Jericho Rosales on his staying power: I force myself to evolve

MANILA, Philippines – Jericho Rosales is celebrating his 20 years in the showbiz industry, and he somehow still cannot believe it has been that long already.

“Parang kalian lang...” he said, singing the popular line from the song “Handog” by Florante, during his press conference on Thursday.

“Actually the best thing about it is hindi siya feeling 20 years,” he said. “Ang bilis ng panahon. Twenty years for me, ang daming nangyari na pala and I guess it’ll be my love until the end of the time.”

For the two decades he has been in the industry, Jericho acknowledges that he had his fair share of ups and downs. Yet, the Kapamilya actor said that it was something normal for him.

“I really believe in seasons,” he explained. “May time na ang career mo nasa taas, then going back down again. Hindi puro [pataas], wala sa lifestyle ko, e, hindi relaxed. So I really try to enjoy moments na ando’n ka and moments na nasa baba ka.”

He also pointed out that the “down seasons” in his career is what drives him to do better.

“‘Yong falling down ‘yon ang great realization for me, learning stage for me and inspires me to get back up,” he said. “Kasi it’s going to make things sweeter. So when I look back on those [down] days, no regrets, charge to experience, di ba. It made me a better person.”

Time may pass, seasons may change, and new breed of actors may come in and out of the industry. Yet many believe that Jericho is one of the actors who will stay in the industry for a long time.

The actor-musician doesn’t want to get it all in his head, so when asked about his staying power he simply replied “I think siguro kasi I go with the flow.”

“Like I said kanina, I believe in seasons,” he continued. “So I guess evolution lang, I force myself to evolve as an actor, as a performer. I understand kung nasaan ako, I don’t have problem accepting my age, I don’t have problem kung I mature, growing older.”

After the success of his 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Walang Forever” and winning the best actor award for the film, Jericho is now ready again for the projects this 2016.

He’ll soon do two TV series, and if given a chance he would like to star in another MMFF entry.