Erik Santos - Prince of Pop

Kantar Media/TNS National Household Ratings (July 23-25): July 24, Saturday, Primetime.

TV Patrol Weekend (ABS-CBN) 28.4%; 24 Oras Weekend (GMA-7) 19.7%
Elias Paniki (ABS-CBN) 28.5%; Kaya ng Powers (GMA-7) 18.7%
Maalaala Mo Kaya (ABS-CBN) 30%; Claudine (GMA-7) 18.5%
Twist and Shout (ABS-CBN) 16.4%; Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho (GMA-7) 21.8%
M3: Malay Mo Ma-Develop (ABS-CBN) 8.2%; Imbestigador (GMA-7) 17.4%
Banana Split (ABS-CBN) 5%; Comedy Bar (ABS-CBN) 8.1%
The Bottom Line With Boy Abunda (ABS-CBN) 2.2%; Sports Unlimited (ABS-CBN) 0.9%; Walang Tulugan With The Master Showman (GMA-7) 2%

Source: pep.ph

SEEN SCENE (Pilipino Star Ngayon) Updated July 26, 2010 12:00 AM

SEEN: Overwhelmed si Erik Santos sa positive feedback sa guesting niya sa Bus episode ng Maalaala Mo Kaya. Inihalintulad ni Chokoleit ang acting ni Erik sa another Santos, si Vilma Santos.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=596754&publicationSubCategoryId=96

Credit the the owner:

Erik sinundan ang yapak nina Piolo, Sam at Mark
SANGA-SANGANDILA Ni Veronica R. Samio
(Pilipino Star Ngayon)
Updated July 24, 2010 12:00 AM

Habang nakakarinig ng papuri si Erik Santos sa kanyang acting sa Maalaala Mo Kaya na pala­bas ngayong gabi sa ABS-CBN, lalo siyang kina­kabahan dahil baka hindi totoo ang mga sinasabi nila.

“But I know that deep inside I gave a good per­formance, my all. Ginawa ko lahat ‘yung alam ko at ‘yung mga natutunan ko,” sabi ng magaling na singer na umamin na hindi niya gagawing propesyon ang pag-arte.

“Sa pagkanta pa rin ako. Paminsan-minsan siguro, kung merong magandang offer, aarte uli ako. Pero hindi ko ito gagawin ng madalas, masi­sira ang boses ko. Puyatan sa pag-aartista at ma­sama ito sa boses. Also dito sa episode ng MMK puro pag-iyak ang ginawa ko. Minsan matagal nang tapos ang eksena, humahagulgol pa rin ako kaya namamaos ako. Again masama din ito sa boses ko,” dagdag pa niya.

Inaamin ni Erik na isa na namang feather in his cap ang pag-aartista niya.

Hindi ito pagpapataas ng kanyang morale dahil ang mga kasamahan niyang sina Christian Bautista, Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby at lately pati si Mark Bautista, na nasa kabilang istasyon na ay umaarte na rin.

“No, I’m not trying to compete with them. Tapos na ako rito. I just want to prove to myself na may kaya pa rin akong gawin. Isang malaking challenge ang MMK na seven years ago ay inalok sa akin ni Ms. Mel del Rosario pero hindi ko tinanggap, hindi pa ako ready noon. Now, I think now is the proper time pero kailangang kong matutunan kung paano. Hindi naman ako agad suma­lang sa pag-aartista. Nag-aral din ako, one on one with the best, kay Di­rek Laurice Guillen, kay Direk Mae Cruz, kami ni Kristel Moreno,” paliwanag ni Erik na hindi nagyayabang pero sina­bing ‘yung kissing scene nila ni Kristel ang pinakamadaling ginawa niya sa MMK, walang kahirap-hirap al­though may isang kissing scene sila na umabot ng eight takes.

“Lagot na sina Zanjoe (Marrudo), Eric’s into it, he takes his acting seriously, andun ang puso niya. He prepares for all his scenes, and grabe how he delivers! Ako rin ang nagdirek ng life story niya sa MMK seven years ago at tama lang na hindi niya tinanggap dahil ngayon pa lamang siya nahinog,” sabi ng direktor niya.

Watch MMK tonight at kayo ang maging judge kung talagang pasado na bilang artista si Erik at kung kaya na ba niyang kabugin ang mga kaibigan niya’t kasamahang singer na artista rin.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?artic…ubCategoryId=96

Erik tries acting for a change
By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark(The Philippine Star)
Updated July 24, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - There’s got to be a first time. For Erik Santos, it’s acting for the first time via ABS-CBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya tonight.

This would have been unthinkable for Erik seven years ago, when he turned down an offer to play himself in a Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) episode on his touching life story. He was then a newbie in showbiz, fresh out of his victory in Star in a Million.

