RICHARD YAP has no regrets about his transfer to GMA 7.
At the zoom presscon for his latest assignment, the “On My Way to You” episode of the primetime hit drama anthology, “I Can See You”, he says he really felt the warm welcome with open arms that GMA Network gave to him.
“Akala ko, maninibago ako, but there was no adjustment period at all,” he says.
“I never felt uncomfortable kasi everyone’s so warm, so welcoming sa first taping ko pa lang for ‘Dear Uge’. They never made you feel na galing ka sa kabila at naging maganda agad ang rapport ko sa lahat. Hindi lang sa cast but everyone involved in the production.”
He said it didn’t take him very long to decide to move to GMA Network.
“Una muna kasi, they invited me to guest in ‘Eat Bulaga’, then I did a movie, ‘Luis Loves Luisa’, with Kapuso stars Ken Chan and Rita Daniela.
"E, saan pa ba naman ako pupunta after ABS-CBN lost its franchise, di sa GMA na, kasi mas established na talaga sila.”
What was the reaction of his fans when he allowed his and his wife Melody’s love story to be dramatized in “Magpakailanman”?
“Okay naman. No negative reactions. Folks are just happy na napanood nila ang life story namin ng wife ko on TV. I’m glad a lot people liked it.”
The past year 2020 was a difficult one for all. How was he affected by the pandemic?
“My businesses really suffered, lalo na yung restaurants ko. Some were closed down for a while and when we’re slowly recovering, heto tumaas uli ang surge ng cases at naghigpit na naman.
"I’m one with everyone in praying na matapos na sana itong pandemic. I also put up my own vlog so that my supporters can still see me and get updated about my activities.
"Isang na-miss namin ng family ko is traveling. Lalo na ngayon, summer na naman, we usually go abroad, but now, maraming restrictions so we cannot do it.”
What’s his role in “On My Way to You” of “I Can See You” that starts airing on Monday night, replacing "Love of My Life"?
“I play the dad of Ruru Madrid. I get worried when he gets depressed kasi iniwan siya ng girlfriend niya, si Arra San Agustin.
"Buti na lang at dumating naman si Shaira Diaz para maaliw siya. It’s about letting go and moving on, as directed by Mark Reyes.”
His next project is a teleserye with Heart Evangelista to be shot in Sorsogon, “I Left My Heart in Sorsogon”. They’re supposed to start taping in April but with the pandemic raging again, maybe it would have to be postponed.
He has done mostly teleseryes but he says he’d be happy to try doing comedy.
“I’ve been a fan of ‘Bubble Gang’ for a long time now,” he says. “I’d like to get the chance to work with Michael V.”
