Veteran actor Romnick Sarmenta continues to make waves in the entertainment industry, and his wisdom is invaluable for the younger generation of actors.
As he shares the screen with emerging talents in the upcoming series ‘MAKA,’ Sarmenta reflects on the significant changes in the industry, particularly the impact of social media on young performers.
In a recent interview, Sarmenta expressed his concerns about the vulnerability of today’s artists, saying, “Ito sinasabi ko sa lahat, na itong mga batang ito, masyado silang susceptible sa mga bashers, sa mga negative comments. At gustuhin man natin o hindi, it affects them.” He emphasized that in his early career, actors did not face the same level of online scrutiny. “And that’s the sad part, because…I’m not trying to sound irreverent or something,” he noted.
The actor lamented the anonymity of online critics, stating, “Pero noong panahon namin, people are brave enough to come to our face and say they don’t like us, and I appreciate that, kasi alam mo ang ginagawa mo, kung ano ang sinasabi mo sa akin, at hindi ka natatakot.” He shared his empathy as a parent, recalling how it pains him to see his children affected by negativity online.
“So, that’s really your opinion, and I can respect that. Pero ‘yung ngayon, sa social media, may mga nagko-comment, para lang may masabi. And they bash people they don’t know anything about, na hindi pa nila nakikilala, and it affects them. Ako as a parent, I hate it, at naawa ako sa mga anak ko kapag nakakatanggap sila ng mga ganun,” he added.
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As for his experiences with love teams, Sarmenta reminisced about his long-time partnership with Sheryl Cruz. He shared how fans would react to their chemistry and recalled advising fans against engaging in negative behavior.
To the young actors in ‘MAKA,’ Sarmenta advised, “Ang natutunan ko kasi, kilalanin mo ang sarili mo. Kung ano ang pinakamagandang version mo, para sa iyo, ‘yon ang i-pursue mo. Kung ano man ang gustong sabihin at paniwalaan ng ibang tao, labas ka na roon. Basta gawin mo kung sino ka.”
In ‘MAKA,’ Sarmenta portrays Sir V, a successful artist who unexpectedly takes on a teaching role at a local public school named MAKA. This new chapter reveals that both he and his students have much to learn from each other.
Joining him in the series are fellow alumni from ‘That’s Entertainment,’ including Tina Paner, Jojo Alejar, Sharmaine Arnaiz, and Maricar De Mesa, as well as veteran actress Carmen Soriano. The all-star cast also features rising Gen Z stars such as Zephanie, Ashley Sarmiento, Marco Masa, Olive May, John Clifford, Dylan Menor, Sean Lucas, and Chanty Videla from the K-Pop group Lapillus, alongside social media sensation May Ann Basa, known as Bangus Girl.
The youth-oriented drama series ‘MAKA’ is set to premiere on September 21, presented by GMA Public Affairs.
