Will the son come out tomorrow?

It’s all in the family.

His grandma, the formidable Armida “Tita Midz” Siguion-Reyna, is a great tri-media artist, brilliant even in small roles on stage, TV and film. His father, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, is one of the country’s finest directors and his mother, Bibeth Orteza, writes witty movie/TV scripts when she’s not acting or out in the streets waving protest placards against issues close to her heart (censorship, among them). His cousin, Cris Villonco, is proving her mettle as a singer/(theater)-actress. His lolo, Chito Ponce-Enrile (Tita Midz’s brother), is an artist in his own right.

Coming from that steeped-in-the-arts clan, can Rafael Lamberto “Rafa” Orteza Siguion-Reyna resist the call of the klieg lights? Will Carlitos and Bibeth’s son come out (hello, showbiz!) tomorrow? To use a cliche, will the son also rise?

Turning 20 on July 25 (Leo, same birthday as Dolphy), the six-footer Rafa hasn’t made up his mind yet which side of showbiz he’ll concentrate on — that is, if and when he decides to follow in the footsteps of his elders. You see, Rafa is busy with his Communications minor in Theater studies at Fordham University in New York. (Direk Carlitos also studied Film in New York, at NYU.)

“I opted to study in New York because I like to dance and I’m into theater and I like to watch a lot of Broadway,” said Rafa who is home for the summer break. “I’m also taking a lot of dance classes. I love to dance and, even if I’m not as good a singer as I am as a dancer, I’ve decided to also take up singing lessons.”

And acting?

“Right now, I’m taking acting workshop with Tita Gina (Alajar). Tuesdays and Thursdays, I teach in dance classes within the ISM (International School Manila) community, with elementary and high school students.”

For a “sample” of Rafa’s dancing, tune in to Q-11’s Full Time Moms tonight at 10:30 to 11:30 on the show’s Hip-Hop episode in which Rafa takes center stage with host Suzi Abrera and guest Aira Bermudez of the SexBomb Dancers; and also on Sunday, June 27, to the GMA Sunday noontime show Party Pilipinas where Rafa will also dance with Robin Padilla’s daughter Kylie and Geleen Eugenio’s daughter MayTon as partners.

Said Mama Bibeth (who promises that she won’t ever be a stage mom, cross her heart), “I directed Full Time Moms but I went on leave during the taping of the Hip-Hop episode. Ayaw kasi mag-guest ni Rafa kung ako ang magdidirek.”

“But I’m happy and grateful that especially my parents are there to guide me,” said Rafa, one of the couple’s two children (the other is Aya who’s studying in Ateneo and who is, like her mom, into writing), even if he insisted that he grew up shying away from showbiz. “So I did a lot of sports. I was playing basketball and doing track-and-field. But I also learned how to play the guitar. However, while in high school I fell more and more in love with dancing. Right before I graduated, I looked back and realized that I liked being onstage...that I’m a lot better when I am onstage than when I am on the court.”

So in his senior year, Rafa auditioned for Chicago which ISM was producing. “I had a really fun time in Chicago because I really love dancing.” 

At 8, Rafa did a bit role in Abot Kamay ang Pangarap, the Maricel Soriano starrer directed by Carlitos.

“My talent fee was a bike.”

Any pointers from his father?

“He just tells me to be true to the character I’m playing. I still have a lot to learn as an actor that’s why I’m taking the acting workshop.”

Rafa is among Tita Midz’s six grandchildren.

Who’s the disciplinarian, his mom or his lola?

“My mom by far. My lola is just proud of whatever I do.”

How much of him is Bibeth Orteza and how much is Carlitos Siguion-Reyna?

“May mga anggulo siyang Bibeth,” observed Rafa’s Tito Butch Raquel (who arranged this interview), “at may mga anggulo siyang Carlitos. I think he’s 50/50 Bibeth/Carlitos.”

What’s up?

• From yours truly and, among his many friends, Narciso Chan (of Sony Music): Happy birthday (today) to Philip Cuazon.

• From my fellow Waray-Waray Rene (no surname given) and Marco Bautista: Catbalogan is the capital of Samar (or Western Samar), Borongan (where Boy Abunda and Aster Amoyo come from) is the capital of Easter Samar while Catarman is the capital of Northern Samar.

• Watch Michael Jackson’s This Is It on HBO tonight at 9 (with replays on Saturday, June 26, at 1 a.m., 1 p.m. and 10:50 p.m.)

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