Yayo Aguila: It’s hard to find kindhearted people in show biz

Yayo Aguila

Acting can be taught, but having a kind heart is innate,” said Yayo Aguila when asked to share what nugget of wisdom has she been living by as an actress of almost 40 years. “If you have that, then you will surely have a place in this industry.”

Yayo is seen regularly in Thop Nazareno’s family drama “Niña Niño,” which stars Maja Salvador and Noel Comia Jr., and airs on TV5.

“It’s hard to find kindhearted people in show biz, or even in the world these days. That’s a sad fact, to think that being a good person is so easy,” she told Inquirer Entertainment. “But it’s important that when you try to enter this business, you’re not just someone with a beautiful face or with a knack for acting. You also have to have a good heart.”

Love for job

“If you start in that premise, you will also meet good people along the way and you will benefit from them. I promise you, everything will easily fall into place for you. It’s important that you care, love and respect the people around you,” said the actress, whose breakout project was the cult film “Bagets” in 1982.

Yayo said her love for the job has given her the necessary staying power. “I give importance to every project I make, be it for the big screen or television, and no matter how small the role may be. For me, it’s not always about the money,” she pointed out. “Also part of all these is always feeling grateful for the blessings you have been receiving.”

When asked how she often reacts whenever she encounters talents who are considered beginners in acting, Yayo said: “I have no problem working with them. I welcome them with open arms. I might not be new in the industry but I wasn’t part of the original cast of ‘Niña Niño,’ but still, I was given a warm welcome and was treated really well.”

Yayo said she gives acting advice only when asked. “That way, I don’t sound like a know-it-all. As one of the more experienced ones, the most that I can do is give them my all-out support in the scenes where we’re together. I just let them be. I give them the freedom to discover how to best attack their characters, but if help is really needed it’s also important that you have the willingness to give it.”

Aguila (right) with “Niña Niño” costar Noel Comia Jr.

Good relationship

“More than the acting part, I believe that it’s important to build a good relationship with your coactors. I already know this long before, but I found this more evident on the set of ‘Niña Niño.’ I really appreciate the family that we’ve built here. This isn’t just among the cast members, but also those who work behind the cameras,” added Yayo, who already has four grown-up kids with estranged husband William Martinez. “I care for my coworkers as much as I do for my own family. I have a lot of coworkers whom I consider as good friends. Treat other people well and you will never go wrong,” she said.