Singing was his one and only comfort zone. So Erik said, “No, thanks” to ABS-CBN’s offer. The role landed on Jericho Rosales’ lap.

How times have changed! Piles of albums, concerts and TV guestings later, Erik is ready to face the cameras, not as a singer for an MTV, but as an actor. The role is not light and breezy the way most parts assigned to new actors are.

It requires at least one breakdown scene and a lot of tears. Erik plays an OFW who applied as a singer but became a housekeeper at the posh Venetian Resort-Hotel in Macau.

Erik summoned all the hurts of the past bottled up inside him and let them off in one explosive blow.

Someone with more angst, more reasons to grieve would find this easy. But not cheerful, pleasant Erik, whose mother has yet to see him raging mad.

“I went back to the time when a girl I loved abandoned me, “ he explains. Turns out Rufa Mae Quinto is not the only girl Erik fell for. There have been others, some of them non-showbiz, he reveals.

To his surprise, Erik loved their hectic three-day shoot in Macau, where the episode’s letter-sender is based.

“I learned a lot,” he says. Director Laurice Guillen, who had a one-on-one acting session with him introduced him to acting nuances he never knew before.

“In singing, you show your emotion in song. Not so in acting,” Erik points out. “ Here, most of the things you do — even the mere act of swallowing — has meaning.”

The MMK stint also brought Erik’s respect for actors and their craft to an all-time high.

“I admire my actor-friends all the more,” the Backroom artist relates. Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz stand out in Erik’s list of actor-idols.

“I admire John Lloyd’s way of delivering his lines. He makes you feel what’s in his heart.” Erik explains. Piolo’s eyes, on the other hand, carry a world of emotion in them, adds Erik.

Today, the guy who flinched the first time the offer to act in the upcoming MMK episode came along, won’t mind a follow-up role.

“Sana tuloy tuloy na ito,” he gushes. “My director (Mae Cruz) told me the challenge is for me to retain that raw quality in my acting.”

Another reason Erik is so hooked on acting is because he believes a Divine Hand is guiding him as he feels his way in this uncharted territory.

“I prayed a lot,” he admits. “I said `Lord, Ikaw na po ang bahala. If you give it to me and if it pushes through, it means it’s Your will.”

Luckily, the acting bug will never snatch Erik away from singing.

“Singing is still my priority,” he stresses. Well-meaning friends have advised Erik to beware of too many lines of dialogue, too much late-night tapings and excessive fits of crying on cam. They warned him that it may ruin his voice.

Erik has many reasons to protect that voice. He will hold a concert at Meralco Theater on Sept. 24 and 25. Then, he hies off to Europe for a series of shows. Next year, Erik is a shoo-in for a role in a musical theater production.

“I was told that I didn’t have to audition for the role,” he says.

With things falling into place, is there anything else Erik dreams of doing?

“I want to get married and have a family of my own,” he replies right off the bat.

But he has yet to meet The One he will bring home to Mama. The minute he does, romantic Erik knows he will feel it in his bones.

Meanwhile, let’s sit back and relax as we set aside Erik the singer and replace him with Erik the actor for a few hours. He may yet spring a few surprises that will make us see him in an entirely new and better light.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?artic…ubCategoryId=70

Showbuzz Feature

Director Mae Cruz encourages Erik Santos to pursue acting
by Julie Bonifacio | July 23, 2010 10:43 PM |

Revelation ang sinabi ng mahusay at magandang direktor na si Mae Cruz sa naging performance ng champion singer na si Erik Santos sa kanyang kauna-unahang pagtatangka na sumabak sa larangan ng aktingan sa award-winning drama show na Maalaala Mo Kaya. “Kasi parang ano, e, considering zero experience, I think ang pinaka-experience niya na umarte is sa music videos. In fact, meron kaming isang MV na ginawa together na inabot kami ng madaling araw kasi gusto ko ‘yung parang emote-emote pa siya. And then, ano nga title nu’ng song? Ah, ‘I Will Never Leave You,’” pagalala ni Direk Mae. “Tapos sabi niya kay Tito Boy (Abunda, his manager), ‘Tito Boy, teleserye ata ang ginagawa namin ni Direk Mae.’ Kasi parang napapagod siya na, kasi hindi siya sanay na acting the whole day.”

Na-ishare din ni Direk Mae na nagkaroon sila ng masinsinang usapan ni Erik para makondisyon ito sa mas mahabang ‘akting’. “Uhm, pero dito sa MMK, that’s why we add two days together before mag-shoot na parang we just sat down, sort of workshop, uh, diagnostics. He really ano, walang reklamo. Sobrang professional. Willing maghubad kahit sa kalye. Kung kailangangn magpalit dahil nagmamadali, hahaha!”

