Vic Sotto (left) and Baeby Baste
While he knows his numbers and alphabet, Baeby Baste has yet to learn to read. But still, given that drawback, it was impressive, Vic Sotto said, that the 5-year-old star was able to deliver in his first acting project, “Meant to Beh.”
“At first, we thought he would just say a few lines or do minimal acting, because he has no experience shooting a movie; because he mostly does singing and dancing in ‘Eat Bulaga!’ But we were surprised by his acting talent, despite not being able to read the script,” Vic, who described Baste as a “born entertainer,” said at a recent press con.
Another thing Vic admires about Baste is that, at his tender age, the child actor already shows an understanding of the nature of his work. “He knows that acting isn’t real life. He’s a sweet and smart guy. Sometimes, talking to him feels like talking to a teenager,” he added.
It also helps that Baste’s mom, Shiela, is always by his side to teach him how to deliver his lines correctly—especially the tricky Filipino words. (They hail from General Santos City in Mindanao.)
“I had to act out the script, because he can’t read yet and just copies what I do. The pressure was more on me than on him, because we have limited time,” Shiela said in an interview. “He doesn’t want to make mistakes.”
For her, however, it’s important to make sure that Baste is enjoying what he does.
“He’s at an age where he wouldn’t be productive unless he likes the environment he’s in, or wants to do what’s being asked of him. But, he has been consistent since he started in show biz three years ago. He is never lazy about work,” Shiela said of Baste, who was discovered on the set of “The Ryzza Mae Show.”
And for a job well done, Shiela rewards Baste with swimming sessions—his favorite pastime.
“We don’t want Baste to miss out on his childhood, so we also introduce him to traditional Filipino games,” she said. “We make sure to celebrate his accomplishments, big or small.”