Krista Ranillo Treats Sexy Roles As A "Blessing"

Actress Krista Ranillo feels inspired and is raring to make the most of her showbiz comeback. Four years after taking a sabbatical to complete her Interdisciplinary Studies major in Communication and Psychology degree at the Ateneo de Manila University, Krista now finds herself inundated with projects ranging from television, movie, and product endorsements.

Leaving showbiz, according to Krista, was a conscious decision on her part back then.

"Actually kasi, mahilig naman talaga ako mag-aral kahit nung bata pa ko and then I really wanted to finish college, and then I asked for a sign. Sabi ko, ‘Ay naku, kung matanggap ako sa Ateneo it means na, sige I'll quit showbiz first and then we'll see na lang what happens after.' Kasi after naman, I'll have a degree. If I can't make naman a comeback, I can [still] do something else," she told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an interview held earlier today, December 8, at Circle Café on Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

Despite the fact that she was determined to make good of her promise, Krista confessed feeling anxious every time she would switch on the TV dial to watch local shows. The possibility of failing to make a comeback was a thing she embraced and dreaded at the same time.

"Grabe talaga 'yong fear everytime I'd watch TV," recalled Krista. "Sabi ko, ‘Ay ‘yon pala 'yong na-offer sa ‘kin. Sayang, dapat sa ‘kin pala ‘yong role na ‘yan.' Pero at the back of my mind, inisip ko na lang na, ‘Hindi, ito talaga ang kailangan, siguro mag-aaral na lang ako para may masabi din ako na nakatapos din naman ako.'"

DADDY'S GIRL.
Krista's return was actually announced with a simultaneous change of image. Many were surprised to see Krista flaunting her sexy body on the cover of FHM Philippines last August, which at the same time signaled the end of her absence in show business.

The decision was met with positive response coming from close friends, fans, and immediate family members. She said, "Actually the most supportive person siguro is my lola, my grandma, parang she was telling ‘Wow! Ang ganda ng FHM mo! Maganda ‘yan, gawin mo ‘yan.'"

Krista's father, Mat Ranillo III, however, exhibited reservations in seeing her beloved daughter assume a more matured image far from what she left behind four years ago.

"My dad talaga, I mean I understand why he feels that way, na meron siyang... Siguro he feels protective of me. Ang hirap kasi kay Daddy, parang he wants to support me and he wants to protect me at the same time. And being in showbiz, na alam talaga niya kung ano ‘yong mga intriga na lalabas or ‘yong image mo..

"Kasi sometimes ang nakakahinayang din is kunwari you have a role on TV or in film, when you go out, people think you are that person. Kunwari dito sa Pieta, nagpapa-sexy ako. They feel na, ‘Ay naku, baka malandi ‘yan kasi nagpapa-sexy.' But it's not like that because it's just a character, it's just a role that we play, that we do because of work."

GOING DARING.
Speaking of Pieta—ABS-CBN's boobtube adaptation of the Carlo J. Caparas's classic komiks series—Krista enthused how pleasantly surprised she was when the project suddenly landed on her lap.

"'Yong Pieta, matagal kong nalaman, parang ako ‘yong last cast member na napasok sa show and then parang hindi pa talagang nasabi na, ‘Uy, ikaw na!' parang ganyan. So ayoko naman mag-assume na ako na, pero ‘yon nga, nag-research na ako, napanood ko ‘yong film nga, ‘yong original film."

It was a challenge to portray the character of Martha, the role originally played by Ms. Body Beautiful Vivian Velez in the 1983 big-screen adaptation of Pieta. Krista knew Vivian personally, having worked together a few years back in the soap series, Rio del Mar.

"She [Vivian Velez] played my mom sa Rio del Mar, ‘yong soap na ang tagal-tagal kong ginawa. Siguro mga two and a half years, so talagang kilala ko si Ms. Vivian Velez inside and out. We always talk kasi nung bata pa ako and it's an honor to play her role. Tapos maganda pa na maraming nagsu-support sa Pieta, marami talagang nag-aabang kung ano'ng susunod na mangyayari.

Even the Ranillos are big fans of the series as what Krista proudly offered. "They really like it kasi modernized na siya, e, parang ‘yong sa movie. I guess lumabas lang siya within the first week of the soap. So after that, iba na ‘yong istorya, e, so natutuwa sila. Even my family in the States, talagang nanonood sila. Daddy ko, siya pa ‘yong nagti-tape ng Pieta every day, I mean siya ‘yong nagri-record kasi gustong gusto niya nga."

Playing the role of Martha requires Krista to go sexy although the amiable young actress clarified that accepting such role is still on a "per project" basis, meaning that she's still cautious not to be identified solely as a "sexy actress."

"Well, doon sa pagpapa-sexy, I take it per project pa rin. Like with Paupahan [an indie film Krista starred in] naman, it wasn't parang full-blown sexy kasi wala nga akong love scene, wala akong kissing scene. I guess it was more of ‘yong language. Kasi, you know, ‘yong profanity, ‘yong character ko, mura nang mura.

"And then ito naman with Pieta, medyo nag-sexy din ako. Pero kasi naman 'yong original, si Ms Vivian Velez ang nag-play and kailangan talaga sa story. So hindi naman na parang inisip ko na sexy all the way, pero ito 'yong nabibigay sa aki. So blessing pa rin 'to. It's still work and it's still what I want to do so tinatanggap ko pa rin."

~BONG GODINEZ