Original content appeared on: ThePulse.ph 

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For JC Santos, landing a major role in the newest JaDine starrer can only mean he ain’t no third wheel.

JC Santos is the real deal. He has movie star looks, a killer body, charm in spades, and an acting resume that can impress any talent agent. And now, he has taken primetime TV by storm via his breakthrough role in the much-talked about soap Till I Met You, which stars the ultra-popular love team of James Reid and Nadine Lustre.

John Carlo Abrugar Santos goes by JC. It’s not only his nickname now, it’s become his screen name. “I am the only one in the whole clan na nakaisip na gusto kong mag-theater. I want acting as a career. Bata pa lang daw ako, kumakanta na ako kung saan-saan. Tapos, nag perform ako for some reason.”

The 27-year old actor from Pampanga comes from a small family. “Dalawa lang kami. I have a 22-year old sister who’s graduating as an architect. My dad is a seaman. My mom is an OFW based in Las Vegas. Laking OFW ako. My mom left when I was 15. Lumaki ako na seaman na ‘yung dad ko. Umuuwi siya every three months. Ganon ko sila nakasama.”

Being a natural storyteller, no doubt a skill brought about by his passion for the performing arts, JC shares how he got bitten by the acting bug. “Sa school ko siya nakuha and na-discover ko siya when I tried — this is so funny — Ah, pwede akong umarte when I tried pretending, lying. I lied tapos napaniwala ko sila. Of course, ‘di ko na siya tinuloy-tuloy pero syempre I discovered I was really good at pretending.”

While studying in his hometown in Angeles City, JC recounts, “I met Sir Tony Mabesa. He was the resident director at that time. I was doing plays like ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and the musical ‘The Fantastics.’ I asked Sir Tony after two productions if I could apply for the theater course in UP.”

JC would erupt in almost self-conscious chuckles mid-way through his story. “I was 16 years old. I did all of this through text. That was so unprofessional. I texted the founder of Dulaang UP that I wanted to do theater. He didn’t reply so I dismissed the idea. The next day, however, he handed me an envelope with a recommendation for UP Diliman.” This started the ball rolling for the aspiring actor.

 

His role as Ali in ‘Till I Met You’ sees him in a love triangle with Basti and Iris, which are played by James Reid and Nadine Lustre respectively. But what makes JC’s character even more controversial is the fact that it’s a gay role. The coming-of-age and coming-out-of-the-closet dimensions of JC’s character are no small challenge to the actor. Good thing JC earned his stripes in theater via acting stints in New York, Hong Kong, and Singapore. “Nakatulong siya sa akin. As an actor, I realized that pareho lang ang acting ng Pilipinas at abroad. Meron lang silang guidelines. Meron silang instructions on how to do this role. ‘Yung stints ko abroad ang nag-prepare sa akin.”

Referring to his acting jobs at Universal Studios in Singapore and Disneyland in Hong Kong, JC remembers, “Working in a theme park, it’s really good money. It’s not a bad job. But doing it for 5 days a week. 3 to 4 times a day… there was this one time, 8 months into the job — it was a Thursday afternoon and I was singing. While singing, I was thinking of lunch. Shucks, paano ko nagagawa ‘to? Ibig sabihin nito, machine na ako. Okay, this is not healthy anymore.”

He would close this topic with a reflection that would be so telling of the path he took that led him right in the middle of a giant production from ABS-CBN and Dreamscape Productions. “I have this pattern. It still happens up to now. Every 2 years, I shift gears. I change destinations. Whether it’s a place or my career. But every 2 years. I was in Pampanga for 2 years, then 2 years in UP, 2 years in Singapore for Universal Studios, 2 years in HongKong for Disney. After that, the next year, I studied musical theater in New York. Then I went back here. I tried to break it. I told myself to break the pattern. So this is the next phase for me. This break.”

“I went back to the Philippines and decided I really want to be an actor, a full-time actor, a working actor. And I want to perform whether it’s theater or film or television. I want to perform for my fellow Filipinos.” We ask him how he got this major role in this primetime soap, and again JC weaves a story full of suspense. “One ordinary day, pinatawag ako sa ABS-CBN. Marami kami. In-open sa amin ‘yung character. They were open about it. They told us it was a gay role. Ito ‘yung mangyayari. Sa Greece. Kasama mo si James and Nadine. Nilapat sa amin ‘yung character.”

In his mind, JC had apprehensions about the role. “Actually, tinanggihan ko pa. Kinausap ko pa ‘yung manager ko. Kuya Andoy, it’s another gay role.” JC sought the advice of Andoy Ranay, the known actor and director who has taken the reins of his career now. JC says, “Pinag-isipan namin. Na-convince ako ni Direk Andoy to do it kasi bida naman ‘yung role and kung ano man, before that, laging ang mga roles ko sa ABS-CBN, laging nang-aaway ng bida. The usual maamong mukha but is the villain.”

JC relates that at this point, “Gusto ko kahit awayin ko lang si James Reid, masaya na ako. Okay na ako dun. So I auditioned. I went to the set on the second day tapos I met Direk Antonette Jadaone, and then I saw the script. The lines were about a boy coming out of the closet. He’s trying to say to his best friend that he’s gay. So ako, ‘Hala, paano ito?’”

After his audition, JC shares, “I went home. Tuloy-tuloy ako sa aking araw. ’Di ko na siya iniisip.” This all changed when, “One night, I was watching Rak Of Aegis. Direk Andoy texted me. ‘Urgent. Labas ka ng teatro ngayon din. Tawagan kita.’ The next thing he knew, it was “JC, 9am pullout ka tomorrow. 9am call time mo tomorrow sa ABS-CBN for the teaser shoot of ‘Till I Met You.’ Ganun na. That was 10pm tapos 9am the following day, teaser shoot na. So, natanggap na ako? Ah, okay. Bida! With JaDine. Kaming tatlo.”

