Akihiro Sato plunges into acting via Handumanan

. Napuno ang CCP Little Theater nang ipalabas kagabi, July 22, ang Handumanan, entry for NETPAC Award sa ginaganap na Cinemalaya Film Festival sa Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Ang Handumanan din ang first attempt ng Brazilian-Japanese model na si Akihiro Sato sa pag-arte. Ginagampanan niya rito ang papel ng isang modelo na hinahanap ang kanyang Filipina mother. But instead, he found romance with a novel writer, played by Chin Chin Gutierez.

All smiles si Akihiro nang makausap siya ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal). In fact, matagal pa bago namin siya nakausap after the screening dahil sa dami ng nagpapa-picture sa kanya.

"This is my first movie. There's a lot of pressure, a lot of nervousness. But I'm excited to do because this is my dream—to be an actor in the Philippines," sambit ng model turned actor.

Ano ba ang mga naging preparation niya since first time niyang sumabak sa pag-arte?

"We did a lot of workshop and voice language. All the preparations, one month before I did the movie."

Sinabi ni Akihiro na late last year daw nang i-shoot niya ang movie. Inamin din niya na next to modeling, ang pag-aartista ang isa sa mga pangarap niya, na feeling niya ay nagsisimula na rin niyang magawa.

Aware naman si Akihiro na kung may limitation man siya ngayon in terms of acting, ito ay ang pagsasalita niya ng Tagalog. Pero desidido raw siyang matuto nang mas mabilis.

"The teacher comes to my home and I study at least two hours a day. And it keeps going and I have friends who also help me with my Tagalog," sabi niya.

Pagkatapos nito ay nag-sample si Akihiro ng konting alam na niya na Filipino words.

"Medyo lang...naiintindihan ko, konti," nakangiting sabi niya.

Mukha namang walang inihibitions si Akihiro sa pagpapa-sexy dahil sa Handumanan, karamihan ng eksena niya ay topless siya.

"If you become an actor, I have to do whatever you want. Actually sexy, not expose so much. Beautiful movies, of course. I will follow the director," aniya.

How far can he go?

"Actually, basically, I'm a very conservative person. But I will follow the director as long as it's a good movie," sagot niya.

IS AKIHIRO A KAPUSO? Nakita na si Akihiro na kasama ng mga Kapuso stars na rumampa noong 56^th anniversary ng GMA-7 sa Araneta Coliseum. Kaya naman marami na ang nag-assume na isa na nga siyang Kapuso star.

Pero ayon sa kanya, "I still have to talk to my manager, Jonas Gaffud. We plan to do a show, movies, and soap opera."

Sino ba ang gusto niyang makapareha?

"Maraming babaeng maganda rito!" natatawa niyang sabi.

Pero sino ang pinakagusto niya?

"Gusto ko si Marian Rivera. Si Rhian Ramos and Carla Abellana...maganda sila," banggit niya.

Na-disappoint ba siya nang hindi si Marian ang makasama niya sa endorsement ng isang spa dahil nabalitang sila sana ang parehong mag-e-endorse nito?

"Well, I don't know because I had other talent, Karylle, she's a big talent. Such a nice person. And with Marian, I'll just wait for the next time, for the next opportunity. I'm not disappointed because I'm always happy," sabi niya.

PHILIPPINES OVER THAILAND. Bago nakilala si Akihiro rito sa Pilipinas, mas nauna siyang sumikat sa Thailand bilang modelo at balitang may offer din sa kanya roon na maging artista. Bakit mas pinili niya ang Pilipinas?

"Kasi mahirap ang kanilang language. Pero gusto ko rito sa Philippines. Kasi, the language Tagalog is, I think, I like more," sagot niya, na pinipilit pa ring mag-Tagalog.

Ano ang nakapagpa-attract sa kanya to stay in the Philippines for good?

"The people...like all the people support me," sagot ni Akihiro. "I don't know. I just feel so good here. I just can't explain, but I really like to stay here. Actually, I look more Filipino than being Japanese or Brazilian. That's why I love here. And I have my ID already, I'm a dual citizen now and I'll stay here for good."

Tanggap na raw ng pamilya niya ang desisyon niyang gawing tahanan ang Pilipinas.

"My family was here last month. They can visit me anytime and I can go there anytime. My family knows what is happening here. They know that I have work here and they are happy because they saw me very happy here."

Sayang nga lang at hindi namin nakumpirma kay Akihiro. Pero may nakapagsabi sa PEP na sa pagbabalik ng Celebrity Duets ay isa raw si Akihiro sa celebrity contestants na kasama sa show.