Charo Santos-Concio
“There were too many risks to mention, but that’s the general picture for you.”
This was the reply of actress Charo Santos-Concio when asked what she thought was a risk she took as an artist that she considered was all worth it.
Charo, who is also a media executive and a TV-film producer, explained: “In my career, I took so many risks especially when I was still going up the ranks, trying my hand in a lot of programs I expected would be followed by the audience.”
“I’ve encountered a lot of problems, experienced a lot of failures, but I just kept going. Why? I was driven by my passion for content, for engaging the audience and my love for the arts in general. I’m a movie fan, I will forever be one. I will forever see myself in the characters I watch in movies and I will be forever happy for the success of the talents that join the business. This is where my heart is.”
Charo further shared that since the pandemic, she has engaged in self-care activities for her mental health. “While I do a lot of walking and dancing—I dance with my granddaughters—I also make sure to stay mindful of my thoughts because, with the pandemic, I went through some anxiety,” she began.
‘Self discipline’
“You have to know what your triggers are, at the same time, know how to ‘inhale’ and ‘exhale.’ Spend time being still and being calm. This is difficult to do. You need a lot of self discipline,” she said. “I also take care of my heart by honoring my feelings. Often, we try to repress our emotions. We try to please the people around us and be dismissive of what we’re truly feeling. Over the years, I’ve learned to honor these feelings—when I’m angry, I acknowledge it—but I don’t stay in those negative feelings for long.”
“Don’t be afraid, stay calm, listen to the experts and follow the rules,” advised Charo, whose family went through a health crisis after her husband, Cesar Rafael Concio Jr., got infected by the COVID-19 virus recently.
“Thank God he is OK now. He is now in his best condition. I was there with him every step of the way in his journey to wellness,” declared Charo. “If there’s one thing that I appreciate and am proud of myself, it is that inner strength and sense of resilience that I have.”
To those who might be experiencing something similar, she said: “Let’s just be guided by what our gut and intuition say. Let’s do what is right all the time. The one thing I realized about myself because of the experience was that I am capable of doing everything for the sake of my loved ones.”
Looking back, Charo said marrying her husband was a “major decision” in her life that she considered “all worth it.”
“When our engagement was announced, a lot of not-so-kind comments came out, but I’ve never looked back. I became the person that I am because of my husband. I learned to appreciate myself and to be kinder to myself because he accepted me, warts and all,” she recalled. Together, they have two sons—Francis and Martin—and three grandkids.
“I learned the meaning of unconditional love because of my husband. Yes, I’ve lived a full life—an imperfect one, but a full life, nevertheless. I can say it’s such a blessing,” Charo told Inquirer Entertainment during a virtual chat to launch SunLife Financials’ new ad campaign, “Partners in Health,” of which she is one of the brand ambassadors.
Complementing Sun Life’s “Partner in Health” campaign is a series of webinars, titled “Safe Space,” which focuses on mental health to be conducted in collaboration with the Philippine Mental Health Association Inc. (PMHA). The pilot stream, titled “Love ‘em, Hate ‘em, Stress ‘em: Mental Wellness for the Family,” will be held on April 9. It will be followed by “Imperfect Balance: How Mental Wellness Bridges Work and Life” on May 14. The series will close on June 18 with “You are Worth It: Illuminating a Path toward Holistic Health.” (Visit Sun Life’s Facebook page and YouTube channel for more information.) INQ