Ken Chan and Rita Daniela:
Singing the same tune in life and career
Words by Cara Emmeline GarciaPhotos by GMA Artist Center & GMA MusicLayout by Alvin Lacabra
As if reenacting a scene from the movie Notting Hill, Kapuso actress Rita Daniela faces the crowd with a beaming smile.
She hums the tune of “Bato sa Buhangin,” one of her all-time favorite songs because it "talks about an eternal kind of love" while waiting for everyone to settle down.
"Kakantahin niya ito,” she says.
A reporter, wearing a plain white shirt and jeans, then grabs a mic and asks the question everyone is begging to be answered, “Is there a possibility that you two can become more than friends?”
Rita looks sweetly into the crowd and answers, “Honestly, now that I know his desires and ‘yung plans niya for his life, nakaka-admire and ang sarap mangarap kung ‘yung tao na ‘yun parehas kayo ng gustong abutin.”
The crowd move forward with their mobile phones at hand and on stand-by curiously waits for her to say something more.
It’s now or never, she thinks.
Without hesitation, she mutters the words, “I see him in my life forever,” and smiles coyly to the person beside her.
Shying away from the cameras and covering his face with his hands is the recipient of these words.
This man happens to be her on-screen love partner, actor Ken Chan.
Her best friend, her confidant, her very own Boyet.
But before there was "BoBrey"—a portmanteau of Boyet and Aubrey, the characters that they played in the hit afternoon soap 'My Special Tatay'—there were just Ken Chan and Rita Daniela.
As if separated at birth, the two recount their tale of carving their own path to show business, hitting a career roadblock, and rediscovering their passion for the craft in this exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com.
“My dream is to be a Hollywood star.”
COMPOSING THEIR OWN LIFE LYRICS
For starters, Rita had always set her sights on becoming a star.
“I really wanted to be an artista, a superstar. No, my dream is to be a Hollywood star,” she says.
She admits that her love for reading magazines and watching movies at home influenced her dream to become “not just a singer or an actress, but a true artist.”
But this should not come as a surprise from the Kapuso actress.
Born Rita Daniela De Guzman Iringan, she is, after all, the granddaughter of the late Filipino actor and comedian Teroy de Guzman who had graced Filipino television screens in the '60s with none other than the King of Comedy, Dolphy. By the age of 10, Rita joined QTV’s PopStar Kids where she won as the show's first grand champion.
She’s now 23 years old.
And for 13 years, Rita had been busy. She starred in a few Kapuso shows such as One True Love, Villa Quintana, Strawberry Lane, and Impostora. She also took her talent to the big stage and even performed live in theater.
Although she fits the cookie cutter mold of a rising star, Rita can’t help but feel as if she’s stuck.
“For 13 years, nasa pit lang ako,” she utters. “A lot of people said, ‘Bakit ganun ang tagal mo na dito? Bakit hindi ka pa sumisikat?’ Ang tagal ko nang naririnig ‘yung ganun.”
“The best decision I’ve ever made is when Jesus happened to me and came into my life. That’s when everything changed.“
She admits that at one point she thought of quitting her career in Philippine showbiz and reaching out to her managers to discuss her plans for the future.
“I was really ready to say goodbye to my career here in the Philippines and I wanted to finish my contract with GMA so I can move forward.”
But, little did she know that God had bigger plans for her.
In 2018, Rita bagged the role of Aubrey in the Kapuso show 'My Special Tatay' that changed the trajectory of her career.
“Can you imagine? After 13 years ngayon lang ibinigay sa akin lahat. Yung attention, yung tinatawag nilang ‘break’, yung si Aubrey. Biglang nag-boom ako as yung character ko, nagkaroon pa ako ng love team.”
She credits her success to a decision she’s made in the last two years–converting from Roman Catholicism to Christianity. “The best decision I’ve ever made is when Jesus happened to me and came into my life–that’s when everything changed.“
Armed with a new perspective in life and a second chance at her career, Rita couldn’t help but laugh. “Kapag naaalala ko, natatawa na lang ako kasi si God lang talaga ang kayang mag-orchestrate ng lahat. This is Him. It’s all Him and it’s all from Him.”
“I told myself, ‘Parang wala pang nangyayari sa akin...
Siguro hanggang dito na lang ako.”
“Parang nagdyo-joke si Lord, ano?
