Arzen Rose Dulzura

EXCLUSIVE: Jeffrey Santos on why he doesn’t mind kontrabida roles: ‘I got paid to be bad’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>When he’s not busy playing a convincing bad guy onscreen or any of the numerous roles he’s had throughout the years, actor Jeffrey Santos talks about his other passions off camera. Jeffrey talks to <strong>PUSH ABS-CBN </strong>about how he has come a long way from his days as a teen matinee idol as a member of the popular 90s variety show <em>That’s Entertainment </em>and how he’s still in touch with his former love team partner Ana Roces. </p><p>“Yes, we have a group chat, Tuesday group, and everybody’s there. So yes, we’re still in touch. I think yung (1990) movie namin ni Anna, <em>Lessons in Love</em> (yung favorite ko). Doon nabuo yung love team namin. After that, lipat-lipat na ako ng love team. I also had movies with Aiko (Melendez), Carmina (Villarroel), Jackie Forster, Sunshine Cruz, and Ruffa (Gutierrez). So marami talagang ikot. Now, I got paid to be bad (laughs),” he told PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview during Dawn Chang’s pickleball birthday tournament event held earlier this month. </p><p>Although he is known more as an actor, Jeffrey revealed what he has also been busy with when he’s not in front of the camera. </p><p>“I’m a rescue volunteer. Every now and then, I volunteer my skills sa rescue operations, or sometimes I teach rescue, basic water safety, basic first aid, BLS CPR. Naging professor din ako sa FEU for NSTP. I do a lot of things. I’m into biking, mountaineering, scuba diving, rock climbing. Ito, latest pickleball. I still do basketball. I haven’t tried golf, pero malamang doon na rin papunta dahil sa age. The more extreme the sport, mas nakakasama ko yung daughter ko. The more relaxed the sport, mas kasama ko si misis. We’re into running, brisk walking, badminton, and now pickleball. Sa sports na nakakapagod but not too much on the knees, doon kami. With my daughter, we go mountaineering, camping, bouldering,” he shared. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1EtTZuSZcZ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A17425042.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Also another unavoidable connection to Jeffrey is his younger sister Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, who has been vocal about sharing a close relationship with him. </p><p>When asked what people would be surprised to find out about his sibling, Jeffrey says, “That she’s also into extreme sports. She was my partner in bouldering, rock climbing, and scuba diving. Onscreen, nagkasama na rin kami. We did <em>Puso Ko Ingatan Ka</em>, M<em>ara Clara</em>, and two movies — one action and one drama. So far, wala pang bagong projects together. Pero mahirap kasi pag magkasama kami, kasi pag nagsimula kaming tumawa, mahirap na mag-maintain ng eksena. Kaya minsan, cameo or guesting na lang.”</p><p>Having done a variety of roles that has tested his talents, Jeffrey admitted he would love to be part of a project with a lot of social significance. “Something that would change a generation’s mindset. Something that would show that entitlement is not a privilege but earned respect. Something that would cause a ripple,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/nagaapoynadamdamin/articles-news/jeffrey-santos-exceptional-moments-20270"><strong><u>READ: Jeffrey Santos’ exceptional moments in “Nag-aapoy na Damdamin”</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Having been happily married to his non-showbiz wife Ynna for the past 21 years, Jeffrey admitted that the secret to their lasting relationship has always been respect. “We know when to say what to say. We don’t get in each other’s way, except when you need to put your foot down. We try to compensate for each other’s flaws. If I’m not at my 90%, she gives the 90%. If she’s not at her 90%, I give my 90%. Yung 10% na tinatabi mo, para sa partner mo yun,” he advised. </p><p>This year, the 55-year-old actor joins the growing list of celebrities who have gotten hooked on the growing sport of pickleball. “I picked up the sport kasi yung brother-in-law ko was into it. Brother-in-law ko sa wife ko. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Kuya, try niyo.‘ So we tried it. Mahirap namang mag-invest agad kung hindi ka pa marunong. So right now, kami ni misis, we’re enjoying the game. Sabay kami nag-start. So walang lamangan. Magandang cardio, magandang bonding. Pang-alis siya ng stress, definitely. Now I understand kung bakit ‘yung iba, may mga nakasama ako sa taping na excited matapos ng maaga kasi hahabol pa sila ng laro at 11 in the evening. So there must be something to it. Now I understand. Ngayon I’m having fun. I think the more I learn, the more competitive I’ll get. Sa ngayon kasi I have to accept na hindi ko kayang ipasok agad. Kasi if I don’t laugh at my mistakes, masisira agad yung paddle,” he said. </p>

<p>Actor Jeffrey Santos talks about his journey from being part of a love team as a teen matinee idol to becoming known as one of the country’s most effective kontrabidas onscreen.</p>

Actor Jeffrey Santos talks about his journey from being part of a love team as a teen matinee idol to becoming known as one of the country’s most effective kontrabidas onscreen.