The Colorful World of Charo Santos

When you have a problem and you feel that there’s nobody to turn to, don’t lose hope. Sit down, keep calm, gather your thoughts and write a letter to your Tita Charo, the modern-day Tia Dely who has a ready ear for the heavily-laden and a ready shoulder to cry on.

For the past 12 years, Maalaala Mo Kaya (Thursday nights on ABS-CBN), hosted by Charo Santos-Concio, has been dishing out words of wisdom and comforting words at the end of the show which dramatizes the problems of letter-senders (sometimes chronicling the highs and lows of known personalities such as Fanny Serrano and Klaudia Koronel). In the process, both the letter-senders and the millions of televiewers (both here and abroad) are consoled, looking at life from a brighter point of view. You know, there’s hope, after all, a silver lining behind the thick clouds.

"We make it a point to end each episode on a bright note," said Tita Charo.

You can just imagine how many poor souls Maalaala (theme song sung by Dulce) has helped and saved so far, no wonder it is the longest-running and most-awarded drama anthology in local television.

Have you ever paused and wondered what seemingly insurmountable problems your and my Tita Charo has to grapple with every day in her capacity as ABS-CBN Executive Vice President? She looks cool through it all – doesn’t she? – but deep inside, confesses Tita Charo, "I’m already on edge."

Let’s enter the colorful, if stressful and tension-filled world of Charo Santos by peeling off layer by layer the many real-life roles she’s playing.

I presume that these are the things you would like to ask Tita Charo if you were face-to-face with her – or if you were to write her a letter. (Note: Letters and senders’ names are fictitious but Charo’s answers are not):

Dear Charo,

I am a Masscom senior and I want to run a TV station someday. I wonder, what is the toughest part of your job?

Please tell me.
Sincerely yours,
LEAH PLANAS

Dear Leah,

Well, I would say that the toughest part of my job is knowing what the audience wants and giving them exactly what they want. Despite all the data given to you by the research department, at the end of the day you still have to have the gut feel of what the audience really wants. And that’s tough, Leah, I tell you! Putting the right programs in the right timeslots that will bring in the most number of viewers.

My concern also includes the whole entertainment division which is under me – television production, Star Cinema, Star Records, talent development and management and creative communications which handle all the plugs and the promos.

Production is, well, very tough but very exciting and fulfilling for me. I am really a production person. It was Bancom in the late ’80s which gave me the opportunity to go into line-production. That was after I did my second film, Kisapmata (by Mike de Leon, based upon Nick Joaquin’s Free Press story The House on Zapote Street, who also directed me in my first movie, Itim, for which I won as Asia’s Best Actress). To this day, production gives me a feeling of fulfillment when I finally see the concept on television or the big screen.

Nagmamahal,
CHARO

* * *

Dear Charo,

I’ve been following your career since you won as Baron Travel Girl in the early ’70s and I must say that you’re doing great. You are a living example of a probinsya (from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, right?) who made good – very good! – in the big city, a role model. How long have you been with ABS-CBN?

Faithfully yours,
SHIRLEY RAMOS

Dear Shirley,

I rose from the ranks. I’ve been with ABS-CBN for 15 years now. The company has just celebrated its 50th anniversary and I got a plaque of appreciation.

Years ago on my senior year in Communication Arts (St. Paul’s College), I had my practicum in the same building which was then known as KBS, under Martial Law.

But my love for television actually started back in the province when I was a kid. I used to watch Tang-Tarang-Tang (with, among others, Pugo, Patsy, and Leroy Salvador), Buhay Artista (Dolphy and Panchito), Tawag ng Tanghalan (Lopito and Patsy), Magandang Tanghali (noontime show) and Tayo’y Maghapi-Hapi (Jean Lopez and Romano Castellvi).

I was hooked on the radio programs of Inday Badiday, Kuya Germs (German Moreno) and ... remember, Operetang Putol-Putol? I’d watch movies every weekend, double feature pa ’yon. Little did I know that those years prepared me for my career now. I used to watch Sampaguita movies and those by LEA Productions. Remember Helen Gamboa in Bang Shang-Alang? Enjoy ako sa kanya! I watched Tagalog Ilang-Ilang movies, those agent starrers of Tony Ferrer and western flicks of Jess Lapid. I was a movie fan; I still am a movie fan. Kinikilig pa rin ako sa mga young heartthrobs natin.

Happy ang childhood ko, Shirley!

Nagmamahal,
CHARO

* * *

Dear Ma’am Charo,

I’ve been closely following the so-called "network war" and I enjoy it as much as I do watching sitcoms on both channels (yours and theirs).

I’m curious: Do you spend all your waking hours playing the ratings game or even go to bed dreaming (if favorable to your station) or having nightmares (if unfavorable to your station) about it?

Tell me, please, before the results of the latest survey show up.

