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RJ Padilla: "Bata pa lang ako, alam ko na ang gusto ko"
Published January 1, 1970 8:00 AM PHT
Updated August 5, 2020 3:17 PM PHT
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His uncle, action star Robin Padilla, once asked him about his future plans. “Tinanong niya sa akin kung, ‘Ano ba ang gusto mo? Mag-aral o mag-artista?’ Sabi ko mag-artista. Sabi niya ‘Eh, ‘di mag-artista ka’. ‘Yon lang. Ganoon lang kadaling kausap.”
Coming from a family of actors, it is no surprise that RJ Padilla dreamed of becoming an actor himself early on. “Gusto ko na mag-artista, mga elementary pa lang ako. Bata pa lang ako, alam ko na ang gusto ko,” he shared with GMANetwork.com.
The younger Padilla was once asked by his uncle, action star Robin Padilla about his future plans. “Si Tito Robin [Padilla], last [pag-uusap] namin tungkol sa showbiz, sa trabaho, matagal na, mga 2008 pa yata. Tinanong niya sa akin kung, ‘Ano ba ang gusto mo? Mag-aral o mag-artista?’ Sabi ko mag-artista. Sabi niya ‘Eh, ‘di mag-artista ka’. ‘Yon lang. Ganoon lang kadaling kausap.”
While his Uncle Robin approved his desire to be an actor, his father, Rommel Padilla was not as easily convinced. “Si Daddy, ‘di ko pa ma-gets ‘yong sinasabi niya. Si Tito Robin isang period kaagad, ‘yon na,” he said.
“Mag-aartista dapat ako ng elementary. Marami pang eksenang nangyayari. Kasi gusto ni erpats (actor Rommel Padilla) makapagtapos ako ng pag-aaral,” he shared.
However, RJ already had his heart has set on becoming an actor. “Minsan ‘yong nasa puso mo, tapos ‘yong pinipilit kang gawin ‘yong hindi mo gusto, medyo sumasablay. So, ang nangyari hindi naging okay ‘yong school ko. Kaya sabi ni Dadddy sa akin, ‘Ano ba talaga ang gusto mo?’” he recalled.
The Kapuso actor-comedian mustered his confidence and told his dad, “’Pa, ayoko ng magsayang ng pera. Ayoko na po mag-aral. Nagalit siya. Sabi niya ‘Hindi mo ba alam na napaka-importante ng edukasyon?’ Kasi si Papa hindi nakapagtapos; hindi niya rin natapos ang college niya, so alam ko ‘yong pagsisisi niya.”
But before pushing through with his audition, he asked advice from the person he admires the most, his father. What was his dad’s advice? “Kailangan ‘pag artista ka, maganda itsura mo, gwapo itsura mo. Kailangan mong alagaan ang sarili mo.”
And more than just having good looks, RJ said that his dad often reminded him: “Mahalin mo ang trabaho mo. Mahalin mo ang sarili mo. Mahalin mo ang pamilya mo. Huwag ka makalimot kung saan ka nanggaling.”
RJ’s childhood dream finally came true when he inked a contract with GMA. “Naramdaman ko ang pag-aartista ko siguro noong pumirma na ako sa GMA. Doon ko na-feel na, ito na siguro. Isang malaking big step ‘yon sa akin. Tuluy-tuloy na ‘yon, With A Smile, Bubble Gang, ‘yong shows ko. Dahan-dahan nafi-feel ko na talaga nagiging celebrity na ako.”
Catch RJ Padilla in Adarna after 24 Oras only on GMA Telebabad. For more updates of your favorite shows and stars, just keep on visiting www.gmanetwork.com. -- Text by Eunicia Mediodia, Photo by Bochic Estrada, GMANetwork.com.
