Why Jericho Rosales is a ‘much happier actor’ in TV comeback
After a six-year break from showbiz, “Lavender Fields” lead actor Jericho Rosales revealed that there’s a “huge” difference between who he was then and who he is now as an artist.
“Huge,” Jericho said. “Some of the good parts I’ve kept, some of the bad parts have been filed. The difference is just that I know what I want and I know that the relationships I am keeping now are the ones helping me grow.
“So, I’m fully equipped to follow my dreams. I’m welcoming any help, any suggestions, any advice, but most importantly, I’m really on this journey of getting to know myself deeper and deeper. That’s what has changed in me.”
This newfound clarity and openness, Jericho explained, spelled the big change in how he approaches both his life and career these days.
“I know the elephant in the room,” the 44-year-old actor said, bringing up his previous declaration about stepping away from TV work and sharing what ultimately led him to change his mind.
“I said I wouldn’t go back to teleseryes and stuff. But first of all, I’m a much happier actor now. I’m lighter, you know, just accepting…”
It wasn’t the case six years ago. At that time, Jericho saw himself as an “angry artist.”
Recalling what led to that state, he shared, “‘Pag ‘di mo talaga pinagbigyan yung sarili mo. Ultimately, it’s all about fear. Then, you get angry, you try to force things because you want people to cooperate. And you’re fighting, fighting and fighting until — and every actor can relate to this — you’re ‘Blah, blah, blah, this industry, this and that.’
“And I was one of them. Complaining about soap operas, about the industry, about the hours, about the directors, about the co-actors. I was complaining nonstop. Then, burnout happened.
“I didn’t believe in my art anymore because I was so angry… but yun pala, my art just needed some caring and some loving.”
Asked how he pulled himself out of that creative rut, Jericho said, “I realized that if you want something so bad, don’t be afraid to go for it. That’s what I did. It took me six years. I said no to so many projects. Had to explain to so many people. Had to not explain to so many people.
“A good friend of mine, Kim Jones (his ex-wife), had told me and also my therapist had told me, what is a life worth living? It took me two weeks to answer that. I said, ‘A life of growth.’ A life of nonstop understanding yourself. And really getting to know yourself. From then on, tuloy-tuloy na. I became more accepting. That it’s not all about you.”
He also got himself an acting coach during the break, which initially was for the purpose of preparing himself for a role in a film he was going to produce.
“I think that acting should be part of a curriculum or the education system because it’s healing. It boosts your confidence, it makes your imagination work, it helps you accept yourself. So our (class) became a therapy session.”
This journey to his comeback also made him decide to work with a new management team.
For some time, Jericho was managing himself after being with Star Magic.
“I was really good friends with (former Star Magic bosses) Mr. M (Johnny Manahan) and Tita Mariole (Alberto), and the past management companies and teams. But I just started managing myself (because) I was becoming a rebel. Nobody could get what I mean.
“Parang sila Mr. M, they get me na why I was going against the flow always. I just know what I want. So I did that. Managing myself, executing my own plans and strategies. Then niligawan ko yung friend ko (from the corporate world to manage my career).”
One thing’s certain: What Jericho learned from the lengthy hiatus was that he could never leave the acting life behind.
“Because this is me… I would never turn my back on acting, producing or performing or anything creative. It’s always going to be the state of my heart. You have to choose a life that you don’t have to run away from so that even though things go south, then you can choose to be happy.
“You’ll be like, OK lang, give me that challenge. And yeah, I said, ‘I am never going back to teleseryes again because I am an angry artist.’ I ate my words. Masarap! Masarap siya,” he mused.
For Jericho, his TV return represents a “new chapter,” driven by a desire to just actively pursue what he wants.
“When I started becoming braver and clearer, I started hunting — I became a hunter. I hunted for people, the right people to work with, look for the right projects to work on, called for people to help me find scripts… and that’s it. The universe is actually working with me on this one,” he said.
“I’m the type of person who responds to great projects like ‘Lavender Fields’ and I’m opening my relationships again. Things are light. If it’s light, then go. And I said it’s a ‘yes’ year. So, I said yes to this one. It was time (to return). Happy ako. Happy ako sa set. Happy and inspired. I’m a happy boy.”
Seemingly validating his belief that the Universe was conspiring with his plans, he received two offers — a movie with Star Cinema and this new TV show with Dreamscape Entertainment. Both were aligned with what he wants to do nowadays, which is the action genre.
In “Lavender Fields,” Jericho plays a character living a double life. He is Arthur, an accountant who accidentally meets and develops feelings for Jasmin (Jodi Sta. Maria), and Tyrone, a guns dealer who is stuck in an unhappy union with Iris (Janine Gutierrez).
The complexities of his character were a major reason why he was drawn to the series. The dual role allowed him to feel scared and uncomfortable.
“When you feel scared because you haven’t done something, for me that’s when you will start growing, and my character has shown me a lot of moments and instances (which made me say) I haven’t done this before,” Jericho said.
“(It makes me ask) what will I do? I need help. I need to work with my director, I need to work with the writer. I’d call the writers and ask them some questions and some clarity, and things like that.
“It’s that fear and discomfort and conquering these challenges on a daily basis until November — because we’re going to shoot until November. But I feel really grateful.
“It has helped me understand a lot of personal things also because of what he’s going through, in his mind, in his heart, in his whole being. It makes me think, a person like this would have to process this kind of emotion and situation. He’s a real character, which is great!”
(Directed by Emmanuel Quindo Palo and Jojo Saguin, “Lavender Fields” streams on Netflix and iWantTFC, and airs on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z and TV5.)
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