, finally it will be premiered in Singapore Film Festival on December 3. It’s entitled “Eerie” (directed by Mikhail Red) which also stars Bea Alonzo. Bea and I are going to Singapore for the filmfest. Sa Philippines baka next year pa ang showing.
What’s your role?
I play the principal of an all-girl Catholic school. The setting is in the 90s when rules are very important. So you can imagine there’s an ambiguity in my character. It’s not an out-and-out scare type of movie, it’s a psychological-thriller.
Is this your first horror film?
No, my first horror movie was “Itim” with Direk Mike de Leon in the 70s. I was possessed by the spirit of my dead sister because her death was a mystery. “Eerie” is my second. I love horror kasi you’re working “kailan ko ba tatakutin yung audience?” So kailangan sigurado yung direktor sa handling ng material niya.
What about drama?
Well, I love (direk) Lav Diaz drama. So different from the mainstream drama. The camera does not move. He just gives you the set as a playground. Sasabihin lang n’ya: “oh, Charo ito yung camera ko, yan ang frame ko wag kang lalampas diyan. Bahala ka na anong gagawin mo.”
How do you manage that kind of direction?
On my first 3 days with Lav I felt so lost and insecure because parang “tama ba yung ginagawa ko?” Kasi with the late Ishmael Bernal or Lino Brocka ituturo sa `yo yung blocking and meron markers talaga. Kaya on the third day, I really had to go to him: “Direk tama ba yung ginagawa ko?” Sabi niya: “Yeah, yeah. If you don’t hear anything from me that means you’re doing well.”
How do you keep that youthful look?
Aayyy! Positive mind set. You have to look forward to every single day that you wake up and then learn to take things in stride. You know, when you get to a point in life when you learn to choose your battles. Hindi lahat pinapansin, yung iba maliit naman, tayo lang ang nagpapalaki. When you’re more in control of who you are, you know more of yourself, you’re more mindful of the triggers that will make you lose your temper or will make you lose your poise, pasado ka na.
Ganoon ka rin?
Bihira naman but I do... pero bihira... bihirang-bihira akong magalit.
Like what for instance?
Ah... I look for authenticity. I can live for imperfection, but I look for transparency. So, yun lang. Parang sana totoo lang tayo, di ba? In a relationship I think that’s very, very important. Whether it’s personal or professional, transparency is key to keeping a relationship.
How do you see MMK (Maalaala Mo Kaya) for 2019?
Naku! May bolang crystal ba tayo? Well, I hope it will evolve into creating some stuff for the digital platform, where I will have more time with the letter-senders. Kasi now I get to meet them `e. They came to the studio when I do my spiels. So I hope my conversation with them in the studio can be used also as content in a digital platform. Actually, MMK has given me a very... yung sinabi mong “how do you keep your youthful look?” Yung MMK kasi tinuro n’yan sa akin yung compassion, and MMK has put into context the way I see my own pain and trials and suffering. Pag may nabasa akong mas malungkot na buhay, “Ay nakakahiya naman!” di ba? I mean, parang I have no reason to complain.