How Juancho Triviño’s Padre Salvi portrayal keeps audiences engaged
MANILA, Philippines — He has done a string of supporting and leading-man roles. To the best of his ability, Juancho Triviño delivers (the goods) and shows his versatility. His first full kontrabida role, Padre Bernardo Salvi in the top-rating GMA 7’s historical portal fantasy series, Maria Clara at Ibarra, can attest to it.
His portrayal of a friar and town curate living in colonial times never fails to engage netizens, who talk about the character’s actions and call Padre Salvi out through memes and social media content.
“Since year one, I’ve really wanted myself to be a versatile actor,” said Juancho in a recent virtual one-on-one with The STAR. “Whatever role or genre is given to me, I want to do it.” After all, actors like him are built to take on any acting challenge presented to them.
Juancho, on the other hand, had his own reasons for giving his nod to the project.
“For one, I truly believe na maganda siyang material (that it is a good piece of material),” shared he. “Magaling yung production and crew that are handling the show (the production and crew that handle the show are very good). Direk Zig (Dulay) is an award-winning director at Cinemalaya and it’s in primetime.”
After listing down the pros, Juancho was sold on the idea of becoming Padre Salvi on the small screen.
“I needed to make my own review or watch materials that involved the story of both books,” said he about what constituted his initial preparation for a character, based on and from Philippine novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, written by National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. “Before the show started, we already asked for the directives (like) what they (the people behind the show) exactly wanted to see from (my portrayal of) Padre Salvi and how Jose Rizal had envisioned the character.” From there, Juancho reflected on how to portray Padre Salvi truthfully.
“He knows what’s right and what’s wrong,” said the actor of his character, whom others may associate to oppression and white supremacy, based on their impression of the novel. “Alam niya kung ano yung rason kung bakit siya nanduon. He also knows that the Spaniards are different from Filipinos… lumalabas at lumalabas pa rin yung sinful side of him. He really wants, parang, to brainwash and control people’s mindset, kung ano yung iniisip nila.”
Juancho continued by saying that Padre Damaso, another powerful and influential character, is more outspoken as compared to Padre Salvi. The Kapuso actor found his character’s sense of silence dangerous. “Nasa loob yung kulo, parang tinitiis, tinitiis lang (He hides his capacity for mischief).” He loses it in circumstances that involve him, Crisostomo Ibarra, Maria Clara and the indios (native people), added the actor.
Since acting is also a sense-making process, Juancho can feel the internal struggles Padre Salvi goes through, particularly in the aspect of love. “It’s really tough… kapag ginagawa ko siya, mahirap siya sa pakiramdam din kasi ramdam mo yung frustration nung character (Whenever I play the character, I feel his frustration),” said he. “(Padre Salvi) is not supposed to feel these human emotions that we feel… Padre Salvi is attracted to Maria Clara. Deep inside his heart, (he knows) that he is not supposed to feel anything, he is not supposed to say anything kaya siya nagiging pigil talaga at frustrated.”
His nuanced performance has captured that. It’s the same reason viewers, despite Padre Salvi’s idiosyncrasies, follow his next moves. They can’t help but defend those who have suffered from his strictness and haughtiness by highlighting the character’s physical flaws like his tonsure.
“It’s like rite of passage among priests at that time,” said Juancho. “He is not balding.” The reaction from audiences only shows how involved and invested they are in the character and his story. “Nakakatuwa… at gumagawa ako ng mga TikTok and ng mga videos about it,” shared he. “It’s a fun banter… and I love doing it. There’s nothing more satisfying to an actor na nakikitang nag-e-engage yung mga tao with the character. I think it’s fun for me.”
With his height and mestizo looks, Juancho ticked off the physical requirements for the role. When he wears the complete ensemble, he definitely looks the part. According to him, the costume (made of vestment, belt and sandals), the hairdo and the eye bags help him imbibe and embody the character as well as be in the moment.
“I’m happy, but we’re still in the early weeks of the show,” answered Juancho when asked about his portrayal, which has been getting good reviews. “That’s why (I don’t want) to be complacent, not letting it (the good feedback) get into my head. Thank you for those comments, but mahaba pa yung show. Gusto ko siyempre consistent yung magagawa kong material.”
From what he gathered from his conversations with fellow creatives, Juancho also shared his thoughts about antagonists, who are designed to stand in the way of protagonists in any story.
“Yung mga kontrabida naman talaga sa mga show, hindi naman nila alam na kontrabida sila (I think the antagonists in shows, they are not aware of them being one),” said he. “May mga pinanggagalingan sila na tingin nila na tama (They come from something they think right).”
As for the show’s narrative, a new chapter unfolds with Klay’s decision to stay in San Diego and live among its people. Viewers can look forward to more plot twists and adventures. The information given to this paper shares that Klay will have a big makeover and Elias’ (played by Rocco Nacino) personal story starts. Watch Maria Clara at Ibarra from Mondays to Fridays after 24 Oras.
Aside from doing show business, Juancho, an entrepreneurship graduate from De La Salle University, is also busy attending to his digital work (creating TikTok and Instagram content, plus the podcast titled One on Juancho on Spotify) and F&B, mobile carwash and online fitness businesses.
What can fans expect from him after Maria Clara at Ibarra?
“(There are) no talks, as of now, about what I will do next,” said Juancho. “I’m just (taking it) one day at a time. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there… But my desire is to make more materials like this, a meaty role, not just on TV but also in movies. That’s my plan, that’s my desire.”
With a beautiful family and a thriving career, Juancho is joyful and very inspired, as he put it.
“I try to count my blessings every day, that’s why I’m very grateful, I’m very happy in my life,” he said.
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