Man in a hurry

It was no secret that there was this brilliant actor and friend who appeared to be in a rush to collect all the projects he could put his hands on before disappearing into the Wild Blue Yonder.

The actor we are referring to is Art Acuña whom we had met in 2014 with his partner Maritina Romulo. Finding out how busy he was, we felt like asking him to relax, to take a vacation in Boracay or any beachfront. He could join any of those five day cruises out of the country, or watch a play in Manhattan. Art has appeared in practically every play and teleserye we can think of — from Niño, God of Carnage, Princess & I, The Kitchen Musical to The Romance of Magno Rubio and Batang WestSide. He has won awards as Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Screen Awards and the stingiest of all Filipino award-giving bodies, the Urian, for his role in Niño, plus the Obie award.

There are still many things we’d like to know about Art. Like the changes in his life and career since last we met, his favorite shows, plays, teleseryes, his ultimate goal in life, the three best performers for him worldwide, his best Pinoy singer…

Art as Manuel Bernal, an officer, in the film Heneral Luna

Reading our mind, Art tells us that it would be difficult to separate life and career, but career-wise, “I’ve been fortunate to have played a variety of roles which were quite enjoyable, as it spurred growth in me. I just ended a wonderful teleserye titled Bagito where I played a father whose wife never loved him and whose daughter loves him completely. I loved this role because I had to balance going crazy and keeping sane for the good of the family.

With his Bagito co-star Agot Isidro

“Prior to that was Quezon City Film Fest entry Alienasyon, written and directed by Arnel Mardoquio. Set in the period of President Quezon’s reign, the film is about the uprooting of the farmers who tilled the land and of how one farmer (myself in the flashback sequences) was allowed to keep his land, schooled his son in the university (played by Spanky Manikan) who becomes an iconic professor in UP Diliman, but in the end is forced to vacate his home, a home he never owned. I always enjoy playing an ordinary man faced with life’s unfair extraordinary challenges.”

Heneral Luna, directed by Jerrold Tarrog, was a huge film with a large talented cast led by John Arcilla. “The film will take the audience into another more factual and realistic journey into the life of Antonio Luna, a man who carved his beliefs with a sharp edge and a forceful love of country. I play Manuel Bernal, one of the officers closest to him, who despite occasional misgivings about how his leader was forging the road, would lay down his life for country and leader because he has sworn to do so.

With his co-stars Karylle and Christian Bautista

“Other indies I learned a lot from were Bang-Bang Alley by Yan Yuzon, David F. by Emmanuel Palo, Woman Of The Ruins by Keith Sicat and Sari Dalena, Kabisera by Borgy Torre and  Sundalong Kanin by Janice and Deniece O’Hara. These projects are memorable for me in different ways. But the common denominator is I learned something about myself, and I learned how I can use it in this craft.

“My three favorites: Niño because I can’t get enough of Loy’s (Arcenas) directing prowess. He has a language all his own. The Kitchen Musical because I discovered how one can act truthfully in music through a song. Bagito because I felt intimately close to the story, and to the characters around me. My ultimate goal in life is to work and act until right before I die. It’s not work for me. It’s play. I’m playing with a puzzle I will probably never solve or master. Nonetheless, it’s when I feel truly fulfilled and allowed to ‘play’ that I do everything else in my life benefits from the joy that I feel. I do everything else better and with more glee.

“If I were to be appointed a judge for an acting talent show with newcomers, that would be a trip. Karylle is my favorite singer. I like her tone. I often hear songs that I would love for her to cover.”

(E-mail your comments to [email protected] or text me at 0917-8991835.)