Ben Madilynn
Walong theater actors ang mga bagong artists na ipinakilala ng Star Magic sa special launching nung October 16, 2024, na ginanap sa Coffee Project sa Sct. Tobias, Quezon City.
Sila ay sina Meanne Espinosa, Teetin Villanueva, Miah Canton, Vyen Villanueva, Lance Reblando, Jude Hinumdum, Vino Mabalot, and Julia Santiago.
After the panel interview, nakausap ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Julia Melisande Santiago.
Ayon kay Julia, yun ang kanyang full name niya, “My screen name is just Julia Santiago. We’re trying it out.”
Sa tanong kung ilang taon na siya, “Twenty-four po ngayon, pero yung birthday ko po is coming up ng October 30, so mag-25 na po,” nakangiting sagot ni Julia.
Sa mga hindi pa kilala si Julia, she is an actor, singer, content creator, and host.
JULIA SANTIAGO AS A THEATER ACTRESS
She made her theatrical debut in Full House Theater Company’s Ang Huling El Bimbo.
“Professionally po, just El Bimbo so far, and then recently po nagka-workshop ang PETA, ang kasama ko po dun yung ibang nasa Tabing Ilog like si Sheena Belarmino at si Vivoree.”
How was she discovered?
“I tried out professionally sa theater, sa Ang Huling El Bimbo, and then parang I kept auditioning po.
“And then may narinig po ako from a relative of mine na naghahanap po ng bagong artists sa Star Magic so nakapag-go-see po ako with Direk Lauren [Dyogi] .
“Ayun po, I think the go-see went well naman so natuloy na po siya.”
Narito ang ilan sa mga theatre credits na nagawa ni Julia before makasama siya sa Ang Huling El Bimbo: Ateneo Blue Repertory’s First Date (Casey, 2022), Ateneo’s Obra Maestra (Cecilia, 2022), f(r)iction (Audrey, 2021), The Theory of Relativity (Sara, 2019), CARRIE: The Musical (Norma, 2018), Tanghalang Dulaang Sibol’s Ang Paglilitis ni Serapio (Unang Pilay, 2018), and Sino Ba Kayo? (Donya Marcela, 2017).
Julia also received the Loyola Schools Award for the Arts in Theatre Performance for her contributions to both live and online theater within the university.
She graduated cum laude from the Ateneo De Manila University’s AB Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
“Sa Ateneo po ako gumraduate, I took interdisciplinary studies so it’s a course po where you can combine two courses so I combined Communication and Theater Arts. Talagang para po dito, sumakto.”
JULIA SANTIAGO AS A STAR MAGIC TALENT
Perfect timing ang pagpasok niya sa Star Magic.
Aniya, “It was a bit of a dark time in my life kasi parang I wasn’t really able to show my full potential as a performer.
“So when this came along, sabi ko puwede pa pala, people see something in me. I think it’s really just the assurance na if I keep working, may mararating din ako.”
Bakit nga ba gusto ni Julia na maging artista?
“Actually, I stumbled upon it lang po kasi when I did theater in college, akala ko po talaga na that would be the end, like, ‘Okay, this is just for fun now, I’ll do a more serious career in the future.’
“Pero kasi po nagpa-audition yung Ang Huling El Bimbo, sabi ko, ‘Okay, ginagawa ko na ito so let’s just try’ and nakuha ako.
“I just got addicted talaga na parang I couldn’t not perform anymore so ayun I tried out around sa theater and then na-realize ko na parang that’s quite limiting for me as a person.
“So when the opportunity for Star Magic came along, talagang growing up naman po, I would watch a lot of teleseryes, sinusubaybayan ko po talaga yung mga ibang artista dito, it just felt right.”
What was the biggest challenge na pinagdaanan niya?
“Ang sa akin, laging challenge, I love to say it, yung dancing talaga, that is really my weakness as a performer. Naitatawid naman when it comes to big groups. I try my best.
“I try to attend workshops, pero yun talaga yung that’s where I feel super discouraged pagdating sa mga productions.
“Parang it really gets me down kasi obviously ang gagaling po talaga nung mga iba naming kasama, like trained po sila.
