How Richard stays away from ‘temptation’

MANILA, Philippines - Be Careful with My Heart star Richard Yap has stated that no end is in sight for the top-rating ABS-CBN daytime series. At least, not yet.

“They haven’t really told us yet until when. We feel that the story is going a long way,” said Richard on the sidelines of the press launch of his latest endorsement deal, the new pasta brand Amigo Segurado.

He added, “I think it’s going to be more than the June date,” which was the schedule producers initially gave when it was first announced that the series co-starring him with Jodi Sta. Maria was extending its original eight-week run.

Be Careful with My Heart premiered July of last year, and what began as an experimental series for an “unlikely pairing” has become a smash hit. While it relies on a time-tested formula (think Sound of Music!), it has become a refreshing and alternative viewing experience from the regular fare that feeds on such heavy themes as convoluted family relationships, infidelity and revenge.

The show has made Richard — or better yet, his character “Sir Chief,” a household name — and has cemented his status as the new heartthrob of ABS-CBN. One concrete proof of it The STAR witnessed recently, when we caught him being mobbed at the Davao City airport more than the other Kapamilya hunks who have been in the business much longer than him.

(He had crazier fan encounters though; a 40-ish female fan suddenly hugged him and grabbed his butt, also at an airport. “I was shocked but I tried to be very professional about it,” he laughed in recollection.)

Not that we want to compare, but it does underscore the curious case of Richard Yap: The unconventional route this guy has taken to find stardom, so much so that he’s been dubbed in articles as the accidental heartthrob or the reluctant leading man.

The former businessman, who worked in the furniture industry, started in showbiz only two years ago, already in his 40s, “medyo mature and no longer a teenybopper,” as he puts it. He has gained popularity and scored kilig points among female fans through daddy roles — first as Papa Chen in Binondo Girl and now, as the widowed father of three in Be Careful. 

The Cebuano Richard is still surprised at how things are turning out for him. Asked if he sees what fans are seeing in him, “I don’t think of myself actually (laughs). I don’t even think of myself as that,” mused Richard, who couldn’t bring himself to say the word “heartthrob.”

(In this month’s issue of Yes! magazine, he also expressed his disbelief, saying: “Naiisip ko, ‘Bakit?’ Pumasok lang ako ng showbiz, naging guwapo na ako. Dati naman, wala namang nagsasabi sa akin n’on, nanay ko lang.”) 

“It’s really because of the show,” and not really his doing, he explained about his popularity.

Because of the show’s popularity also among TFC subscribers, Be Careful has embarked on a world tour, starting in Middle East over the Holy Week with two “sold-out” shows in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A US tour is up next in May.

For Richard, whatever he’s enjoying right now — the success of the show most especially — is not to be taken for granted. “I don’t think it’s something that you should be resting on. Even if you do something that is successful, you should always try to improve yourself, try to do better. So, I think success is relative.”

He said that he feels truly blessed to be in this position. “Nakakatuwa because you really make people happy. If you make people happy, it’s already a very satisfying job.”

Nevertheless, Richard’s not allowing himself to be pressured about the things to come with regards to his career. “When I started in showbiz, I never expected anything. So, when I started in Binondo Girl, I didn’t expect na may susunod pa. Then, (Be Careful) was offered to me and I was having second thoughts because I wasn’t sure if I was really going to go into showbiz full time.

“So, noong pinasok na namin, it was, according to them, phenomenal and was successful. I don’t want to pressure myself and think na dapat yung next project, mas maganda, more successful. We are taking things one day at a time.”

Richard can afford to shrug the pressure off because “I’m flexible. If I can no longer be in showbiz, I can go back to doing business. So, I don’t really have to pressure myself na kailangan maging successful ako dito.”

How about the pressure of being looked up to? “For me, as long as we do things right, I don’t think we should worry. (But) we need to be responsible for what we do because people look up to us. I don’t think it’s right for us to do something stupid or something foolish, because a lot of people are being influenced. I think we are here for a reason.”

Richard stressed though that he doesn’t want to be viewed as an “idol.” “I don’t think people should emulate me. They should go after their own dreams, their own principles, their own ideals. If they can pick up something good (from my story), then good. But I don’t want to be someone that people see as an idol. I’m just being myself. I just want to do what’s right. If people are inspired by that, then I would be very happy.”

Meanwhile, it’s been Richard’s wholesome image that’s generating him endorsements. For Amigo Segurado, he endorses it with Daniel Padilla. (“We chose them for their wholesome image and not just because they’re popular and widely-followed. They’re two of the most interesting men in the industry right now, and they represent exactly what we want for the brand,” said Jebe Gayanelo, president of Phil. Leading Logistics, Inc., makers of Amigo Segurado.)   

There’s a “downside” to having a wholesome image, Richard had to admit when queried about it. “Maybe, when I do something that’s not agreeable to people, they would say something right away. People expect you to be always smiling, always happy, which should not be the case because we’re also people, we also get tired.”

He maintained, however, that he has not changed at all. “I think I’m still the same person as I was. Kung minsan moody ako (if pagod ako or gutom ako) it’s because I was like that before. So hindi ako nagbago just because… Siguro mas noticeable because I’m on TV.”

Being a family man is what keeps him grounded. While his family is getting used to his newfound career (“They just step out of the way kung may nagpa-picture. Sila pa nga ang kumukuha ng picture, hahaha.”), it has also made them closer.

Richard has been married to his wife Melody for 18 years now and has two children — Ashley, 16 and Dylan, 10.

“We’re always together, which is good for us also. Before, I have time to go out, to go to the gym or play billiards with friends. Now, there’s really no time. So it’s basically work-home, work-home.”

Because he has no personal assistant, Melody takes care of his things and sometimes acts as his stylist or make-up artist if needed to be. He comes to career-related decisions with Melody’s help. “I consult her because it’s a journey that we both have to go through.”   

Family life is also the secret to avoiding all sorts of temptations that come with being a celebrity. “I think at my age, I know better, you have to keep yourself away from these things. So, if its something not right, we try to keep away right away. And my wife is always with me, so that helps me also, keeps me grounded, keeps me good. So, you know, you also have to think of your family.”