Ipa-pafeel Niya sa iyo na hindi ka para diyan kasi may mas maganda pala siyang ibibigay sa iyo.”
Unlike his leading lady, Ken didn’t dream one bit of entering show business. He admits that his current career is all due to one of his character traits - curiosity.
“Nag-umpisa actually lahat noong nag-college ako sa College of St. Benilde,” he says. “Napansin ko na parang one-fourth yata ng mga classmates ko nagko-commercial. Lagi kong naririnig yung word na ‘casting’. Parang, ano ba ‘tong casting na ito? Ano ba 'yan?”
Once he learned what it all meant, he figured it was an easy way to earn extra cash to help his family out.
“Noong in-explain na sa akin kung ano yung casting sa commercial na magvi-VTR ka, tapos ang kikitain mga around 60K to 350K depende sa project, sabi ko, ‘Uy! Tamang-tama! Makakabawi na rin ako sa pamilya ko.’"
Being a looker that he was, the hopeful chinito eventually bagged his first commercial gig for a local fast food chain right after his first casting call.
As he bagged project after project during his modeling days, his life took a turn when he learned that their family businesses were shutting down and his father’s kidneys were beginning to fail.
Always looking into the bright side of things, the former model-student took the role of being the breadwinner of the family. "Tamang-tama dahil sa pagko-commercial ko, natulungan ko yung Papa ako at pamilya ko."
Eventually, his modeling gig took a turn for the better as he was discovered by former manager Rams David who took him under his wing and introduced Ken to the network in 2011.
His first project in GMA was the teen-oriented show 'Tween Hearts' where he starred opposite now Kapamilya actress Yassi Pressman. He then co-hosted the iconic variety show Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman with German Moreno.
As he balances his new career in show business, he too felt as if he’s hit a plateau by mid-2015. “I told myself, ‘Parang wala pang nangyayari sa akin. Ginive up ko yung pag-aaral ko para sa showbiz.'
“I think, I have to tell everyone na 'Tama na at hindi na para sa akin 'to. Siguro hanggang dito na lang ako.'”
Having taken up a course in Tourism at Benilde, he wanted to pursue his longtime dream of being a flight attendant. The then 23-year-old Ken Chan called up his former classmates and friends to help him find a job elsewhere. “Nanghingi ako ng tulong sa friends ko na nasa Qatar Airways. As in mayroon na akong resume at application forms.”
But just as he was about to submit all of his requirements, he heard about an opening for a character that calls for an actor who could transform into a beautiful lady. “Biglang nagkaroon ng 'Destiny Rose.'”
His eyes wide open, he gladly narrates his side of the story, “Naintriga ako and nagandahan talaga ako sa character. Pero sarado na ‘yung audition at mayroon na silang napiling tatlo.
“Kaya nagmakaawa ako sa GMA na baka puwedeng buksan ulit ‘yung audition. Pero sino ba naman ako? Gagastos ulit ang GMA para sa akin? Naintindihan ko naman kung wala na.”
But one day, he received a phone call that changed his life forever, “Sinabi nila na i-open nila ulit yung auditions for the character.”
Two weeks after his audition, Ken got the titular role that marked his name in Philippine TV history.
And the rest, as they say, was history. “Then dun na nag-start - 'Destiny Rose,' 'Meant To Be,' and then 'My Special Tatay.'”
Ken chuckles for a bit, and then adds, “Parang nagdyo-joke si Lord, ano? Ipapa-feel Niya sa iyo na hindi ka para diyan kasi may mas maganda pala siyang ibibigay sa iyo.”
"Yung show talaga namin, that’s why it’s so powerful ang lakas ng impact niya, kasi hindi lang siya nagpapakilig. But because of the complications of Boyet and Aubrey’s life, it inspired a lot of people.”
HITTING THE HIGH NOTES WITH#BOBREY
One afternoon of September 2018, audiences eagerly await for Ken Chan’s new role in the new Kapuso show 'My Special Tatay.'
The role of Boyet, played by Ken, is a young man with an intellectual disability. Boyet's life will change once he finds out that he has a child.
The mother of the said child is Aubrey, played by Rita Daniela, whose complex role requires the actress to wear skimpy clothing and to dance in front of lustful men.
