By Carissa Alcantara
Multi-awarded showbiz personality Charo Santos-Concio has encouraged young actors and producers to work hard in pursuing their dreams.
"You follow your heart, you pursue that dream, pero kasama niyan is a lot of hard work and a lot of commitment. One should never feel entitled, the world doesn't owe us anything. Tayo ang dapat magbalik ng blessings sa mundo," said Charo when asked to give advice to actors and producers who want to make it big in showbiz during an appearance on "TicTalk with Aster Amoyo" on YouTube recently.
Known for her iconic role in the 1981 film "Kisapmata," Charo opened up about her journey in achieving her dreams.
Charo took up communication arts at St. Paul University Manila. But she was forced to shift to nursing due to Martial Law.
But after three years of studying nursing, Charo switched back to communication arts and graduated with high honors.
"We started work in hospitals. Pagdating dun I realized that I'm not cut out for nursing, parang tinatawag ako ng field of entertainment, so I decided to shift back to communication arts," Charo mentioned.
After landing her first film, "Itim," Charo worked as an actress for five years. She also observed how people worked behind the camera.
From becoming an actress to a full-time producer, Charo also worked on independent films with Simon Ongpin, and Experimental Cinema of The Philippines with Senator Imee Marcos.
She also spent two years working as a creative head under Regal Films.
"Malawak 'yung experience ko sa production kasi from the classics, Kisapmata, Himala, and Oro Plata Mata, I was there with the biggest hits of Regal Films," Charo said.
Leaving Regal Films allowed Charo to grow as a producer. When she joined ABS-CBN, she became a production manager. Years later, she was appointed as the first female president of the network in 2008.
She handled several projects and made improvements that have opened greater and better opportunities on ABS-CBN. "Iba ang binibigay sa akin ng pagiging production person, from the germ of an idea, nakikita mo umusbong ito, you give life to it hanggang nakikita mo siya sa big screen. So it gives me a sense of fulfillment."
Watch the full interview here: