Former matinee idol and now film and concert director Rowell Santiago felt very privileged na makasama sa box office hit movies na A Very Special Love and You Changed My Life. Pero sinabi nito na malaking factor si Cathy Garcia-Molina kung bakit siya pumayag na bumalik sa pag-arte. “It took some time bago ako nagbalik pelikula. Last movie ko yata ay 14 years ago and I have made up my mind to be a director. And what made me change my mind. Mahabang kuwento,” natatawang umpisa nito. “Napanuod ko minsan ‘yong pelikula nina Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga.  Naaliw ako. Ibang atake ng direktor.  And I become curious about Cathy Garcia-Molina then. So  noong ininvite akong maging member ng cast sa A Very  Special Love, and later when I found out na siya ang magdidirek nito, I  really said yes. Gusto ko siyang makilala.”

Rowell was offered to play John Lloyd Cruz’s older brother in A Very Special Love and he found the character too strict. So he made a little request about the character’s personality kay Direk Cathy. “So I requested something, Ako ang nagsulat ng draft. Umoo naman siya (meaning Cathy). Ang result? There that scene of forgiveness. Gusto ko naman na may little softness ang character ko.” Rowell also suggested another idea to Direk Cathy sa You Changed My Life since “Kuya Art” will be getting a love life of his own. “Nagulat kasi ako. Humaba ng konti ang role ko at may love angle na si Art.  Alam kung mahirap makuha si Mikee Cojuangco. Pero we needed someone who is fresh, someone different. So I told them na ako na ang bahala kay Mikee.” But sad to say, it might be Rowell’s last appearance in a movie. “May offer pero I know what my priority is, directing.” Katatapos lang niyang i-direct sina Martin at Pops in their recent concert at the Araneta. 

When asked why he hasn’t married yet, smile ang unang isinagot sa ABS-CBN.com ng director. “Darating din tayo diyan.” Other reporters started to tease him na ang ibang na-link sa kanya ay nagsipagasawa na tulad nina Pops Fernandez at Sharon Cuneta. Bigla itong nag-react at nakatawang sinabi, “At mga hiwalay na rin.” Speaking of Sharon, hindi ba siya binigyan ng offer to play KC Concepcion’s father sa kanyang mga projects? “Actually there was an offer. Pero I couldn’t picture myself in said role.” We suggested na baka Lovers in Paris ito at tumanggi naman si Rowell. “At di ko kaya ang tuloy tuloy na puyatan. Teleserye yon. Dito at least sa pelikula me hinto.”