Being a Santiago didn’t serve well for Ryle as an artist
RYLE Santiago is the son of Sherilyn Tan and Junjun Santiago, the brother of Rowell, Raymart at Randy. He used to be estranged from his dad, but they have since reconciled.
Ryle was a former member of Hashtags in “Showtime”. He has appeared in the horror comedy series “Parang Normal Activity” and in films like “Bakwit Boys”, “Between Maybes” and “Billie and Emma”.
During the pandemic, he worked as a graphic artist for a foreign company and also learned more about running a business. He and his brother then put up their own agency. But he also did a BL series with Adrian Lindayag where he plays a contravida role, directed by JP Habac to be shown later this year.
He was linked before with Kapamilya co-stars Kira Ballinger and Samie Rimando. “But right now, my love life is zero,” he says. “Natauhan na po ako. I got broken hearted and napagod ako. So now I just want to seriously focus on my career specially now that I am with Viva.”
He has boyish, wholesome looks even if he’s now 24, but would he be willing do more mature, daring roles? “Yes, I am, but it will all depend on the material, my role and hopefully, hindi siya masyadong bold.”
He is now with former co-Hashtags members Wilbert Ross, Nikko Natividad, McCoy de Leon and Vitto Marquez who are all now with Viva.
“I really admire their work. We communicate and I hope that Viva will give us the chance to work together someday in a barkada movie.
Now, that I’m with Viva, I’m so thankful for this opportunity. Gusto ko to try romcoms, heavy drama or bida kontrabida so sana mabigyan ako ng pagkakataon. If given the chance to do a May-December romance, I’d like to work with my crushes, Anne Curtis and Aubrey Miles.”
So how did he get into Viva? “Nakita lang nila ako sa premiere night ng ‘Baby Boy, Baby Girl’ sa Megamall where I was invited by Direk JP Laxamana, who directed me in ‘Bakwit Boys’ for which I won the new best young actor award. Viva folks saw me there and asked me who’s handling me, so sabi ko wala. They asked if I’d want to be with Viva and I said yes. So ayun, they met with me and in one week, heto na, contract signing na. And I’m very excited to see what’s going to happen and what is in store for me here with Viva.”
How is it being a part of the well known Santiago family whose members are into acting and directing? “I consider it more as a challenge because you will be compared. But being a Santiago never got me into anything. I love my titos, they are all very nice to me, but in terms of the politics in the industry, it didn’t really get me anywhere. I’m just on my own.”
Well, we wish Ryle the best of luck now that he is Viva. May he be given really good projects that will help forward his career.
