Rafa Siguion-Reyna: Finding his own mark

MANILA, Philippines - He may have the pedigree to show for it, but Rafa Siguion-Reyna is looking to make a name for himself on his own merits.

The 24-year-old newcomer is the son of director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna and screenwriter Bibeth Orteza, and grandson of Armida Siguion-Reyna. Having family members held in high esteem in the same business initially placed pressure on Rafa when he decided to give professional acting a try last year — with theater as his springboard — after earning a communications degree at the New York University.

Rafa, who is part of GMA 7’s roster of contract artists, told The STAR, “There is (pressure), but I feel like, nung una lang talaga. Last year, we did Grease and I was very nervous then. I think as I keep working, and getting jobs and work experience, I’ve learned to be relaxed which is OK. I’m realizing na, if people say this or that, it’s OK because at the end of the day, I’m working. I’m improving, I believe. I always tell myself that if I do this often, it’s impossible I won’t improve. (But) there will always be comments like apo lang naman yan ni so-and-so, or anak lang naman yan ni so-and-so. I can’t let that bother me because at the end of the day, I’m very lucky na apo ako ni so-and-so and anak ako ni so-and-so. I just have to appreciate the work and be happy.”

An early telltale sign that he, too, was showbiz-bound came when he was a kid, providing entertainment during family gatherings by doing impressions of different people. Still, there was a time, he tried avoiding it.

Rafa, who has also done modeling, said, “I tried. At first, I was very much resistant. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a basketball player. When I graduated from gradeschool, I really didn’t want to be an actor or performer, but when I entered highschool I learned to appreciate dance (hip-hop), play the guitar, then I did high school plays. And in college, I tried different things but in the end, my focus went here. Even though I was taking up communications, I thought about what would I do as a job after college, saan mapupunta ang skills set ko and the things that I like to do, and when I just looked, dito talaga ang punta — performing. It’s a privilege to be telling stories for a living and I’m very happy and thankful.”

One thing Rafa is also thankful for is having theater as his acting foundation. “I think theater is the best foundation because when you’re in theater, dire-diretso yung oras nasa stage ka. So, you get to practice your muscles to commit to a character and a scene. I’ve learned so much from rehearsing every day.”

He’s going to show more of what he is capable of as he stars in Hari ng Tondo, the 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition entry (under the Directors Showcase category), which tells the story of a grandfather, played by Robert Arevalo, a self-made man who now finds himself on the brink of bankruptcy and decides to return to his old neighborhood to redeem what is left of his self-worth.

Rafa said, “He decides to bring his grandchildren to Tondo where he grew up poor but very tough and his grandchildren are medyo sosyal. I play the grandson. We learn to be part of that community and grow that toughness.”

Asked on the most challenging part of his character, Rafa pointed out the singing scenes. “My character wants to be a singer and musician, but he’s not very good. So when he goes to Tondo, he learns to appreciate street musicians because they have something that he doesn’t have which is fearlessness, just go lang, sige lang. (The singing scenes were very hard because) I don’t particularly consider myself as a singer. I’m a dancer-actor, although I’ve been taking singing lessons. I have to sing live — that was my challenge.”

Hari ng Tondo marks the directing comeback of his father Carlitos (with the script written by mom Bibeth) who last did a full-length film in 2001, Azucena.

According to Rafa, the multi-awarded filmmaker “found inspiration in teaching” during the lengthy break from directing movies. “I think he taught in Ateneo, UP then in ’08, he found a job in Singapore (as part of the faculty of New York University’s Tisch Asia School of the Arts). He just grew a passion for teaching and through that, he got re-inspired to make a movie again because of his students and because of the young filmmakers in the industry. That’s what he told me. That’s why he made this film. And my grandfather passed away in 2010 (lawyer Leonardo Siguion-Reyna), and that stuck with everyone in the family. The main character in this film is a lot like my real grandfather, and I think he was also inspired by my grandfather.”

How was it working with his father? “It is not very hard, actually. Some people say it’s challenging to work with him because minsan tumatagal kami ng 15 takes, his takes are long, but it’s not hard because kapag artist ka, you want to be given the freedom to make choices depending on the scene. And as a director, that is his style, he allows his actors to make choices, he’s very open about dialoguing with (regards to) the scenes. He gives you a lot of freedom. And even though he’s my dad, our relationship (on the set) is very professional.”

Meanwhile, Rafa was asked about the political issue involving his grandfather, Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile (half-brother of his Lola Armida), and how their family is dealing with it. “We just give our support. My grandmother visited him the other day to see how he’s doing, he’s probably going through a lot of stress right now. Because he’s family, we just have to give support. That’s what anyone else would do for their family. (As for the negative comments from bashers,) I don’t take the comments personally.”

(This year’s Cinemalaya will run from tomorrow, Aug. 1 until Aug. 10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Greenbelt 3, Trinoma, Fairview Terraces and Alabang Town Center.)