Richard Yap: Worry is useless

Ever wondered why Richard Yap (a.k.a. Ser Chief in “Be Careful with My Heart”) looks so relaxed, even if his 2014 is already fully booked with tapings for the ABS teleserye, an upcoming movie and activities for an endorsement?

The secret lies in his belief that he must not worry.

“It’s useless to worry about a lot of things,” he tells Yahoo Philippines in an exclusive interview after the presscon which introduced him as the first ambassador of Giordano Philippines.

His reason: There’s a God.

Guiding Hand

“There’s a Guiding Hand wherever you are.”

This deep faith makes the hugely popular actor believe it’s useless to hurry  things – in business, in one’s career, wherever.  It only delays things.

Richard admits he’s talking from experience.  When he was younger, he wanted his business to succeed so much, he had no time to pause and enjoy life.  Before he knew it, showbiz plucked him out of his business, and he hasn’t looked back since.  Endorsements,  appearances here and abroad, tapings and others just came pouring in.

“Wherever you are is where you’re supposed to be at this point in time.”

Richard is convinced he is where he is now because it helps him touch lives and lighten other people’s burdens.  He can’t forget the face of a 70-year-old widow in Baguio. She was so depressed, she wanted to follow her husband to the grave.  Alarmed, her family gave her DVD copies of her favorite teleserye, “Be Careful With My Heart.”

“Her zest for life returned,” Richard recounts.  “The feeling is something money can’t buy.”

Inspiring moment

This inspiring moment is repeated over and over – in a home where a cancer patient’s face lights up upon seeing Richard; in Yolanda-devastated Ormoc, where the actor sent financial help so a family can have a roof over their heads again.

And Richard doesn’t have to announce it. He just does it because that’s the right thing to do.

“We were put in this position for a purpose,” Richard observes.  The mere thought keeps his feet firmly planted on the ground.

Meanwhile, Richard is looking forward to more work.  He brushes off rumors that “Be Careful” is drawing to a close.

“We’re bringing a lot of other stories into the (main) story.  These sub-stories will prevent the audience from getting tired of the teleserye.”

There are plans to do a movie this year.  Richard is humble enough to admit he’s not choosy with his leading lady because he hasn’t worked with a lot of actresses for now.

Another album is also a possibility, and shows abroad have been set.

Family time

This whirlwind of activities makes one day off with his family a rare luxury for Richard.  So when he does have the time, Richard takes his wife and children out to dinner and the movies. This no-frills style is something you won’t expect from someone like Richard, who has hordes of followers, and whose face is on TV, billboards and TV commercials.

But that’s who Richard is.  Even his clothes mirrors this simplicity.  He wore a simple, striped t-shirt at the  Giordano presscon.

“I’m never the structured type,” he explains.

Classic styles

Richard goes for classic styles that defy trends.  Clothes, Richard points out, must first of all be functional. So he doesn’t wear clothes just because they are in.  He wears them because they fit him and the occasion he attends.

Most people are obviously fine with this. At fortysomething, an age when some showbiz celebrities’ careers are on the decline, Richard is still turning heads and gaining followers.

All in the mind

His secret?

“Age is in the mind. Perhaps people are looking for something else besides youth.”

He cites Hollywood stars Richard Gere,  Liam Neeson and  Johnny Depp, who remain hot even if they’re older than most of their co-stars.

In making us rethink our concepts about showbiz longevity, Richard is telling us there’s more to life than age and numbers. It’s more about looking one’s best and doing good – whether people are looking or not.