‘I Take Everything as It Comes’: Agot Isidro Looks Back on 35 Years in Show Business

It’s been almost two decades since Agot Isidro last stepped onstage to sing, the actress tells Rolling Stone Philippines, but her upcoming birthday concert, “The Story of A.I.” (her initials, not “artificial intelligence”), will see her return to live music. “I’m turning 60, so [the concert] is a retrospective of my career and also my life. And it’s a good comeback after almost 18 years of not singing onstage,” she says.

Between preparations for the concert, Isidro has also been taking on acting gigs. Two of her upcoming projects are Netflix originals: Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon, a family drama film to be released on August 13, and the horror-mystery mini-series Balaraw: Blood Island, which comes out on September 24.

When asked about doing projects for international distribution, Isidro says, “I’m really proud. But when you’re doing it, you’re not thinking about that. You’re just doing the work. But mas mabusisi sila than regular projects, and that’s exciting.”

Isidro has always been a woman of range, starting as a backup singer on The Sharon Cuneta Show in 1990 before becoming a host on the Sunday variety show Sa Linggo nAPO Sila. Since then, she’s taken on various roles in comedy, romance, horror, and action films and shows. Being a singer and actress, she has also naturally dabbled in theater, with the 2003 musical Honk! and 2004’s Baby The Musical.

Her extensive filmography has earned her various awards, such as the New Wave Best Actress award at the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival for Mga Anino ng Kahapon, and the Best Actress at the 2018 FAMAS Awards for Changing Partners. Despite the impressive accolades, Isidro tells us she’s lost out on some projects due to her candor when it comes to politics. “You get nasty comments, you get nasty reactions. They don’t want that,” she says. “But lately hindi naman ganoon. The tides have turned.”

Ahead of “The Story of A.I.,” to be held on July 17 and 18 at the BGC Arts Center, Isidro talks to Rolling Stone Philippines about recent political controversies, enduring scrutiny in the entertainment industry, and who she thinks the next National Artists should be.

I’m sure you’ve learned a lot over the span of your career. Can you share some of the challenges that you had to deal with, especially when you were younger?

I’m not a nepo baby, so wala akong background in the business at all. It was really just speculative, ‘yung tipong “Sige, let’s try this.” And then I just kept going and wala akong [idea that] I have to be better, I have to be good at this. Wala akong ganoon in the beginning. I was just really trying to have fun.

I was 26 and also earning better money than most at that time, so sige. And then, after a while, it became part of my system. And sabi ko, “Sige, ayusin ko na.” Hindi naman acting school, but at least be more serious with acting. And I also began liking it, so I became serious with it. It really started out as just fun.

Was there ever a moment or project that made you want to quit the business?

Nothing like that. Merong mga challenges along the way. I had a director, maayos na director, batikan, [who] kind of put me down, and I was just starting out. Siguro pangatlong pelikula ko pa lang. “Kala mo kung sino ka.”

Hindi ako ‘yung parang nagbibida doon. Hindi ako nagpapaimportante. I really just keep to myself. Until now naman, ganoon pa rin. [I thought] “Where is this coming from?” So, that’s her issue, not mine. But, siyempre, at that time, parang “Man, ang sakit nun.” I talked to my manager, and he said, “Let’s pull out na lang from the film.”

Sabi ko, “Yeah, it’s not going to be…” Parang traumatized ako. Traumatized. I questioned my ability [as an actor]. ‘Yung parang, “Maybe acting is not for me. I’ll just stick to singing. I’ll just stick to hosting. Comedy-comedy na lang.”

It took a while for me to get back. It took Joel Lamangan. There was another film na parang “Just prove yourself.” May mga ganoon namang mga supportive ones. There’s someone who’ll cut you down and someone who’ll lift you up.

Do you still experience that feeling of being “cut down”?

Not anymore. Or maybe I don’t know about it. Maybe behind my back, or the casting couch. Hindi mo na alam when they talk about you. So wala na, and I know how to deal with it already.

So what’s the key to sustaining a career in such a volatile industry, given that experience?

