Director Lino Cayetano: Politics, no; showbiz, yes

With his lanky frame and ruggedly handsome looks, he cuts quite a figure as he strides to his seat before the group of reporters gathered for this scheduled presscon. Director Lino Cayetano, more than his showbiz fame, is heir to an illustrious name in Philippine legal and political circles, the late Senator Rene Cayetano, and his humble yet telling demeanor gives one the impression that there is more to this young man than his illustrious name and looks.

It was obvious that the reporters were eagerly waiting to interview the young director about uhm… other matters, his love life, in particular. But direk Lino, before the interview, begged reporters to just focus on his latest project with ABS-CBN and chose, instead, to dwell lengthily on his latest "connivance" with award-winning filmmaker, Maryo J. de Los Reyes – the new television drama series, Calla Lily, which aired last May 29 before TV Patrol on ABS-CBN.

Calla Lily is the newest collaboration between direk Lino and direk Maryo, both having directed the highly-successful soap, Mga Anghel na Walang Langit. The story is about twin sisters Calla and Lily, adeptly played by seven-year-old Sharlene San Pedro, who grows up in a fishing village. It also features Ana Roces, Gerald Madrid, Evangeline Pascual, Baron Geisler, Yul Servo, Erich Gonzales, Rodjun Cruz and Johnny Delgado. 

"I was the second unit director in Anghel and will also be the second unit director in Calla Lily,"explains the mestizo director. For the uninitiated, being second director means being in-charge of the other location shoot since it would be physically impossible for a director to shoot several scenes in different locations at the same time. "I am honored to have been given the opportunity to work with one of the best directors in the country," direk Lino says of his mentor and, sometimes, "tormentor," direk Maryo.

Internationally-acclaimed director Maryo J, for his part, admits he sometimes gives direk Lino a piece of his mind because he wants the young director to always give his best. 

"He should worry if he doesn’t receive verbal lashings from me because it only means wala akong pakialam sa ‘yo," explains direk Maryo. For his part, direk Lino is only too happy to be under the tutelage of the veteran filmmaker and TV director because "he fights for what he believes is good for the story." "He is not afraid to be different and explore new ways of doing things and these traits are very exciting for a young director like me," direk Lino avers. 

Asked why all his directorial assignments involved having to direct kids, direk Lino flashes that enigmatic smile and says he actually finds directing kids less stressful. "Magaan sila ka-trabaho." 

Direk Lino is also at the helm of the kids’ talent search, Little Big Star. So how does he handle tantrums?  "Nilalambing lang ang mga bata," he replies.

As the dutiful son of the late Sen. Rene Cayetano, direk Lino is not new at being at the center of the spotlight.  He came to be known as the son who donated his kidney to his ailing dad. He is also the younger sibling to Sen. Pia and Rep. Allan. But slowly, direk Lino is finding his niche in showbiz. 

"I never see myself entering politics because I feel I don’t have to join it to be able to help our countrymen," direk Lino says.

He has the highest regard for what his father did in the Senate and in the legal profession as well as his siblings’ dedication and commitment to public service. But direk Lino feels that in politics, "marami kang makaka-away." 

When he was younger, his dad would often bring the young Lino to his radio show in DZMM’s Compañero Y Compañera. In a way, this influenced direk Lino to try his hand in showbiz. He felt that his father was able to help a lot of people through his radio program and he thought he could probably do it as well by coming up with meaningful stories that will depict the life of ordinary Filipinos, whose hopes and passions constitute the sinews of this nation. 

For a man who has literally grown into adulthood enmeshed in show business and public attention, direk Lino comes across as a regular guy; psychologically and personally unaffected by the flash and high drama that characterize many showbiz personalities. 

The comebacking Ana Roces says that when she first saw direk Lino, she couldn’t help but be awed by this young director. What impressed Ana more and what took her by surprise is that her director turned out to be very "mabait and very unassuming."

These are the same traits of direk Lino, apart from his good looks, that made members of the entertainment press obliged to his request not to probe his personal life. 

All this writer could ask of him is, "Are you happy?"

He flashed his winsome smile and answered, "Yes, I am."