Randy Santiago: After you, Dad!

That Randy Santiago will tread the same path his father, esteemed film director Pablo Santiago had taken, is not really surprising. In the ‘80s, after Randy completed his Communication Arts degree at De La Salle University, he started working as assistant director for his dad’s big screen projects.

Randy worked as second unit director in films like Annie Sabungera with Nora Aunor, Daniel Bartolo ng Sapang Bato starring the late action king Fernando Poe Jr. and Bad Boy from Dadiangas, the bio-pic of boxer Rolando Navarette. Randy was also the assistant director for Ninja Kids, where he recorded the hit theme song, You Got the Power. However, the said recording proved to be a turning point in Randy’s career as he was later sidetracked to singing.

"I worked as assistant director to Papa for seven years," Randy shares. "My major in La Salle was filmmaking. My teachers and mentors were Peque Gallaga and Doy del Mundo. We were still using Super-8 then. Wala pang digital. We also edited our own works. First love ko talaga ang directing and I credit Papa for that."

However, when Randy turned to singing, he formed his own band, Cicada, which did puesto in some of the city’s top night spots. "When I started singing with a band, Papa discouraged me," Randy offers.

"At that time, I was earning only P280 per night. Papa told me, ‘Mas malaki pa sa kinikita mo ang gagastusin ko sa iyo na pang-ospital kapag nagkasakit ka.’ Our nightly gigs always ended up late. That’s why Papa didn’t want me to sing with a band. Si Rowell ang nag-aartista noon."

Randy’s younger brother, Rowell, initially started out as an actor and got to do a number of boy-next-door type of roles. Rowell is perhaps best remembered for his youth-oriented romance flicks with Sharon Cuneta. Eventually, however, Rowell also shifted his interest to directing and worked at the helm of concerts, TV shows, corporate events, TV commercials and films, too.

For Rowell’s first-time salvos as a director, Randy was his "guinea pig." Rowell directed Randy’s first major concert, Private Eyes. In Rowell’s big screen directorial debut, the comedy flick, Paikot-ikot, Randy was also one of the lead stars.

Randy, for his part, pursued singing and eventually became a solo artist, churning out one hit record after another, especially during the heyday of his singing career in the late ‘80s. He also developed his flair for TV hosting and was seen in a number of boob tube programs, the most recent of which was ABS-CBN’s now-defunct noontime show, Magandang Tanghali Bayan (MTB), which Randy hosted with John Estrada and Willie Revillame.

In MTB, Randy discovered a number of talents who have established their respective showbiz careers, like diminutive comedians Dagul, Mahal and Mura. They became mainstays in the noontime program.

The knack for comedy also turned out to be Randy’s gift. "When I was still a student, I was part of a comedy duo with Joel Navoa who is now with Joey 92.3," Randy grants. "Kaming dalawa ang panlaban ng La Salle. Si Mama (Cielito Legaspi) komedyante ‘yan, kasi madalas magalit sa ‘kin when I would bring my classmates at home. Papa is also a comedian, but he delivers only one-liners. As Willie said, sa akin daw nanggagaling ang kalokohan, pero sila ni John ang nasu-suspend when we were hosting MTB."

In ABS-CBN’s soon-to-premiere sitcom, Aalog-Alog, Randy gets to use his comic skills to the hilt, this time not as a star but as a director. He gets to work at the helm of a sitcom for the first time and his excitement over his new role is very evident. He even penned the catchy theme song for Aalog-Alog, which he did for only 45 minutes.

The cast of the new sitcom is led by Pinoy Big Brother celebrities Keana Reeves, Zanjoe Marudo, John Prats, Jayson Gainza, Kim Chui, Gerald Anderson, with Pokwang and Yachang. The team taped the first two episodes in Japan.

"We spent four days in Japan," Randy says. "I was telling my stars, everything is situational, so they must be natural. They must not act at all. Kung ano’ng meron ang artista, that’s what I develop as a director."

There’s a character in the sitcom patterned after Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando, who might be played in a cameo part by Sammy Lagmay, according to Randy.

ABS-CBN programming executive Linggit Tan, business unit head for Aalog-Alog, says Randy was really the choice to direct the network’s new sitcom.

"Sa comedy kasi kailangan barkada," says Linggit. "We chose Randy because we wanted it to be naughty. Sa MTB, kay Randy nanggagaling lahat ng mga kalokohan."

Randy says if there is someone who would have been the proudest over his new job as a sitcom director, it’s his dad. The director died seven years ago and would have been 74 this year.

"Whenever I would work, I would talk to Papa and ask him to give me wisdom and to join me during the taping. Even when I go on concert tours abroad, I ask him to watch over me."

Randy is married to Marilou Coronel with whom he has three children: Raphael who is turning 16; Ryan who is going on 14; and Raiko, who is turning five in October. "Marilou and I have been together for 18 years and we’ve been married for 10 years," Randy shares.

He says his wife recently developed a fondness for dogs. Marilou has a Yorkshire Terrier named Coco, a Pomeranian named Lucia and a Scottish Terrier named Ginger.

Throughout all the rigors of his new role as TV sitcom director, Randy has not given up singing and hosting. He continues to do concert tours for Filipinos abroad. He also has another show on The Filipino Channel, TFC-Kat, where contestants are all balikbayan.

Largely backed up by his showbiz career, Randy has also embarked on a successful business venture. He has three branches of Ratsky’s, the now-popular restaurant-bar and music lounge in Malate, Cebu and Tomas Morato, Quezon City.