DIRECTOR LINO CAYETANO hit it big in 2003 when he helmed the very first season of Starstruck on GMA-7 and it became a toprater.
It’s the batch of the artista search reality show that produced the most number of stars who really made a name in showbiz, like Jennylyn Mercado, Yasmien Kurdi, Cristine Reyes, Katrina Halili, Nadine Samonte and Mark Herras.
He then moved to ABS-CBN and helmed “Little Big Star” that launched the careers of Sam Concepcion and Charice Pempengco who’d later become Jake Zyrus.
He also did “Growing Up” that introduced the love team of Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo. On the big screen, he did the first movie of the Kim Chiu-Gerald Anderson love team, “I’ve Fallen for You”.
He also megged several hit teleseryes like “Mga Anghel na Walang Langit”, “Aryanna” and “Noah”.
He then went into politics and became the congressman of Taguig from 2013 to 2016, then its mayor from 2019 to 2022.
His sister in law, Lani, signified she wanted to run again for mayor so he gave way in the last elections. And so now, he is free to return to showbiz.
“Actually, I never really left as I am part of a production company and content creator, Rein Entertainment, that started in 2017,” he says.
“We produced the socio-political TV series ‘Bagman’ with writer-directors Shugo Prayco and Philip King and it won the best actor award for title-roler Arjo Atayde in the Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2020. It’s still being shown on Netflix.”
Looks like he just cannot leave entertainment that easily.
“Yes, because entertainment is just as influential as politics. It has the power to shape thoughts and opinions, ask questions, challenge and provoke popular opinion.
"I believe we are in the cusp of an entertainment industry revolution. It has already started and we are in the most exciting part, the return to glory of Filipino filmmaking and entertainment!”
Rein Entertainment is all set to make its presence felt with several projects.
For WeTV, they did the youth-oriented drama-mystery “Section Saint Valentine: The Disappearance of Divine” starring Royce Cabrera and Arielle Roces directed by Philip King and “BetCin”, an LGBTQ romcom with Kylie Padilla and Andrea Torres directed by Shugo Praico.
They’re now showing in various regions worldwide.
They have started shooting a new movie, “Nananahimik ang Gabi”, a different kind of May-December romance with Ian Veneracion and Heaven Peralejo, written and directed by Praico.
“Rein is partnering not only with established networks and industry leaders for co-production and collaboration, but also with private investors who are willing to produce movies and TV series,” adds Direk Lino who used to sport long hair and a hunky physique during his Starstruck days.
Now, he says he sports a dad bod and is also slowly losing his crown of lush brown hair, but he remains very good looking. It’s all okay by him since, at 43, he is now a certified dad to one son, Ino, 8 years old, and two girls, Renee, 5 and Lily, 3. His wife, Fille Cainglet, continues to be active as a volleyball player.
He says by the end of this year, he intends to go back to directing and will make his own movie.
“I’m excited kasi my experiences as a congressman and as a mayor, madadala ko rito sa industry. I want to help the industry and I want us to be recognized internationally para ang puso’t isip natin bilang Pilipino, mai-share natin sa buong mundo.
"Our writers and directors are as good as those of Korea and the U.S. We just have to give them more time and more money to refine their materials.”
Since he’s going back to directing, would he be willing to direct KC Concepcion who was once linked to him?
“Oh yes, friends kami ni KC and I hope maging successful yung movie na ginagawa niya sa U.S.”
