Charo Santos - Concio on power, family, and being a forever fan

CEBU, Philippines - History has furnished us with dramatic examples of women in power. But what makes a woman of power?

You can be strong yet still keep your grace, be empowered but very feminine, be tenacious but charming. This is basically the idea that Charo Santos – Concio has of a female powerhouse, as she looks up to the likes of Lady Diana, Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Onassis—types of women whose softness on the outside belies an inner character of sterner stuff.

But this could also very well describe Charo herself, a towering figure in the media sector who has somehow maintained an unassuming quality about her.

Perhaps because before she became powerful in the business of entertaining a nation, among others, she was just like many of us—a diehard fan. But she never thought that fan in her would pave the way to becoming the president of the media giant that is ABS-CBN Broadcasting Network in 2008.

The FREEMAN recently talked with Charo Santos – Concio, 55, about the influence that she wields, why she gave up a lucrative acting career, and how the fan in her helped shape her professional path. She also talks about how being woman never limited her creativity and climb to the top.

The Freeman: Did you ever have that feeling that you’d become the leader of a media giant like ABS-CBN?

Hindi talaga [since] I’m a probinsyana. Simple lang kami. I was born in Legaspi, Albay, and grew up in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. My father was a government physician. I grew up in a family and environment where public service counts. It was the mindset of my father that his becoming a doctor was a vocation. Because kapag nasa government ka, you can’t turn back on any patient. So he got paid in kind—mga isda, gulay, itlog…

But my father always said that the best legacy he can give us was not money but education and character. So hindi talaga (referring to the fact that she is now heading ABS-CBN). Pero mahilig ako sa artista...

TF: How “hilig” were you? How did your fascination with artistas start? 

We didn’t have a TV set, only a transistor radio na pinupukpok para magka-signal. But the owner of the local theater was a patient of my father. Ang bayad niya sa Daddy ko was to send us six children to the theater. Every Saturday, as my father would go around towns to visit patients, he would leave us there. Aabot ng two hours kasi double feature. So napanood ko lahat—Sampaguita Pictures, LVN, Lea Productions, the Jess Lapid films, the Tony Ferrer films, FPJ... Then dumating si Nora Aunor! I adored her! Her story resonated with me. Aspirational and inspirational, kasi wow, nagbebenta lang siya ng tubig sa tabi ng railroad nuon. We collected her pictures and albums. Then sa school, as the hardcore fans of Guy and Pip (AKA Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III loveteam), nakikipag-away kami.

After high school, my parents decided that we all move to Manila. So, kapag nag-first showing ng pelikula ni Nora at iba pa nakapila na ako sa Recto as early as 9am at sirado pa ang mga bakal na gates. Lumaki talaga ako sa teatro! I was a fan. I still am. Kinikilig pa rin ako! Maybe that’s why I feel for artistas. Plus, I went into acting myself, then production, so parang I have a 360-degree experience.

So when a producer comes to me crying about an actor—I tell them, you know he’s also human… In fact, the insecurities of them are much, much more magnified because the pressure is much bigger than all of us because they are in the limelight. The same thing also if it’s the artista who is giving problems. Parang sandali lang, you have to show them the perspective of the people in production, because the artistas can also take many things for granted kasi they think na artista kami, we have to be served.

TF: So, it is being a fan that makes you effective in your job?

Maybe so. Because the no. 1 ingredient for me for a program to be successful is to respect your viewer. I know what it’s like to be a viewer. When I sit before a television, I react right away. My view and perspectives of life are limited with what I know, with how my parents brought me up, with the books I read—so when you listen to others talk, when they share their lives, parang “Wow! Talaga! Na kaya mo yun?” That’s why the reality genre appeals kasi you feel the authenticity, you’re not seeing the imperfections of the person, you’re seeing a human experience unfold.

TF: Long before you became ABS-CBN president, you were a model, beauty queen and actress first. How were you discovered?

Rikki Jimenez, who was a fashion designer in the 70s, came to Mindoro, and he saw my 11-year-old brother. Na-kyutan, sinundan, at sabi niya “Totoy, totoy, may kapatid ka bang babae?” Yung brother ko naman natakot, tumakbo sa Nanay ko, sabi, “Nay may sumusunod sa akin, nagtatanong kung may mga kapatid ba ako!” Pero Rikki introduced himself to my mother, expressed his intentions, and my mother then showed him the daughters, and then he pointed me out, “I want her!” He got me to join fashion shows. I was 13 then and standing 5’6”. At that time, though, I already had town fiesta queen experience. I think I was Miss Calapan already.

TF: How did you get into movies?

After college, I became a Baron Travel Girl and after one of our shows, the late (director) Lino Brocka approached me. He said, “Hi! I’m Lino Brocka, you don’t know me, but I was watching you last night at a fashion show. I have a friend, Mike De Leon, my cinematographer in ‘Maynila: Sa Kuko ng Liwanag,’ and he’s going to do his first film. Would you like to audition for the lead female character, tomorrow at 2pm in LVN?”

Si Lino Brocka, pa naman kausap mo! Hello! Of course, I know Lino Brocka! I told my mom, she got excited, but my father said no. I went to him and begged, “It’s just an audition. Can I just go through it? If I make it, then it’s another chapter that I had to deal with.” So, I was able to convince him.

During the audition, Mike de Leon told me, “Ayoko ng pa-beauty queen, beauty queen ha.” Kasi at the time, I had already won beauty contests like Mrs. Imelda Marcos’ Miss Green Revolution.

My audition piece was sosyal. Eh, hindi naman ako sosyal, probinsyana ako. To just light a cigarette, nag-take four ako. Tapos sabi niya, “Alisin na yan!” Yun pala, he just wanted to make sure that I was really probinsyana, and that I won’t fake it. So I got the lead part in “Itim” and it gave me my first acting award.

TF: You went on to win several other acting awards, why did you leave your acting career?I finished my college (at St. Paul’s College in Manila). I took up communication arts. I knew in my heart that I wouldn’t stay in acting. I am a very private person. In this business, if you want to make it big, you better be ready to live in a fishbowl. And I didn’t want to trade off my privacy with stardom.

And I was always observing how production people work, at sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko to! Mabait si God sa akin eh, dumadating siya sa tamang panahon. So I was offered to line-produce “Kisapmata” (by Mike De Leon). I said yes right away because in my heart, I felt I can also be an Armida Siguion - Reyna (laughs) – an actress and a producer!

Still, when it came to career decisions, as far as I remember, I didn’t over-analyze things, I just went with the flow and listened to my instincts. Then I balanced it with the realities in life. Like when I was starting out in the acting field, my father said, “Isang movie lang.” But then after that one movie, he died. So, I had to step up to the plate, to be of help. I had to do 10 movies a year because I wanted to buy a house for my family.

TF: How did you get into ABS-CBN?For my first job in ABS-CBN, they got me as me as production consultant for six months. It was June of 1987. Consultant only because I had another job then with Channel 9. After six months, they asked me to join them full time. I became production manager, programming manager, vice-president for TV entertainment, to EVP for Entertainment... Now I run the day-to-day operations with a team.

TF: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned on the way up or being on top?The humility to accept mistakes. The biggest mistake was when we lost our leadership (in the battle of the networks), but the biggest lesson was not to put the blame on anyone. You have to look within yourself, because that’s the only thing you have control of. 

Also, when you love your work, you’re not really thinking, you want to get there [to the top]. You just have to love your work, do it with passion, and if at the end of day, you get noticed and appreciated, then you do. The world is just. It comes.

TF: What do you consider as your biggest accomplishment/s?

“Maalaala Mo Kaya.” It’s celebrating its 20th year and I am proud to say that it was the clinic, the training ground for all the new directors, writers and even the stars.

TF: There are many stories about your gift for spotting talents like Maja Salvador. Can you tell us more about it?Well, Maja was featured on “The Buzz” looking for her father Ross Rival. I saw her on TV in her high school uniform and without makeup. The following morning, I asked the people to bring her here.

There was John Lloyd. He was only 13 years old when he auditioned. Tanong namin ba’t mo gusto mag-aartista, tapos sabi niya, gusto kong makatulong sa aking pamilya. Tapos tumulo lang yung luha niya, no grimacing of the face, and then he just nonchalantly wiped a tear, and right there and then, I knew he’d make it big.

Piolo was a bit player, he came out in two sequences of “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” tapos I told Mr. M (Johnny Manahan of Star Magic), “There was this actor in MMK, etc., etc.” Tapos sabi ni Mr. M, “Ay umalis na siya papuntang States. Sabi ko, hindi pwede, pabalikin niyo siya.”

Kahit si Judy Ann, nung lumabas yung “Ula ang Batang Gubat” niya on Channel 13, sabi ko, ayan na, ayan na ang tatalo sa “TV Patrol”! Tapos dumating ang ratings two weeks after at nagpatawag ng meeting si Mr. Freddie Garcia, at sabi, ang palengkera mo talaga, hindi naman tinalo ang “TV Patrol.” But I said, there is something about the girl, we have to get her, we have to get her. I just know that she’s going to make it big. So we got her for “Mara Clara.”

TF: How do you define star factor?Wow! It’s the presence. They come out of the screen eh, you just know. There’s this magic, this certain aura about them that makes them special and authentic. Viewers actually don’t look for perfection, we look for authenticity.

TF: What’s your reaction to comments that ABS-CBN has too many stars?

There will always be room for many more stars. The landscape has changed with the internet. There’s always room for someone new and fresh. But of course, they have a [shelf] life. You have to continue to evolve, because if you bore me, we will have to find the next big one.

