2 weeks ago
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MANILA, Philippines — For someone who has worn multiple hats in a career that began in the beauty pageant scene, ventured onto the big screen, rose to the boardroom and circled back to acting, Charo Santos-Concio has never stopped evolving.
Even after stepping away from her leadership role as ABS-CBN president and CEO, Charo, 69, remains deeply engaged in the ever-changing media landscape. She has been stepping into new opportunities in storytelling and even public service.
In a Women’s Month-themed conversation on our podcast Meet the Press on The Pod Network (available on Spotify), Charo shared reflections on her time as a media executive, on the current industry collaborations and her renewed passion for acting.
To recall, during her tenure as ABS-CBN's top exec, the battle for TV ratings was at its fiercest. Rivalries between networks were at an all-time high. But for her, the most memorable moments were not really the fights for supremacy but the resilience of her team.
Charo continues to take acting lessons, including the Meisner technique under Scott Trost, director of the Meisner Institute.
“It used to be very, very competitive, and rightly so, ‘di ba? In the environment of business, that is inevitable. If there’s no competition, there’s no excitement. People tend to be complacent if there’s no competition,” she said.
“But the most memorable for me was when we lost our ratings in Mega Manila. That’s when we really focused on our strength, which was narrative, drama. Andyan na yung ‘May Bukas Pa,’ ‘Tayong Dalawa’ — I mean, talagang nagsunod-sunod na siya.
“Until I retired, it was ‘Ang Probinsyano,’ which was rating high 40s then. Those were really, what can I say, fulfilling years for the organization, for the production people, for the creatives and the artists, and I guess most especially for the employees. Talagang may pride ka na Kapamilya ka and they were working for ABS-CBN. Those were really glorious years.”
On the set of ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ where the actress plays the ‘laking-Quiapo’ Tindeng.
Industry's survival
Since ABS-CBN’s transition from broadcast company to content company after the franchise non-renewal, the industry has seen more collaborations between former competitors. For Charo, this shift is necessary to ensure the survival of Philippine entertainment.
“It’s great! It’s an opportunity for us to learn from each other. Sa akin, yun ang pinakamahalaga. It’s also an opportunity for our actors to be able to work with actors from other studios. Naiiba yung landscape, naiiba yung timpla. Meron kang bagong binibigay sa audience mo,” said Charo, who was appointed as ABS-CBN board member last year.
“As a whole, really, it’s about working together for the industry. You know, the industry is very challenged, and this is a good sign that producers and different studios are coming together to work with each other. I think for a bigger reason, for a bigger purpose — making sure that the industry stays alive.”
She also acknowledged the uncertainty of the entertainment landscape.
“With the evolution of streaming apps, we don’t really know where linear viewing will really go. We don’t really know where theatrical viewing will go. Therefore, I think it’s incumbent for every member of the industry to come together and help each other. Magtulungan to make sure that the industry stays alive,” Charo stressed.
“Beyond staying alive, I think we should even look towards making something for the global audience. Because ako, I believe in Filipino talent, I believe in Filipino creativity. Hindi lang tayo nabibigyan ng pagkakataon, and you know, maybe this is the right chance and the right opportunity for the industry to come together and really make something for the global audience.”
“‘Wag na maging parochial and into cliques anymore. The industry — naghihingalo eh, kailangan nating buhayin.”
With leading man Dingdong Dantes in the Irene Villamor film ‘Only We Know,’ which is slated for release in June.
Acting again
Before Charo became a household name in the broadcast industry and a towering figure in the entertainment sector, she was an actress, discovered by the National Artist Lino Brocka from the Baron Travel Girl pageant.
“My nanay, ang hilig i-join ako sa mga pageants. Alam mo naman sa probinsya, lahat magkakakilala so hindi maka-hindi sa mga… ‘Uy, yung anak mo gawin nating Reina Elena,’ or ‘Yung anak mo pa-join naman ng Miss Calapan (Oriental Mindoro),’ hanggang nakarating sa Manila,” she recalled.
“Well, a friend asked me to join the Baron Travel Girl pageant, and by that time, medyo sanay na ako. But ‘di ako umabot sa (the likes of) Binibining Pilipinas because my father was very conservative and he didn’t want me to parade in a bathing suit. Baron Travel was the first and last time I joined a (national) pageant.”
