Jericho Rosales hits at actors who degrade soaps

MANILA, Philippines — There comes a time in a person’s life when one reaches a crossroad and questions the path he is taking.

Jericho Rosales reached that crossroad when he sat down and asked himself if making money from his work as an actor is all there is in life.

“Is this it? Then I got scared. I quit (acting). I started writing songs. I started to sing. Nag-banda ako. Nasagot ko 'yung tanong. Then I go back to the question of what’s next,” Jericho admitted at the press con of his upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye "Love Will Lead You Back."

He knows everyone must work to earn a living. But for seasoned actors like Jericho who have proven themselves, there is got to be more to work than earning money.  There Is got to be a "why" and a "where" for everything he does.

The project, he said, must excite him. For instance, his character in a teleserye or film must challenge him to attack the role in a way he has not done before.

“I must always make it fresh,” he said.

So he does not take just any role that comes along. He would rather wait for a good project.

Jericho accepted the role of a married furniture designer in "Love Will Lead You Back" because he enjoys depicting the early stages of marriage in the teleserye, where he stars with Sam Milby, Yam Concepcion and Yen Santos.

Himself happily married for three years to fashion blogger and TV host Kim Jones, Jericho knows what facing the challenges of marriage is all about. He knows what great love – the theme of the teleserye – is.

Most of all, he values his work, and does not consider it as just another soap to add to his list of TV projects. That is the reason why he is still around, 20 years after he first stepped foot in showbiz.

“You have to evolve. A  lot of actors have this bad habit of saying ‘Soap langyan.’ I hate it. Some directors also say ‘Soap langyan.’ Six years into my career, nang dumating ang TFC (The Filipino Channel), every time we travel, someone in a small town in New Zealand, and a Filipino family somewhere around the world would thank me and say almost in tears that our shows are good. I find a purpose in what I do,” he pointed out.

Jericho realized he has a responsibility to keep on doing his best and never get tired doing so.

He thinks it is this passion that makes his home network ABS-CBN assign new projects to him. 

“I value my work. I don’t get tired studying,” he explained.

Jericho admitted American and Korean actors are good. This observation pushes him to do even better, and fight for excellence in his craft.

“We’re competent. May hitsura naman tayo. I’m just a proud Filipino actor. I want to go global,” he beamed.

Billing and titles no longer matter to him. What matters, he said, is what you do when you are in the zone, what viewers and moviegoers see in you on the big or small screen.

That is why his hunger to play different roles remains as strong as ever.

“After this ("Love Will Lead You Back"), in the  next few years, I want to do action drama, action comedy, and a psychological thriller. I’m a thinking actor, but for the last  two decades, it’s been explosive emotions, and a heart. I’d like to play more quiet roles that are exciting,” he revealed.

Jericho’s journey as an actor who loves his craft continues. And chances are, we will be seeing more of him in years to come.