Dibdiban daw ang ginawa ng singer sa episode na ito. “Tapos kahit imumaga na kami mag-shoot, doon sa hotel talagang nagmamadaling magbihis. At the same time, inuumaga na, e, ang alam ko hindi ‘yan sanay magpuyat ng ganu’n, e. ‘Di ba ang singer dapat eight hours na sleep for the voice. E, eto hindi. Wala siyang care. Kasi siyempre mina-max-out ‘yung stay doon sa Macau, so, inumaga kami at talagang nakita ko, silang dalawa, actually, ni Kristel (Moreno , Erik’s first leading lady), naduduling-duling na, ganu’n-ganu’n. E, emotional pa ‘yung sequence. Pero uh, wala, walang complaints. In fact, sobrang pleasant,” lahad ni Direk Mae.

Ang first episode ni Erik sa “Maalaala Mo Kaya” ang ika-24 naman ni Direk Mae. “Yung lifestory ni Erik was one of my first MMK’s. Parang ano yata ‘yun, e, around February. Si Jericho Rosales ang nag-portray as Erik pero lumitaw din siya doon. Parang transition form Jericho to Erik taposnag-cut to the actual clip.”

Tinanong din namin ang director kung ano ang eksena pinakamaraming take si Erik. “Yung ano, second sequence namin. Actually, ‘yung second sequence only because first kumbaga, second sequence sa Macau kasi first ‘yun, e. Tapos ang talas ng araw. E, hindi pa siya sanay to control his eyes, very technical. ‘Yung isa pa’ng maraming takes, ‘yung sa kalye na nag-kiss sila, kasi hinahabol namin ‘yung walk, don’t walk. E, 30 seconds lang ‘yun, so, kailangan ‘pag nag-walk ‘yung camera tatakbo in the middle of the street kasi silang dalawa (Erik and Kristel Moreno) gusto ko silang mag-meet halfway. E, minsan maiksi ‘yung time, kaya,‘Isa pa!’Siguro mga 20 times silang nag-kiss sa gitna ng kalsada,” kwento pa ni Direk Mae.

Pagkatapos ng first episode ni Erik sa Maalaala Mo Kaya, would she encourage him na ipagpatuloy ang pag-arte? “Yes, I really would kasi it adds another dimension to him. And then, he has proven himself as a singer, e. Parang this is a new challenge for him and besides, he has the chops for it. So, I think he has potential. For a first timer parang that’s a feat na nagawa niya considering there’s time pressure. Kasi I was (pressured), kaya I asked for a session with them before going to Macau. Kasi ang hirap doon mag-workshop on the set and then, love pa ito. I had to make them meet, get to know each other kasi otherwise, ang hirap mag-getting-to-know sa Macau. We don’t have the time. Pero kami we were there ahead for the pre-production to peg the area. And before we started, kasi I’ve learned from experience ‘yung mga love stories, chemistry ‘yan, e. So, kunyari loveteam, kung loveteam na kayo it’s easy, e, ika-cast nila. E, nu’ng sinabi nila na Erik and Kristel, parang ako, number one I haven’t worked with them pa. Si Erik I have but hindi pa ‘yung sa TV or acting pa talaga. So, chemistry nilang dalawa, kailangan nilang mag-bond. And it will show on screen kung meron na silang bond, e.”

Prinessure ba niya si Erik sa set? “Hindi kasi nu’ng nakita ko siya nu’ng first day namin sa workshop parang nakakita ng multo, eh, hahaha! Namumutla talaga siya at nanlalaki ang eyes niya. Nu’ng pagpasok ko ng room nakita ko siya, e, normally I always see him naman sa mga ano we say hello, ‘yung mukha niya nu’ng nag-hello, ‘Hi, Direk.’ Parang putlang-putla siya. Tapos sabi ko, ‘Have you memorized it?’ Parang ano’ng nangyayari dito? Yun ang itsura niya.”

Mapapanood ang kauna-unahang episode ni Erik Santos with Kristel Moreno sa Maalaala Mo Kaya ngayong Sabado ng gabi sa ABS-CBN.

http://www.abs-cbn.com/Feature/Article/812…sue-acting.aspx

Showbuzz Feature

Erik Santos says his Maalala Mo Kaya episode is a big career challenge
by Julie Bonifacio | July 23, 2010 10:56 PM |

Sumabak na rin sa aktingan ang champion singer na si Erik Santos. Mapapanood siya for the first time sa Maalaala Mo Kaya sa direksyon ni Mae Cruz ngayong Sabado. Malaki ang pasasalamat ng singer sa direktor dahil grabe ang ginawang alalay nito sa isang baguhan na tulad niya pagdating sa acting.