Eagerly yours,
PEACHY GALVANTE

Dear Peachy,

Again, to use my favorite adjective, it’s tough. Five or so years ago, we got the ratings every two weeks so we were more relaxed. But now, we get the ratings overnight – every day! – so we are kept on our toes. It’s tough and nakaka-tense but it gives you an opportunity to really zero in on what the audience wants, and to process whether your programs are peaking or lumalaylay (sagging). You are able to react right away. It’s highly-stressful, Peachy.

Do the ratings determine the life span of a show? Sometimes, yes; sometimes, no. Kung minsan, even if a show is doing well in the ratings but it doesn’t have sufficient commercial load, it has to be axed. That’s the rule of the game.

Stay tuned, Peachy, and enjoy the ratings game!

Nagmamahal,
MA’AM CHARO

* * *

Dear Tita Charo,

Ako po’y masugid na tagasubaybay ng programa mong Maaalaala Mo Kaya tuwing Huwebes ng gabi. Kadalasan po, sa harap ng telebisyon na po ako kumakain ng hapunan para wala akong mami-miss. Napaka-demure n’yo po, lalo na kapag nagbibigay kayo ng payo. At bongga ang mga damit n’yo!

Keep up the good work po!

Loyal until I die,
WILMA BARREIRO

Dear Wilma,

Being an ardent follower of Maalaala, you should know that Maalaala is now 12 years old. It started three years after I got into ABS-CBN. I was only a production manager when I broached the idea to management. That was one of the rare chances management gave me a break to produce a program on primetime. Sa atin na lang, pero noon hindi sila masyadong tiwala sa akin. Akala nila ang alam ko lang pelikula, na wala akong alam sa telebisyon. Before ABS-CBN kasi, I was a movie producer (Vision Films); I also line-produced for Regal (aside from Bancom).

Nagdaan din ako sa maraming pagsubok; minsan, nag-fail but in most of the tests, I’m proud to tell you na pumasa ako with flying colors. Sana ipagpatuloy n’yo ang pagtangkilik sa Maalaala at marami pa kaming sorpresang nakalaan para sa inyo.

Sige po at baka mag-uumpisa na ang palabas!

Nagmamahal,
CHARO

* * *

Dear Charo,

I’m amazed by the way you divide your time. (Do you ever sleep!?!)

With the demands of your position at ABS-CBN, how can you still find time to tape for Maalaala?

Curiously yours,

ETHEL ASIS

Dear Ethel,

Before, I would tape two episodes in one sitting so in one month it would take only about two hours. There’s already a formula so I could do it quite fast. Letter-reading lang naman ’yon.

But now, I tape on a weekly basis. Before, I would even act in some of the episodes; it’s a pity that I can’t do it now due to time constraints. Miss ko nga, e!

How do we choose the material for Maalaala? Well, we have a research team and a core of letter readers who determine which of the stories have a unique twist or a unique angle to it. We also have researchers who interview the letter-sender or the resource person or the relatives of the letter-sender for more data.

In Maalaala, we try to portray the human drama, human struggle, the pain and the sorrow that lead to the triumph of the spirit. In the end, we want to show the values of courage, faith, hope, love and forgiveness.

When we featured the life story of Fanny Serrano recently, in which was shown that Fanny had forgiven his father, somebody from Davao texted Fanny and told him that because of Fanny’s example, the texter learned to forgive somebody who wrongly accused him of committing a crime.

After we aired the life story of Klaudia Koronel who is back in school taking up Computer Science, somebody from Dubai offered to help Klaudia; gusto niyang bigyan ng sofware si Klaudia at tulungan sa kanyang studies.

I’m so glad that Maalaala touches a lot of people.

Nagmamahal,

CHARO

* * *

Dear Charo,

We miss you on the big screen. Don’t you have time for movies anymore?

Missing you,
AIDA GUEVARRA

Dear Aida,

So far, gipit ako sa time. Gahul talaga ako sa panahon.

I’ve done more than 30 movies so far at hindi pa enough ‘yon. I think the last movie I did was Island of Desire, directed by Elwood Perez for Regal Films (starring Ruffa Gutierrez and Zoren Legaspi). I miss doing movies, especially when I watch great performances. I admire Jaclyn Jose. Ang husay niya kahit anong role niya!

I still watch movies regularly – in the moviehouse. The last movie I watched was Anger Management. Ganda, ‘no? I could identify with the character of Adam Sandler (ordered by court to go under "anger management" with Jack Nicholson as his counselor).

What are my three all-time favorite movies? There’s Casablanca (Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart), Psycho (one of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic works) and Gone With The Wind (Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh). Sa local films naman, my three favorites are Himala (by Ishmael Bernal, starring Nora Aunor), and my two films with Mike de Leon, Itim (my first) and Kisapmata.