 His role in one of today’s most-anticipated soaps means working with one of the country’s biggest love teams and showbiz’s best directors. JC confesses, “Of course, there is pressure. I am working with award-winning directors like Direk Tonette Jadaone and Direk Dan Villegas. And I am working with JaDine. Naging successful na ‘yung show nila dati, eh. Ako ‘yung papasok. It’s make or break for me. Kung walang chemistry, patay. Pressure is there. This is work. I need to work — work extra hard.”

The serious actor in JC also comes out. He confesses he is pushing himself “para makapasok, para maka-level naman ako sa kanila. And, sanay sila sa television. Sanay sila sa screen. Andun pa ako sa acting with my body [in theater]. Dapat acting with your eyes. I am still learning. We are still getting to know each other. Ngayon, may extra pressure sa akin. Exciting din siya at the same time kasi I am really excited to work. I want to prove something to them kasi bago ako. They will ask, ‘what have I got to offer?’ I need to prove my worth, prove something.”

JC further admits, “It has been great. Sobra. Wala akong masasabi with Direk Tonette, with James and Nadine, with Andoy. What I love about Direk Tonette is the motivation side of it. Before we go to a scene, she’s going to talk to you. Naisapuso mo na yung script tapos ikikwento niya sa ’yo the other side na nakikita niya visually na makakatulong din sa character. And that’s amazing. That’s very collaborative. It’s art. That’s creating. That’s what I love about Direk Tonette and Direk Andoy. They put an art to creating.”

 

JC answers the inevitable question. “What I love about JaDine? When we started, the first scenes na shoot namin with Nadine were all montage. That time, on-the-spot direction siya. I did not expect Nadine to be that giving as an actress. Kasi nga first time namin magkakilala. We didn’t even have a workshop for this.”

It turns out his initial notion of the lovely young actress’ personality and skills were on the dot. “First day namin magkikita. Sa eksena, nung nagbigay ako, binalik niya sa akin.” JC’s assessment of Nadine is this: “Wow, this person is very generous. And acts well. She acts really well. Our chemistry was very good.” In the end, JC was able to assure himself, “Ah, so madali nalang pala ang trabaho ko kasi nagtutulungan kami.”

JC has nothing but good words for Nadine’s partner, James Reid. “The same thing goes with James. Especially, nung andun kami sa Greece,” relates JC who was able to hang out with James off-cam.

“Our first scene was in the trailer of the soap. Nung binuhat niya ako sa airport, nung nagyakap kami.” JC reflects that he found the simple and down-to-earth ways of the two were very refreshing despite their astounding popularity. “Wala akong problema sa dalawa. Kahit on and off cam, happy ako sa kanila. I love them. Sabi ko nga sana ganito katrabaho ang stars parati.”

“Eto pa yung favorite ko working with them. We get to experiment — like sa scene na ‘to, try ko ‘to. Sa ibang scene, ibang attack naman. Naglalaro kami. It makes it real. Nagiging organic. Kasi gusto namin what we’re doing. We are enjoying and then it started to be play. It seemed like we weren’t working.”

On his being caught in a love triangle with the JaDine love team who has legions of followers, JC has this to say: “Lagi ko kasi naririnig na lahat ng mga third wheels nila ay merong natatanggap. Nilabas nila ‘yung teaser and ang daming na curious. Everybody on social media was telling me, ‘Welcome to JaDine land.’ Wala pa akong natanggap na negative. Hanggang ngayon, JaDine fans actually love the character. Unang scenes ng trailer kaming dalawa ni Nadine tapos magiging sila. Wala akong natanggap na anything negative. They are very supportive. And they are actually smart fans. They really analyzed the trailer.”

As for what this LGBT theme soap is doing to foster progressive thinking among TV viewers, JC admits, “It’s going to be new. It’s shocking. It’s something new that ABS-CBN is telling the world. They’re in for a really good story that they will enjoy. It’s going to be a great rollercoaster ride. It is a rom-com with quirky characters. Samahan mo pa ang humor ni Direk Tonette.”

JC continues, “First time for ABS-CBN to do this. And very, very brave. I am very lucky to be part of this. I am such a lucky person. Lahat ng nangyayari first time. First time nilang gagawin. Tapos JaDine ang gagawa. Ang tapang din nila. Nakaka-inspire. It’s a brave step. Ang ganda. That’s all I can say. I am very grateful but the pressure is on. We just got back from Greece. Hinihintay pa namin ‘yung reactions ng tao — kung ano ang mangyayari. Hindi ko pa siya gamay. But I am ready for it.”

As for what his followers will see of him in the soap besides his pretty face and mean acting chops, he declares, “You are going to see the fun, the funny side of JC. The other side. The quick-witted, light-hearted, kind, loving JC. Kasi ‘di ko pa to napapakita.”

With everything happening at breakneck speed, the newcomer has this to say to his followers: “Thank you for the support. Sana ma-meet ko sila. I want to meet them eventually. I am overwhelmed by the supporters. I want to thank them in person. I am very grateful. Kasi kung wala din sila, di rin ako mapupunta dito. It’s them — from social media to television. ‘Di pa pinapalabas, meron nang mga fans  —dahil sa kanila. I am very grateful for that.”

To say the week-long premiere had televiewers’ tongues wagging is an understatement. In ‘Till I Met You,’ we see in JC a serious actor on the rise. Whether he is onscreen with JaDine or off-duty as regular guy, we see a JC Santos that can more than hold his own.

Article courtesy of ThePulse.ph