Nakumbinse si Erik na sumabak na pag-arte dahil para masubukan niya kung may iba pa siyang kayang gawin bukod sa pag-awit. “Unang-una, feeling ko, gusto ko naman po’ng gumawa ng kumbaga, I want to try something new. Kasi puro ako singing, singing. Masasabi ko kaya ngayon lang kasi ‘yung readiness. E, feeling ko ngayon pwede na ring i-try kasi parang ako na lang ‘yung, sa mga kasabayan ko parang ako na lang ‘yung ‘di umaarte. Ako na lang ‘yung nagi-inarte na ayaw umarte, parang ganu’n. So, sabi ko, why not?”

Ayon kay Erik, ay hindi siya namili ng script kundi ang staff ng MMK ang nagbigay sa kanya ng kanyang role. “Hindi po. Sila ‘yung nagbigay ng materyal and binasa ko. Sabi ko, parang bagay kasi singer ’yung role. Pero more than that hindi pa ‘yung singer, e, kundi ‘yung struggle nu’ng character. ‘Yun po ‘yung na-challenge ako na, syempre po parang sa iba kung ang gagawa niyan mga batikan medyo madali. Pero po sa akin medyo challenging kasi kailangan po dapat natural sa TV tapos maka-deliver ka sa mga ano, e, marami po’ng iyak moments dito.”

Inalok na pala dati si Erik na gumanap sa MMK tulad na lang ng para sa kanyang life story noong pagkatapos ng kanyang pagkapanalo sa talent search na Star in a Million. “Meron po. Uh, unang-una ‘yung totoo ko pong story. ‘Yung lifestory ko and then love story din, kami dapat ni Mariel (Rodriguez). Tapos meron din po ‘yung parang anak ni Zsa Zsa Padilla, ‘yung mga ganun.” Feeling niErik kaya hindi siya tumuloy sa mga roles na iyon ay dahil naramdaman niya na hindi pa siya handa na sumabak sa mundo ng acting. “Hindi naman po sa tinanggihan ko. Pangit naman po kapag sinabing tinanggihan. Parang sino ba ako para tumanggi. Parang hindi pa po ako kasi ready na umarte.”

Kapareha ni Erik sa MMK ang young actress na si Kristel Moreno. And for the first time, napasubo agad si Erik sa kissing scenes with Kristel. Kumusta ang first kissing scene niya? “Masarap, hahaha! Nu’ng una kinakabahan po ako kasi first time po, e. Pero nu’ng ilang takes na, okey na. ‘Tsaka grabe po ang support na binigay sa akin ni Kristel.” Tatlo daw talaga ang babaeng nakasama ni Erik sa episode na ito. “Actually, tatlo po ang girls sa episode. Isa po rito si Paw Diaz. Hindi naman chickboy ‘yung role na ginampanan ko. Grabe lang po magmahal ‘yung character ko rito. So, siyempre isa sa elemento nang nagmamahal ka, syempre may kiss, ‘di ba? May mga hug-hug, ganyan. So, makikita ‘yun dito sa episode.”

This is not the first time na nagkasama sina Erik at Kristel. “Nagkasama na kami ni Kristel before. Siya ‘yung leading lady ko sa MV before, ‘yung ‘Kung Maalala Mo.’Tapos si Direk Mae naman ang nag-direk ng MV ko na ‘I Will never Leave You’ at ‘Balik sa Bayan’na pang award-winning music video. ‘Yung isa nanalo sa MYX, ‘yung isa nanalo sa Catholic Mass Media. At ang pinanalo po noon Best Music Video.”

Masaya daw si Erik sa resulta ng unang venture niya into acting. “Nag-enjoy po ako. Maybe because I got the support nina Direk Mae, si Kristel at mga kasama namin. ‘Tsaka walang pressure sa part ng MMK kasi sobrang cool. Parang sa ganu’ng kangarag na sitwasyon parang napaka-rare po na makakita ka ng ano, lalo na sa production, walang nagsisigawan, walang nagmamadali. Sobra pong ano, sobra po nilang cool. Nag-enjoy ako maybe because hindi ako na-pressure.” Does this mean ipapagpatuloy na niya na ang kanyang pag-arte? “Kung mabibigyan po ng tamang proyekto bakit po hindi? Kasi na-enjoy ko naman, e. Sana si Direk (Mae) pa rin ‘yung ano, siya na lang lagi. Hahaha! Teleserye? Kung mabibigyan po ng magandang proyekto, why not po?”

Kung papipiliin siya ng leading lady, sino ang kanyang top three choices? “Siyempre hindi na kasali si Kristel dahil naging leading lady ko na siya. Si Sarah (Geronimo) dahil seven years na kaming magkasama. So, mas komportable na kami sa isa’t isa. Ah, si Toni (Gonzaga) kasi sobra po kaming jive ‘yung ugali namin. And then, si Maja ( Salvador ) kasi sobrang galing po niya na umarte talaga.”

Panoorin ang episode ni Erik Santos ngayong Sabado sa Maalaala Mo Kaya pagkatapos ng Agimat.

http://www.abs-cbn.com/Feature/Article/812…challenge-.aspx