Nagmamahal,
CHARO

* * *

Dear Charo,

Please describe a day in your life. With your busy, busy schedule, always racing with time, is there still a life in your day?

Enlighten me, please!

Wonderingly yours,

DOLOR QUIZON

Dear Dolor,

I’m usually up at 7 or 8 a.m. And then I have a leisurely breakfast with my husband, Cesar Concio. That’s when my mind is clearest and that’s when we talk about our children, our family life, and the things at home that need to be fixed. We also talk about, yes, TV shows. My husband loves watching our soaps. He‘s my No. 1 critic. His favorite soap is Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay. He also watches Maalaala, of course, and he criticizes the show. He tells me, "When you move (the hearts of your) viewers, how can you go wrong?"

I’m in the office before noon and until the evening, hayun, I’m busy na with meetings, conferences, monitoring this, monitoring that, planning this, planning that and, you guessed it, keeping track of the ratings.

It’s tough, I tell you! Very tough!

Nagmamahal,
CHARO

* * *

Dear Charo,

How are you as a mom and a wife?

I’m a working mother, too, and sometimes I have problems dividing my time between work and home.

Thanks in advance.

Gratefully yours,

VERONICA FARIÑAS

Dear Veronica,

I’m like a barkada to my two sons, Francis, who’s turning 20, and Martin, 17, who are both in Ateneo. Francis is taking up Business Management and Martin, Management Engineering. Both of them are creative; one is into rock and the other one, into acoustics and jazz. They’re both good writers.

My sons are very open with me; we can talk about anything under the sun – as in anything!

As a wife, I am so fortunate because my husband gives me the opportunity to be my own person. He gives me the wings to fly, so to speak. He would always tell me, "Before you are a wife and a mother, you are first and foremost a person. So stay whole because if you stay whole you can be a good wife, a good mother, a good daughter, a good friend, etc."

My husband is secure with himself. Wala kaming insecurity, wala kaming competition. We respect each other’s person and space; we have a very mature relationship. If I didn’t have a husband like him, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

In the house I’m very maayos. OC nga ako, e – Obsessive-Compulsive. He’s a food expert so I let him run the kitchen. He takes care of the menu.

I hope you get the tips that you want.

Nagmamahal,

CHARO

* * *

Dear Tita Charo,

Could you tell me about your days as a beauty queen? I’m a frustrated beauty queen, you know.

Stay as sweet as you are.

Love you,
TINA MORAN
(Miss Gay PhilippinesThree-time loser)

* * *

Dear Tina,

I like your name. Very suggestive.

You make me feel old recollecting what you call my "beauty-queen" days. Recently nga, one of the members of Star Circle told me, "Ma’am, I’m so honored to meet you in person. I used to watch your movies with my lola!" Ouch! I’m not ashamed to tell you that I’ll be a Golden Girl very soon.

Anyway, mahilig ako mag-join ng mga beauty contests noong kabataan ko. I became Miss Calapan. After being Baron Travel Girl, naging Miss Green Revolution din ako when (former First Lady) Imelda Marcos launched the Green Revolution program in the mid-‘70s. It’s hard to join a beauty contest in Manila if you are a promdi (you know, "from the province"). When I was being considered for the Manila’s Five Prettiest list, I borrowed hand-me-downs from my cousins. I would buy tela in Quiapo or Kamuning and let the costurera at the corner sew a dress for me. But in fairness to the city girls, they were all nice to me; hindi matapobre.

Go ahead, Tina. Join more beauty contests. Try and try until…There’s no harm in trying, anyway.

Nagmamahal,
TITA CHARO

* * *

Dear Charo,

I like your "Miss Manners" image. Very cool, composed and collected. Do you ever lose your temper?

Tenderly yours,
LILY (of Valencia)

Dear Lily,

I’m a deeply religious person. I read books on meditation. I’m naturally cool. Hindi ako palasigaw. Even if things are going wrong all around me, poised pa rin ako. I guess even if the house is burning, cool pa rin ako. You can never hear me shouting at anything or anybody. I guess I was born that way.

Try meditating. It works!

Nagmamahal,
CHARO

* * *

Dear Tita Charo,

I am a Judy Ann Santos die-hard fan. My friends and I have been debating kung sino ang favorite actor n’yo. May pustahan pa nga kami, e. Sino ba talaga, Tita?

Fanatically yours,
JOLINA AGUSTIN

Dear Jolina,

It’s Piolo Pascual. Like his other fans, kinikilig din ako kay Piolo. Cute niya, ‘no?

Nagmamahal,

Tita Charo

* * *

Dear Charo,

Kailan namin mapapanood ang life story mo sa Maalaala? Soon, ha?

Waiting for it,
BABY (of Laguna/L.A.)

Dear Baby,

Saka na siguro - kapag lola na ako!

Abangan mo, ha!

Nagmamahal,
CHARO

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