by Eric L. Borromeo
Everything is still coming up roses for Richard Yap for this year. May sisimulang teleserye si ‘Ser Chief’ kasama si Judy Ann Santos, may bagong album siyang ire-record, at may dalawang movie projects ding niluluto para sa kanya.
Kaya naman very thankful ang Kapamilya actor sa patuloy na blessings na dumarating sa kanya. And to share these good news, nagbigay ng isang post-Chinese new year at thanksgiving party si Richard para sa entertainment press kamakalawa, February 21, sa Wangfu Chinese Bistro sa Morato, na isa rin sa mga negosyo ng aktor.
“I will be part of two movies this year, ‘yung isa hindi ko pa puwedeng i-announce, it’s still on the drawing board. ‘Yung isa naman, they are working on it para mapasama ako. Inaayos pa nila ‘yung istorya pero baka si direk Wenn (Deramas) pa rin ang gagawa.
“We’ll be working with another album also under Star Records. There might be small shows, pero wala pang concert na napag-uusapan,” pahayag ni Richard.
After the success of ‘Be Careful With My Heart’, excited na inanunsyo ng aktor ang tambalan naman nila ni Judy Ann.
“It’s an honor working with the Queen of Teleserye, si Judy Ann. It’s something that is very different. Hindi siya masyadong madrama, pero may kurot sa puso. A little bit of everything… may action, may comedy, may drama,” ani ‘Papa Chen’.
Hindi pa raw niya masasabi ang titulo ng teleserye dahil under negotiation pa ito, pero sigurado na raw ang pagsasama nila ni Judai.
Naging mega-blockbuster ang ‘The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin’ sa nakaraang Metro Manila Film Festival last December. At siguradong nakadagdag ang appeal ni Richard sa nabanggit na pelikula kung kaya ito tumabo ng husto.
“I’m very thankful na pinili ako ni Vice na sumama ako sa movie niyang ‘yun. It was my first movie and it was very successful. Very honored and very thankful ako na nakasama ako doon,” aniya.
Marami ang nakapansin sa bagong ‘look’ ni Richard, pero paliwanag niya, personal niya raw na kagustuhan ang image niya ngayon.
“I just want to change my look, since I have been having the same look for the past two and a half years. Sabi ko sa hairdresser ko, baguhin n’yo ang buhok ko, ginupitan niya ako ng ganito, wala na akong choice. Marami namang may gusto, pero ‘yung iba ayaw, hayaan na lang natin sila,” masayang pahayag ng aktor.
There is no denying na kahit na alam ng kanyang fans na very much married na si Richard, he is still regarded na isang ‘hunk’ ng mga ito.
“Hindi ko naman nararamdaman ‘yan kaya hindi ko naman iniisip,” nangingiting sambit ng aktor.
“I’m just myself, so I don’t think of myself as a hunk. I’m just trying to maintain ‘yung katawan ko. I really have to take care of my health. Ang daming mas worthy of that title,” aniya pa.
Nagbigay na rin ng kanyang pahayag si Richard hinggil sa pagkakansela ng Valentine concert ni Ai-Ai delas Alas. Nalulungkot daw ang aktor sa nangyari.
“I really felt bad for Ai-Ai. Marami na rin siyang ginawa doon. Sinubukan niya na ring i-co-produce para lang matuloy, pero wala ring nangyari,” simula ni Richard.
“Binigyan ng chance ‘yung producer to give us a contract to give us a down payment. They were given three chances to do it before the show, hindi nila ginawa.
“We’ve already encountered something like that before na ginawa namin ‘yung show, hindi kami binayaran, ginawan pa kami ng istorya. That’s why they are all careful in dealing with these [kinds of] stuff.
“May nagbigay sa amin ng article about these two producers, na meron silang tinakbuhan dati. So, lalo kaming on-guard. Pinagbigyan naman namin. They didn’t fulfill their part, so we had to pullout.
“Actually, ayaw namin silang siraan kaya we told everyone it was due to technical reasons.”
Noong 2013 sa 27th PMPC Star Awards for Television ay napanalunan ni Richard ang Best Drama Actor para sa ‘Be Careful With My Heart’ at last year, 2014, napalunan niya naman ang New Male Recording Artist Of The Year sa 6th PMPC Star Awards For Music para sa kanyang self-titled debut album.
Sa gaganaping 31st PMPC Star Awards for Movies sa March 8 ay nominado na naman ang aktor sa kategoryang New Movie Actor Of The Year para sa ‘The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin’.
“It’s a great honor for me na ma-nominate ako. Sa nominasyon pa lang, panalong-panalo na ako,” nakangiting saad ng aktor.
