He first caught our attention as the supportive brother Mackie through his Kapamilya debut in the 2016 daytime drama Be My Lady. He then appeared in a slew of Ipaglaban Mo episodes before astounding with his notable performance as the deranged and obsessed Arnaldo Ardiente in the controversial primetime series Wildflower in 2017.
A year after, he once again showed off his antagonistic flair by playing the scheming David Garcia in the Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Araw Gabi. He then proved his versatility and brilliance as an actor through his remarkable stints as the handicapped surfer Harry Marzan and the HIV victim Rey in the “Surfboard” and “Teddy Bear” episodes, respectively, of Maalaala Mo Kaya.
And this 2019, he’s about to enthrall us once more with another sure-fire portrayal as Michael Villaluna in the upcoming soap opera Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit.
Exciting role
Considered as his nicest character to date after playing distraught, baddie roles in his previous television projects, RK Bagatsing opened up in his recent interview with ABS-CBN.com Entertainment how his current role excites him as it serves as the fulfillment to the ‘change’ he has been yearning for.
“Ako I was very excited no’ng nalaman kong meron silang binigay na role sa akin – the role of Michael –kasi for the past two series na ginawa ko, kontrabida, baliw. I’ve always been honest sa kanila na I’ve wanted to change it. So no’ng nakuha ko ‘yong role, nalaman ko na mabait ‘yong character ko, sabi ko, ‘I guess ito ‘yong change na hinahanap ko’. So I was very excited [and l’m] looking forward to it,” he enthused.
Besides, he implied as well that this is the closest character to his heart because they shared a lot of similarities when it comes to their personality.
“Ang character ni Michael, medyo mas grounded siya kaysa do’n sa mga previous na ginawa ko na role so maraming characteristics si RK at Michael [na parehas]. Of course, ang number one d’yan is ‘yong pagmamahal ko sa pamilya ko,” he said.
Breather from kontrabida roles
At the same, this ‘breather’ to his kontrabida image also brought a new challenge to him as an actor, which he’s able to manage by reminding himself that he is now a morally upright protagonist.
“Ako naman challenge din kasi coming from a kontrabida role, ang sarap ng nambubully ka ng bida. Ang sarap magkontrabida. Now, may mga times na, as Michael na mabait, ikaw ‘yong inaapi. And somehow at the back of your mind, ang sarap sumagot,” he said with utmost enthusiasm as he seemed to not get over yet in doing Arnaldo and David. “Pero syempre nando’n ka sa parameters na mabait kang tao, ‘yong values ng character mo, medyo I need to work on it pa. Sobrang different niya kasi nakita n’yo naman ‘yong 360 degrees [turn], complete turn talaga. From masama to mabait.”
As what we have mentioned above, RK will play the dutiful Michael, one of the scions of the Villaluna family who will fall in love to Ella (Kaye Abad), the lovechild of the patriarch of their rival clan, the Salvadors. Their romance will go against all odds, until he was jailed after being accused of killing their heir during an encounter that ensued to his parting of ways with Ella. Unbeknownst to him, his ladylove already succumbed to leukemia and left him with an adorable kid named Mikmik (Sophia Reola) who he’s going to look for as soon as he is emancipated.
On playing a daddy
Since this is his first paternal role for a series, we quizzed the 30-year-old seasoned actor on how he feels about it.
“I guess being an actor kasi you have to be open into playing any character. Ando’n lang naman ‘yong stigma na natatakot ang ibang actors to play that role kasi they might be pegged as ‘o, matanda na ‘yan’. But you know in real life, may mga bata namang tatay or may matandang tatay so it’s up to you kung anong interpretation ang gagawin mo. But I’m very happy. Like I said, ang career ko naman is not really pegged as the typical path of an actor so ‘yong mga hihindian nilang role, I’m willing to take it,” he boldly imparted.
He then went to disclose the preparations he did in order to portray Michael as compelling as what he did in the past roles he took on, by telling us that he simply opened his mind and heart to anything that could help him.
“Binasa ko ‘yong script and then binasa ko nang paulit-ulit and see somehow kung paano siya magiging related sa pagkatao mo as RK. So at the same time no’ng nasa set na, you came there with an open mind and open heart [na] open to anything na pwedeng makatulong sa’yo, like sa direktor namin. And of course, open to work with your co-actors and give and receive whatever necessary do’n sa mga scenes namin,” he said.
Must-watch
In the slew of programs we have at the present, RK assures that Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit is definitely a must-watch since everyone will undoubtedly relate to it because we Filipinos grew up in the culture of “close family ties” and this is what this series is going to present to the viewers.
“Iba ang pagmamahal natin sa family natin and Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit is all about family. It’s all about your love for your mother, your father, your brother, and kung may anak ka, ‘yon ‘yon e. Regardless kung nasaan ka sa estado ng buhay mo or ano’ng sitwasyon [mo], I bet somewhere along do’n sa story makaka-relate ka and maybe may matutunan ka, maybe meron kang mapulot na aral [na] pwede mong gawin sa buhay mo,” he stated.
Then he added, “ABS-CBN is all about family kaya nga Kapamilya e, so lahat ng mga Kapamilya natin e makaka-relate sa Nang Ngumiti ang Langit so we are very excited na mapanood ng mga tao ‘to.”
Brace yourselves as we witness another must-see and remarkable performance from RK Bagatsing on Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit, soon on ABS-CBN!