TF: You mentioned about being very private. But can you tell us a little about your family?I have two boys, named Francis and Martin, ages 27 and 25, respectively. One is married and does musical scoring. He did the scores for “Imortal,” “Dalaw,” “Cinco,” and “Amnesia Girl.” My other son first went into investment banking after graduating with a Management Engineering degree, cum laude, at Ateneo de Manila. But one day, he went to his dad and said, “Dad, I want to go into hosting. I’ve been an obedient son, I’ve followed your wishes but Dad, half of me is my mom, and there’s this creative side of me that’s been wanting to come out.” So he’s striking it on his own, and Tito Boy [Abunda] is mentoring him. He’s under the radar as his first show is the late-night program “Music Uplate.” It’s okay, it’s alright for him to go through the ropes. It’s his decision.

TF: How was it juggling motherhood and career demands?

Siempre may angst nuon ang mga anak ko sa akin. Parang they were saying, “You’re married to your work, etc.” Well, yung circumstances kasi sa buhay mo, tanggapin mo yun as reality eh. I’m married to a man who is 24 years my senior, I had an instant family, I had six stepchildren. When he retired, ako naman yung [paangat sa career]. Then he had a stroke at the age of 64, so parang, you have to understand the circumstances. So I said, I understand where you’re coming from. I gave it my best shot, and I still do. But they’re very kind boys. Was I strict? I was not. They can talk to me about anything including sex. Because I’m a working mom, I had to converse with them, I had to know their thoughts, kahit madaling araw pa yan, I’d do one-on-one with them. 

TF: How did you meet your husband?

Kinuha nila ako as print ad model for their company. Five years after that, dun ko nalaman na type niya pala ako. I married at the age of 27. My husband (Cesar Concio) is not gwapo, matinee-type, but I was in awe of his intellect. He has this aura of a renaisssance man. Yun ‘pag dinala ka sa biyahe, ang dami nya alam. Yes, it was tough at first, since we were not the regular married couple who go through life together one step at a time. I went 10 steps at a time! I adjusted to having an instant family by being sensitive. Walang madrasta stories (laughs)! Although I was one of the resource persons of Star Cinema’s “Madrasta,” but it was not my story. 

TF: Looking back, in your long career and in your life as a mother and wife, did you have regrets?

Looking back... well, I don’t look at things in the past with regret. Maybe I would have done things differently, or improve or change. But tinuruan ako ng asawa ko na alisin ang mga what-if’s, and maybe’s. Kasi pag ganun, masama ang mo feeling eh, you just blame yourself, feel guilty and have a negative feeling about yourself.

TF: Looking forward, how do you see yourself years from now? And with ABS-CBN producing a lot of national leaders, will politics be an option for you in the future?

Hindi siguro, mahirap na. Sa showbiz nalang tayo (laughs). It’s not in my consciousness. It’s not there. Parang yung ginagawa ko ngayon, this is already a gift, and a blessing. I have to use it well, and that’s my motivation for coming here to work everyday.

James Mcavoy breathes life to “Gnomeo” in Shakespeare tale spoof

British actor James McAvoy (“Wanted,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”) explores his romantic side as he provides the voice of the love-struck Gnomeo in Touchstone Pictures’ new animated comedy “Gnomeo & Juliet” in which Shakespeare’s revered tale gets a comical, off-the-wall makeover.

Directed by Kelly Asbury (“Shrek 2”) and showcasing both classic and original songs by Elton John, “Gnomeo & Julliet” also features the voice of Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada”) as Juliet, who with Gnomeo have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and thrilling lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

For the voice cast of the film, becoming a gnome isn’t a walk in the garden, so to speak. Each actor works individually, hitting the recording studio at various times during the process, and filmmakers tie it all together.

“At the beginning it was particularly hard, but then it got easier,” says James McAvoy. “Emily [Blunt] would come in to record and that informed my character. What we did informed the writing and then they’d come back with a script that was slightly evolved. Even though we’re not there together as actors, the implications of what we did individually now exist on screen. It’s really odd, but it’s fun.”

Gnomeo is the star gardener of the Blues—a gnome who knows how to make things happen. He’s the loyal son of Lady Bluebury and best friend to Benny. But being top gnome is not everything it’s cracked up to be. There are duties, responsibilities, expectations—and Tybalt, a Red who’d love to knock Gnomeo right out of his award-winning garden. But gnomes don’t leave their gardens…or do they? It’s during a rare outing that Gnomeo meets her—Juliet—a Red. And everything changes forever.

“He’s the perfect Gnomeo,” says director Kelly Asbury of McAvoy. “He has texture to his voice and he brings a real sincerity to the character.”

Though this might be challenging, considering said character is a gnome. “Gnomes—they’re quite cute,” says McAvoy of his garden persona. “Gnomeo does look like a classic garden gnome, but he’s got a little bit of something extra. It’s nice to imagine that all gnomes have something extra. They’ve all got something that they’re hiding from you and when the lights go out, it comes out.”

McAvoy previously starred alongside Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie in “Wanted,” directed by Timur Bekmambetov and based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar. He next stars in the upcoming X-Men prequel “X-Men First Class” and provides the voice of the character of Arthur in the Sony Pictures 3D Animation “Arthur Christmas.”

 Opening soon across the Philippines in Digital 3D and regular format, “Gnomeo & Juliet” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International. (FREEMAN)