New beginning for Rafael

MANILA, Philippines - To many, new year means new beginnings. Count Rafael Rosell in as he embraces life with a new attitude. This didn’t happen overnight. The realization to look at things with delight started November last year.

“What happened was, something opened my heart. (Since) I opened my heart, I think it also opened my mind,” says Rafael. “I’m able to understand people. Instead of judging a person, I just (try to) understand him. You keep it positive.” So, Rafael avoids dwelling on the past and stops sweating the small stuff. This has given Rafael peace of mind.

“As an actor, having peace of mind and stillness of mind is important,” he says. “I think you can’t act an emotion or (portray) a character if you have personal emotions as a person, mag-hahalo yun sa ibibigay mo sa character… hindi puro ang maibibigay mo sa character. I would say (what I did was) soul-searching. I don’t ever think you lose your soul. I think you just take a hiatus from the society, being not affected by others’ opinions. And at the end, you end up creating a new whole self.”

Let’s see how Rafael handles his latest TV assignment titled The Borrowed Wife with that new mindset. The GMA Afternoon Prime drama premieres today after Magkano Ba Ang Pag-ibig? It’s part of his three-year contract with GMA and Rafael is now on his second year.

“I use my dad (as my inspiration),” says Rafael on playing the character named Rico, whose life will be intertwined by those of Tessa (played by Pauleen Luna), Maricar (Camille Prats) and Earl (TJ Trinidad). “(Like) the emotions of my dad, the facial reactions I saw when I was a kid. It’s more of a masculine attack rather than a feminine one. I’ve been (approaching) my characters in a feminine (way) because I used my mom (as inspiration), meaning (the character) can easily cry and is emotional. That’s where I get my emotions. This time, I’ll be tougher, restrained. If I’m affected (in a scene), I’m really affected.”  

Another good thing is, Rafael has been on dates, giving himself another chance at love. It’s a nice way to culminate his three-year “self-date,“ which Rafael recommends to everyone. “(It’s) the best relationship,” he says. At the end, he has found love inside. “You can’t give something you don’t have.” 

If ever Rafael enters into another relationship, he will bring these lessons that “everybody is going through their own journey. You can’t judge anyone because you don’t know their journey. Every person really has a good quality. Every person is beautiful. You have to put yourself in the situation and in the mindset where you can see that. Being judgmental, you’ll never see that. Love is a beautiful thing. If you find it, don’t ever let it go.”

Rafael thinks that an affair starts from physical attraction. The woman, however, has to engage his mind. This time around, Rafael will love generously because he has much to give.

As for the decision of onscreen partner Bianca King to work in another station, Rafael has this to say, “Perhaps, it’s because of opportunities. Any person who wants to advance (himself) in life should take opportunities.”

How does he stay on top of his game doing drama after drama?

“You find the perfect balance by not bringing the character home,” Rafael says. “Lahat ng problema mo sa buhay i-release mo na sa set para ’pag uwi mo opposite side naman. It’s like going to the gym. Ibuhos mo ang lakas mo dun para pahinga ka na lang sa bahay. You have to look for something for yourself to look forward to every day, so that there is always something fresh and something new (that you can offer).”

(The Borrowed Wife is directed by Gil Tejada Jr. and also stars Yayo Aguila, Caridad Sanchez, Sherilyn Reyes, Kevin Santos, Diego Castro, Jojit Lorenzo, Rhed Bustamante, Zarah Mae Delgado and Lou Sison.)