However, before there was Rita, Ken admits that the casting crew had a hard time searching for the one to play the role. “Kasi sino ba si Aubrey? Pokpok, ‘di ba? So sinabi ko sa staff, kailangan ipaliwanag n'yo sa artista kung ano yung role ni Aubrey kasi baka ayawan nila.”
Audition after audition, not a single actress could fill the role.
Until Rita came into the picture.
No qualms, unfiltered, and raw. Rita embodied what it means to look and be like Aubrey. Ken says, “Pagdating pa lang niya sa set, game na game si Rita. Wala siyang pakialam! Kailangang mag-makeup ng blue eyeshadow? Go! Hikaw? Go!
“Nadali! Siya ang nagustuhan. Ang galing.”
The Boyet-Aubrey love team definitely worked in their favor.
During their TV debut, the hashtag and tandem “#BoBrey” became one of the trending topics in the Philippines that continued on until the show’s last episode aired on March 29th of 2019.
When asked how their characters have changed their lives, both Ken and Rita had one thing to say: it was overwhelming.
Rita says, “Literally, Aubrey changed my life in one snap. Paggising ko, buong Facebook puro mukha ko. Even sa Twitter at Instagram puro memes namin! Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm talaga.”
Ken adds, “Kung sa 'Destiny Rose,' binuksan ang maraming pinto para sa akin. Dito sa 'My Special Tatay,' hindi lang pintuan kung 'di pati bintana. Sa lahat ng ginawa kong teleserye, iba talaga itong 'My Special Tatay.'”
Rita admits that amid the success of the show and the praises they received, she had a hard time portraying Aubrey because her role was in conflict with something that was important to her–her faith.
She reveals, “‘Yun ‘yung time na talagang committed ako to Christ. So, before I do scenes where I have to dance in front of a lot of men, I have to keep reminding myself na it’s not me, it’s just work, and it’s only Aubrey.”
But what did the two learn from their characters in the show?
For Rita, it’s the simple act of giving respect to people regardless of their stature in life. “‘Di porket ganun sila magsuot kabastos-bastos na sila at pwede mo na silang i-downgrade. No! ‘Yung mga taong ‘yun, sila ‘yung lahat gagawin nila mabuhay lang pamilya nila kasi buhay na nila binebenta nila, e.”
As for Ken, he admires Boyet’s resilience to carry on despite the odds. “Si Boyet kasi ‘di siya natatakot at kung ano man yung kakulangan niya sa sarili niya, ipinakita niya na kaya niyang abutin yung pangarap niya at kaya niyang magmahal nang totoo. Dapat ganun din tayo.”
Rita adds, “Yung show talaga namin, that’s why it’s so powerful, ang lakas ng impact niya, kasi hindi lang siya nagpapakilig. But because of the complications of Boyet and Aubrey’s life, it inspired a lot of people.”
Both Ken and Rita admit to GMANetwork.com that a number of people have come up to them and told their own Boyet and Aubrey story.
“So for sure, there’s a lot of people that changed their lives as well.”
Rita exclaims, “I get a lot of messages from people who experience depression. And just by watching our show, they said it has changed their life. Kasi raw napapasaya namin, kasi raw napapatawa namin sila. Sobrang grabe yung show na ito.”
“Hindi lang namin tatapusin sa concert yung suporta namin sa autism awareness dahil gusto namin hangga’t maaari sa mga gagawin din naming projects in the future."
SINGING IN TANDEM IN MUSIC MUSEUM
Although 'My Special Tatay' has already ended, the two actors vow to continue bringing joy to other people through their talents.
And this coming May 11th, they will be having their first concert together at the Music Museum titled My Special Love: #BoBrey InCONCERT which will be directed by former Orange and Lemons vocalist and Pepito Manaloto writer Mcoy Fundales.
As we discuss the details of the concert, Ken couldn’t help feeling embarrassed with the idea of singing in front of a huge crowd.
He says, “Hindi ko ine-expect na magkaka-concert ako kasi ang gift ko talaga is umarte. Gusto kong kumanta pero napanghihinaan ako ng loob. Ang daming negative na pumapasok sa utak ko. Feel ko 'di ko kaya o kaya pipiyok ako.
“Buti na lang talaga at kasama ko si Rita Daniela na napakagaling,” he says. “Actually mas lumakas yung loob kong magka-concert dahil kasama ko si Rita. Kaya sinasabi ko kay Rita, ‘Ikaw na bahala sa akin.’ Ipapaubaya ko sa kanya lahat.”
