Richard reluctant no more

Before his groundbreaking role as Ser Chief in the daytime family drama Be Careful With My Heart, people were referring to Richard Yap as a “reluctant actor” or “accidental actor.” He was a businessman, and despite having done My Binondo Girl (where he first became popular as “Papa Chen”), he wasn’t really into showbiz yet.

But when Be Careful With My Heart became a phenomenal daytime hit, running for two years and four months, it changed his perspective on showbiz. He resigned his corporate day job in 2012, put up his own business so his hours would be more flexible and started to totally embrace showbiz. He began to think of acting as his career, and of himself as a product he has to sell to audiences. 

Explains Richard: “I now see this as a business, and also, I am a product, I have to sell myself to the public who watches the shows. I’ve learned to accept the fact that acting is also a business, and as a product of that business, I have to constantly improve myself and make myself more relevant.”

Part of doing that is by challenging himself to try new things. Recently, Richard signed on to play a dramatic role as Carlo, Cecilia’s (Vina Morales) kababata who crosses paths with her again 20 or so years after they first met, in the Kapamilya Gold drama Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita. The role as Carlo is more dramatic and heavier than anything he’s done before; since becoming an actor, Richard has done mostly light teleseryes. It’s his first time to go dramatic.

This is a switch for him, but he says, it’s all part of learning how to re-invent himself. So when it was offered to him, he didn’t hesitate. “They needed an actor to play the part of Carlo, and when it was offered to me, I said, why not, it’s something new for me kasi medyo mas ma-drama siya,” says Richard. “In the beginning, may konting apprehension siguro because it’s a role in a drama series. Although my part is to be a positive influence and to lift the character of Cecilia up, so it’s not really as heavily dramatic as others. That made it a bit easier for me to adjust.”

Although he didn’t feel too confident about doing drama in the beginning, Richard agreed to do it because his planned teleserye opposite Judy Ann Santos was shelved (due to Juday’s pregnancy). It would provide him with something to do in the meantime while waiting for his next project. “Yun nga, dahil ma-drama, nag-isip din ako, but as working actors, we go where we are required to go, so anything is okay.”

Since he started playing the role, Richard has learned how to make doing drama easier. “You just have to put yourself in the story. Dito, ina-analyze ko kung saan siya galing,” he says, referring to his character.

The past few weeks have made him realize that he has much to learn about the fine art of television drama. “Siguro kung masyadong heavy di ko pa kaya, and it’s something I have to work on. Especially in crying scenes, I have to really feel the scene. If I don’t believe na kailangan sa story, parang hindi lumalabas.”

But at this point, Richard has definitely embraced being an actor. He is no longer a reluctant one. In fact, he even has a title now: He’s known as the Daytime King. “Actually, nung Be Careful pa yan, kasi si Jodi (Sta. Maria, his co-star) was being called the Daytime Queen.”

Ultimately though, says Richard, it really doesn’t matter. “It’s just a title, it doesn’t really affect who we are,” he says. “We are thankful that we are given titles, but it doesn’t mean we rest on our achievements. We have to work hard pa rin on what we are given.” 

Other things he would like to try in the future that are connected with show business is maybe producing (if this ever comes to pass, his top of mind choices to work with include actors like Coco Martin, Piolo Pascual, Dawn Zulueta, Bea Alonzo and Angel Locsin, “because these are the top stars that you always have in mind”) or working on the management side of a film or TV project. 

He is also looking forward to trying other roles. He has only one rule: He has to feel that it’s something he can do reasonably well. “Maybe it has to be something I’m capable of doing; if not, siyempre di ko tatanggapin. Mahirap if you can’t do what is required of you.”

So far, Richard has proven that as far as acting goes, he can definitely do what is required of him. So far, so good — and he will just keep getting better and better.