“So parang may medyo inferior feeling that comes up with it, pero they’re very encouraging so they helped me out,
“They make me feel na parang hindi naman ako bano, it just needs some work.”
IS THERE PRESSURE?
Kapag sinabing galing sa theater or stage actor, ang impression ng marami ay magaling na actor.
Nakakadagdag pressure ba ito sa pagganap nila sa isnag role?
Sagot niya, “Yes, super akong nacha-challenge like yung sa last production ko sa Ang Huling El Bimbo, ano po talaga yun super intense nung choreography.
“And talagang lagi akong, like ang bagal ko kasing matuto ng choreo so tipong sila nagmu-move on tapos ako parang mine-memorize ko pa.
“I feel fortunate na they trust me enough to give me these roles kahit na meron ngang discrepancy, I say, sa skill level versus like yung output na kailangan.
“But it’s something na I’m really working towards being better at.
“Anything can be learned, I think, there’s nothing I’m uncomfortable with naman. I like to put myself out there even if it’s scary.”
LOVE TEAM, CRUSHES, screen idols
Sa mundo ng television or big screen especially sa mga bagong artist, isa sa mga way para makikala or sumikat ay ang pagkakaroon ng love team.
Kung bibigyan siya ng ka-love team, sino ang gusto ni Julia?
Ang kinikilig niyang sagot, “Oh my gosh! I’m not sure.. parang kailangan pareho kaming fresh para may element of surprise.”
Isa rin sa mga laging tanong lalo na sa mga baguhan, e, kung mayroon ba silang celebrity crush?
Bulalas ni Julia, “Oh my gosh! Meron at meron din naman po. Well, baka po kasi lagot ako sa boyfriend ko kung sasabihin ko, e.
“Pero actually po, mas ano ko po yung hanga lalo na po like kay Nadine Lustre, yun po yung masasabi kong girl crush ko po talaga, like her talent and saka yung pagka-savvy niya sa business, and, yeah, yung kagandahan niya in general.”
Isa sa mga hinahangan din ni Julia ay ang tambalang DonBelle nina Donny Pangilinan at Belle Mariano.
“Well, I’ll admit po na I don’t really watch as much as I can because schedule is super busy, but I see their content on social media.
“May napanood po ako from their first series, yung He’s Into Her, it’s all just super feel good na…that’s the best kind of content na meron tayo as a country, I guess.
“You’ll really appreciate and enjoy na enjoy natin yung feel-good, kilig, and I’ve never done anything like that po kasi nga puro mga dark roles yung naibibigay sa akin.
“So parang medyo dream ko rin po yung makasama sa rom-com, maybe not as the bida but like alam mo yung magnanakaw ng boyfriend or something.”
Mayroon ba siyang bilang artista?
Ani Julia, “Baka nga po si Ms. Nadine. Her trajectory, it feels very natural and parang ngayon she’s really found her niche in the industry. Yun, it’s very nice to see.”
May TV or movie project na ba siya?
“Wala pa po. Of course, that is something I’m really excited for po talaga.
“Parang to try out yung sa screen acting since it’s a different skill po talaga than theater.”
ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Tinanong din si Julia about sa isyu ng mga sexual harassment, lalo na’t bago siya sa mundo ng showbiz, paano niya iha-handle yung ganong bagay?
Mahaba ang sagot ng dalaga:
“As a woman po, it is something na I’m very aware of that happens, I’ve had some experiences that can almost…luckily enough, nothing has happened.
“And I like to think na I can set my own boundaries.
“Obviously, it’s very different lalo na po may mga nagpi-freeze in certain situations, you really can’t help it.
“But I’m lucky na I am surrounded by people that will really hear me out and will validate anything that I’m feeling, any time that I’m uncomfortable.
“So, it’s just something na I’m aware of and I try to very critical of since, not to ano, but it’s something to expect so hopefully with the knowledge of that, maiiwasan din po siya.
“But you really can’t blame anyone if it happens to them, ‘di ba?”
Sa bandang huli, ang payo niya: Maging maingat na lang.
Pagtatapos ni Julia.“Opo, pero minsan talaga hindi mo nari-realize na may nangyayari na.
“It’s to move forward and find a community and not be afraid to speak up if anything happens.”