It was at that pageant where Brocka first noticed her, leading to her first-ever film “Itim” (1976), the directorial debut of Mike de Leon.
After years away from acting, she found her way back through filmmaker Lav Diaz.
“In my last year at ABS-CBN, Lav Diaz was in Star Cinema making a pitch. So I met him for the first time, and after I retired, he was the first one who came forward with an offer. And intuitive kasi ako na tao — when my heart jumps on something, wala eh, it just flows. You know, dumadaloy lang siya. ‘Di ko siya masyado pinag-iisipan. I don’t overthink things anymore. I go with what my heart says,” she explained.
The offer was the title role in the 2016 black-and-white drama “Ang Babaeng Humayo” that was selected to compete at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion.
“I felt good about ‘Ang Babaeng Humayo,’ the concept, the narrative, and then there was no looking back. Parang, ‘Okay ‘to ha.’ In my heart, ang sigurado ako, hindi ako magkukulong sa bahay after my retirement.
“That I returned to acting — it’s a grace from God. It came at the right time. I could have waited one or two years. Maybe the producers didn’t think I would be interested, but Lav Diaz came, the project came, ‘Ang Babaeng Humayo,’ and after that, nasundan naman, sa awa ng Diyos. And now, I’m also preparing for another movie. Yey!”
Charo joins the Philippine Air Force’s reserve force.
Photo from Charo Santos’ social media pages
New roles
Charo’s next starring role is in “Only We Know” opposite Dingdong Dantes, which is scheduled for release in June.
“It’s a romantic friendship story. It’s really kilig. You know, hindi ako mahihiya magsabi sa inyo na, ‘Naku, manonood kayo, kikiligin kayo.’ Looking at the cast or looking at the pairing, you might conclude right away that it’s a May-December love affair. But you’ll be surprised. But I cannot say much. I don’t want to preempt the experience for you,” she said of the film directed by Irene Villamor.
“Before we got to film the movie, it was offered to me six years ago. Six years ago, I said yes to the narrative. It’s the story pitch. I said yes to the story pitch. But after that, the pandemic (happened). Dingdong got very busy and he did ‘Rewind.’
“In fact, there was a point when I said, ‘You know, it’s okay ha. Dingdong might be having second thoughts pairing with me, especially with his super box-office success of ‘Rewind,’ ‘di ba, with wife Marian (Rivera).’ So sabi ko, okay lang, maiintindihan ko naman. But no, he kept to his word and said, ‘No, I really want to work with you.’ So, okay naman. Happy naman!”
She also teased another movie project with “Firefly” and “Green Bones” director Zig Dulay, set to be filmed in San Vicente, Palawan. “I’m really so happy. I want to work with young directors,” said the “FPJ's Batang Quiapo” actress.
Beyond acting, Charo has also embraced another unexpected role — as a reservist for the Philippine Air Force. She’s been taking part in the socio-civic activities of the military.
“Kokonti lang sundalo natin, mas maraming reservists. The reservists are there to help in times of calamities and natural disasters, rescue work. We do medical and dental missions, it's a lot of public service really,” she said.
For years, she wanted to become a reservist, but the pandemic delayed her plans.
“Gusto ko na talaga mag-reservist, kaya lang na-pandemic naman ako. But when I finished my filming with Dingdong, I decided, this is it. Pasok na ako.”
Her decision to join the reserve force is motivated by “something deeper, something more internal.”
“I’ve always been fascinated with military stories. If you noticed, some of the teleseryes in ABS-CBN, mga sundalo ang bida, ‘di ba? Then, meron na akong mga research material. Ang dami kong research material. I studied the code of honor of the Philippine Military Academy. So producer pa lang ako, fascinated na ako. What is it like to become a soldier? What makes a young man a soldier? — that was always in my mind,” she shared.
Charo said she has always wondered what drives young men and women to risk their lives in service to the country.
“Yun ang gusto ko na experience, yun ang gusto kong daanan. Yun ang gusto kong maiintindihan. Ano ang nangyayari sa isang batang lalake at batang babae para masabi, ‘Yes, I'm ready to put my life on the line and serve my country.’”