I accept everything. Siguro the only time I will not accept is when may conflict sa schedule. But most of the time, I am open to work. That’s how you also gain experience, and kalyo, from just pushing, pushing, pushing to work.

What kind of projects excite you?

Lately, I’ve been doing really quirky, quirky characters. Good din, kasi masaya, especially to play around — well, not “play,” because it’s really work. But I like it.

You’ve done teleseryes, comedies, dramas — you’ve done it all. What was the most challenging genre or format for you? And is there one that you try to avoid?

I like horror. Ngayon wala nang romance — that’s a thing — a romance movie at my age. No one’s going to bet on that, sadly. I like doing movies because it’s one big thing. It doesn’t drag on. I like it especially when it’s locked in or somewhere far, because you really get to focus on the movie. There’s not much I don’t like.

I want to get into politics, because the recent Senate controversies have been described as a teleserye.

Yeah. A Senate-serye.

As someone open and candid about her politics, what do you make of what’s happening in the Senate and the country?

It’s just a series of distractions from whatever is really happening. Parang “highlight for this week,” ‘yung ganoon, it’s really a serye. But it’s really going nowhere. Wala siyang ending. Siguro ‘yung ending ang 2028 election, but nakakapagod.

Pero sa akin kasi, you have to say something about it because we’re getting used to it. I don’t want people to get used to that. They’re kind of looking forward to the entertainment, pero ‘wag kayong maaliw! Kasi hindi nakakaaliw.

There’s an old headline where Senator Robin Padilla defended your right to free speech after you called former President Rodrigo Duterte a “psychopath.” Looking back and knowing where Padilla’s alliances lie now, what do you make of those statements from him now that he’s a senator?

I’ve said this before. He’s a good friend. He’s a good human being, probably a good family man. And a brilliant actor. But hindi siya akma sa politics. Maybe politics is something that he should stay away from because ibang beast eh. And if you’re not equipped, or you’re not ready for it, lalamunin ka talaga. And feeling ko, nagpapalamon siya.

You’ve been a vocal supporter of Leni Robredo since she ran for Vice President in 2016 and for President in 2022. Earlier, you mentioned the 2028 elections. So is there anyone that you’re looking to support?

Leni pa rin. I really will fight tooth and nail to convince her to run. Sabi ko, “Ma’am, anong gusto niyong gawin ko?” Lahat, ito, marami kami. Kasi sayang e. But it’s still not too late. We can still profit from her experience.

I was one of those na talagang crushed. I just went back to work. “I don’t care about politics, don’t care about the country.” Pero ngayon, the elections are getting closer, kailangan ibalik natin ito. Ibalik natin ‘yung sa awareness ng tao na we really have to do something about it.

She’s said in the past that she doesn’t want to run for president anymore, and that she wants to focus on Naga City. Do you think her mind could still be changed?

I think so. I think if there’s a huge force behind her, she will. Dapat hindi rin kasi just from the public, but also from her peers in the government, kailangan may push din. Hindi puwedeng tayo lang. Nangyari na ‘yun eh.

Have you ever lost out on career opportunities because of your politics?

Yeah. I had a contract with a product, and as soon as that [commercial] came out, wala. I was paid then, but they never got me for succeeding years. Also other projects, because they don’t want the project to be stained. You get nasty comments, you get nasty reactions. They don’t want that. But lately hindi naman ganoon. The tides have turned.

Across your entire career, is there anything that you’d want to do over again? Was there a project you wish you could redo or take back?

Parang wala naman. From when I started until now, everything has happened the way it should have happened. Nothing was forced. Meron mga projects that I really wanted but didn’t get. And then there are projects na nagawa ko na parang “Hmm, medyo chaka,” pero you know that’s part of the learning thing. I take everything as it comes, and then it just evolves into something different, or something that becomes closer to me.

There’s a new class of National Artists to be announced. Is there anyone who you think deserves to be a National Artist?

Si Lea [Salonga] is one. And Celeste [Legaspi], I like, because it’s not just her artistry. She also has ‘yung pagka-Pinoy and pagka-rebelde. Until now, she’s very dynamic.

Pie Gonzaga

Social Issues Writer

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• In This Article:
• Agot Isidro