The two discuss that the much-awaited concert will also feature their beloved characters in the hit Kapuso series.
Rita explains, “Siyempre it’s also honoring the show.”
“It’s because of 'My Special Tatay' we became Aubrey and Boyet. And also because of our characters nakilala kami ng mundo as Rita and Ken. So you’ll see four different personalities in one concert–Boyet and Aubrey and Ken and Rita.”
She also hinted that a few characters from the show may make an appearance at their concert.
But the real stars of the show, according to Ken, are the mentally disabled guests they’ve invited to join the event–an idea that he and Rita run through Direk Mcoy in one of their meetings.
Ken says, “Malaki kasing bahagi ng show namin ang mga taong may intellectual disability and autism. Kaya buti na lang at pinayagan kami ni Rita na magkaroon ng ‘special guests’ na makaka-jamming namin at mabigyan ng spotlight dun sa concert.”
He also says he is quite grateful to have played a role that served as a voice for people with autism.
So much so, that he plans to further use his voice to promote its awareness to the general public, an act he has already proven when he joined the celebration of the World Autism Awareness day last April 2nd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Hindi lang namin tatapusin sa concert yung suporta namin sa autism awareness dahil gusto namin hangga’t maaari sa mga gagawin din naming projects in the future,” he says.
Aside from the intellectually challenged people, the concert is also about the people who have been part of their success.
Rita says, “This concert isn’t about us.
“This concert is really about honoring those people who helped make this show possible. So that’s why kasama yung mga people na yun, our fans, and their family.
“They will be part of our show cause we want to honor them.”
"Mula umpisa hanggang ngayon,
hindi ko naman sasabihing lahat enjoy,
lahat masaya, meron din mga problema, pero happy pa rin ako.”
"I’m actually grateful for them.
I am grateful for the wrong people. Kung 'di dahil sa kanila, 'di ako matututo.”
THEIR ENCORE
As the interview draws to a close, the two can't help but laugh at how their life had panned out.
Ken leans back on his chair and lets out a big sigh. “Happy ako, actually. Happy ako sa resulta ng pinaghirapan ko. Mula umpisa hanggang ngayon, hindi ko naman sasabihing lahat enjoy, lahat masaya, meron din mga problema, pero happy pa rin ako.”
He looks around the room as he reflects on how his career has taken off.
Eventually, he confesses that his 8-year career in show business has definitely made him stronger. “Duwag kasi ako dati. Duwag ako sa mga problemang 'di ko kayang harapin at sa mga taong puro negative.
“But because of showbiz,” he pauses. “At dahil sa mga taong hinila ako pababa, sa mga taong gusto akong sirain, hindi naniniwala sa akin at hindi naniniwala sa kakayahan ko, ito yung sagot ko sa kanila–kung ano yung nararating ko ngayon.”
Rita cannot agree more.
“When people ask me 'How do you stay like that? How do you make it so easy for you to do those things? To sing like that? To act like that?' It’s because those 13 years molded me to be who I am,” she says.
“Aside from the experience, it’s really the people that made the difference. Especially those who knew the struggles na napagdaanan ko with the wrong people, I’m not sad or full of regrets to meet them.
"I’m actually grateful for them. I am grateful for the wrong people. Kung 'di dahil sa kanila, 'di ako matututo.”
Now looking at each other’s eyes they both smile, you could immediately tell that these two feel thankful for each other’s company.
Suddenly, Ken blurts out. “Masasabi kong special para sa akin si Rita dahil sa kaniya lang ako naging totoo. Sa kaniya ko lang naikuwento ang buong buhay ko and ganun din siya sa akin. Pinagkatiwalaan niya ako. Yung problema niya, alam ko. At yung problema ko, alam niya.
“At wala akong napagsasabihan sa industriya natin na ganung ka-open. Kaya masasabi kong special kami sa isa’t isa at para sa akin kasi ganun siya sa akin.”
Ken reaches out to Rita and places his arms around her shoulder and gives her a tight hug. And she smiles.
This is what true friendship is like. Genuine, sincere, light, and easy.
There’s simply no other bond like Ken and Rita's.
And just like the song "Bato sa Buhangin," the Ken-Rita friendship is no longer within the realm of time.
It has become timeless.
No longer ephemeral, but eternal.
