RATED R
ni Rommel Gonzales
MATAGUMPAY na aktor at congressman ng 1st District ng Quezon City si Arjo Atayde.
Paano ba siya nagkahilig sa politika, gayung hindi naman politiko ang mga magulang niyang sina Sylvia Sanchez at Art Atayde?
“We have relatives as well, si Tito Ralph Recto, we have my dad’s brother who’s been in Isabela also.
“Well, not much, but more than that, it’s one thing that we’ve been doing, maybe that’s close to public service which is obviously the foundations that we’ve put up that we’ve been helping for years, and na-trigger na rin po ‘yan ng pandemic because rather than staying home, hindi naman sa pagmamagaling, but I was actually part of my dad’s foundation.
“So we’re doing nothing at all and people were dying…”
Maraming natulungan noong kasagsagan ng pandemya ng COVID-19 si Congressman Arjo kahit wala pa siya sa puwesto sa gobyerno.
At kahit noong bata pa siya ay nagtsa-charity works na siya.
Lahad niya, “Yes po, iba-iba na rin po, our own na rin po ‘yun, of our own, kasi kahit sa probinsiya ni mommy.
“So I guess it’s nothing new to me, it’s just a way of having more funds and designating it to where it really belongs.
“To make sure that the people actually receive the full amount, the full services, that the government and all these agencies connected to the national government under the Congressional Office could be handed down to the people.”
Pero siguro noong bata ba siya ay naisip niyang puwedeng mag-artista pero hindi ang maging politiko?
“No… actually, that’s one of the things I actually thought about, sabi ko nga I wanted to be a senator.
“That’s one of the things I wanted when I was younger, but then obviously…pero of course now iba naman.
“Mas realistic naman po ako, hindi naman po ako ambitious, I’m ambitious up to a certain level of realism.
“I’ve been here, I can help for now, I have much to improve, I have much to learn, it’s not number one.
“One thing I learned about politics is more than the knowledge, it’s based on experience and years and years of experience.
“So definitely I’m keeping my focus, I’ve been working hand-in-hand with the best people, Mayor Joy Belmonte [ng QC], who’s the number one mayor of the Philippines, alam naman po natin ‘yan, with the way she works, data doesn’t lie.
“And she’s the reason why I’m here.
“So I’m very blessed to be surrounded by those type of leaders who have nothing but pure ambition to make the city better for the people.”
Ngayong Disyembre ay isasabay ni Arjo ang kanyang pagiging makabuluhang public servant sa kanyang papel bilang mahusay na aktor. Official entry sa 50th Metro Manila Film Festival sa December 25 ang pinagbibidahan niyang hardcore action/drama film na Topakk mula sa Nathan Studios, sa direksiyon ni Richard Somes.
Unang ipinalabas ang Topakk sa 78th Cannes Film Festival noong May 2023 at nag-premiere naman sa 76th Locarno Film Festival sa Switzerland nitong August 2023.
Nasa pelikula rin sina Julia Montes, Enchong Dee, Koko de Santos, Sid Lucero, at marami pang iba.
At base sa trailer ng Topakk, malaki ang laban ni Arjo na maging Best Actor sa MMFF.