Jericho: The plot thickens

You might as well have put a long wad of package tape over Jericho Rosales’ mouth. Beyond saying she’s a nice girl, he won’t breathe a word about how and why he broke up with Cindy Kurleto. Not even if dozens of press people are dying to pry open his heart and see what’s inside.

The mystery deepens when he reveals, "I know how to accept my mistakes. I might have hurt people, which I think I did."

Of one thing Jericho is sure of, though: he and Cindy are in good terms and they feel great about it. He still loves her, but Jericho has decided to be fatalistic about it all.

"If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be," he shrugs. "I’ll just let God do the rest."

Jericho sounds every inch the born-again Christian of three years that he is. He has been going to the Victory Christian Fellowship, just like Angelica Panganiban, his leading lady in Unitel Pictures’ Santa Santita.

That’s why his statements are laced with references to things spiritual.

"I’m not here to please people. I’m here to please God. He is telling me to continue exploring my career, travel around and meet new people. I’m trying my best to be a good Christian," he attests.

One tangible proof is praying before he plays a character. Jericho pauses for a moment of silence and whispers, "Lord, guide me on how to prepare for my character."

From the way Santa Santita director Laurice Guillen passed judgment on his portrayal of his Tanging Yaman character, Jericho’s prayers have been heard years ago.

Nothing could be more flattering than hearing direk Laurice say, "When I saw Jericho in Tanging Yaman, I felt that a promising actor was in our midst. He has the natural impulse to create and thereby enhance the material. If possible, I want to work with him some more."

Again, Jericho did not disappoint his director when cameras rolled for Santa Santita. As wily tourist driver Mike, direk Laurice found Jericho bad without being obnoxious. You end up understanding why he turned out the way he did, she explains.

These praises take on a deeper meaning when you know that Jericho’s first claim to fame was in lightweight, syrupy roles: as the other half of a loveteam with Kristine Hermosa.

Now, he’s bent on closing that chapter of his career tight and fulfilling what he realized only a year ago is his true calling: serious acting.

Jericho figured, "If I get stuck in a loveteam, people won’t like it when they see me with another partner (in film or TV)." From now on, he promised himself, he’ll work hard on making it, solo.

He takes a long-range view about his role in the industry.

"I want the film and TV industry to earn so that I can contribute what I can in my own small way," he pronounces. Clearly, this is one guy who aims to stay not just for a season or two, but much longer.

The Young Critics’ Circle Best Actor for 2000 (for Tanging Yaman) wallows in his dreams — big ones that will harness his creativity not only as an actor, but as a creator of concepts for shows.

"I have this idea for a show, but everything is very general yet," he reveals. Up next is Lihim, a movie with Claudine Barretto and fellow Hunks member Diether Ocampo. Jericho is also looking outward, auditioning for what he describes are "small roles in foreign films." This part, he assures you, thrills him no end.

So too, are the developments in his career. Santa Santita, he gushes, is his best film, so far, a benchmark in his career, no less. The role, he says, is something he had long wanted to do. After all, it’s a big leap from his soap opera roles, the first time he’s playing an out-and-out villain in a full-length movie.

"I had to shake off a lot of things within me," Jericho admits.

One of them is his being a good son who still lives in the Antipolo house he built for his mother. The evil Mike in Santa Santita, after all, is a far cry from the real Jericho.

"And while everything is falling into place, Jericho’s dreams continue to grow. A self-confessed water person, he yearns for a private plane which will take him to a beach property where his faithful Golden Retriever, Sky acts as sentry.

But where’s the lady who will make this pretty-as-a-postcard scene complete?

Jericho clams up again. Could be his way of saying he’s not about to start another love affair after bidding a meaningful one a painful goodbye.