Manila, Jan. 19, 2003 (Malaya) By Mario
Bautista- When Katya Santos agreed to go sexy in "Sukdulan," she vowed she'd have
limitations and wouldn't go all the way.
"I told Viva Films hanggang breast exposure lang ako," she says. "I thought it would be easy but I really cried after shooting my first nude scene. But while shooting the film, you sort of get used to it. Nasanay rin ako and it dawned on me that if I really want to make this launching movie very special, I should cooperate fully with director Mac Alejandre (also my director in 'Anna Karenina') and do whatever he requires me to do as long as the execution is not done in bad taste."
After Maui Taylor, Katya is the next former child actress to go "bold" at Viva. Her real name is Katrina Santos and she started as a commercial model when she was only 4, then joined "Ang TV" and "Oki Doki Doc" on ABS-CBN.
"I got my first offer to go 'bold' when I was 16 in 'Balahibong Pusa'. but I rejected it because I wasn't ready," she says. "My role went to Rica Peralejo. Through the years, Viva would offer me other sexy roles, like 'Tatarin' and 'Scorpio Nights 3,' pero ayoko. Instead, they gave me contravida roles on TV in 'Anna Karenina' and in films like 'Radyo' and 'Akala Mo.' Recently, they asked me again and since I already turned 20 last February 2, I felt I'm of age. Sabi ko, if I'd say no again, baka mawalan na ng gana ang Viva to launch me and I might regret it later that I passed such an opportunity.
"I talked to my parents and I got their go signal, but with limitations daw. I'm the third in a brood of five and the only one against my going sexy is our only boy, the one I followed. Born-again Christian kasi siya. But the role in my launching film, 'Sukdulan,' is challenging.
"I play a tollbooth clerk at the Sta. Rosa exit married to a truck driver who appears very macho but cannot satisfy me in bed, Raymond Bagatsing. He gets aroused only while watching X-rated films, so I fall for a playboy, newcomer Carlo Maceda, who brings me to new heights of ecstasy in bed. This triggers a series of violent events. That's why the title is 'Sukdulan,' we show the extremes in sex and in violence."
She measures a voluptuous 37-26-34. She admits having had four boyfriends. "I started at 13, pero puppy love lang. The first three, hindi nagtagal, but the last one when I was 16 lasted for almost four years. He's 4 years older than me at parang nagkasawaan na lang kami. But I'm not closing my doors on him. Nagsabi muna ako sa kanya that I'm going sexy before I accepted 'Sukdulan' and it's fine with him."
She has two nude scenes with Raymond: one while they're taking a shower and the other, a bed scene. "I'm happy the first bed scene I shot was with Raymond because he made me sure relaxed muna ako sa kanya before we shot. He told me to look into his eyes muna and internalize, think that he's really my husband. I've seen the rushes at maganda ang execution."
With Carlo, Katya has four love scenes. "In the case of Raymond, wild ang lovemaking namin but bitin ako. With Carlo, more tender but very passionate. It's in one scene with Carlo that I agreed to take everything off and we are shown running in the nude sa damuhan,-in broad daylight at that.
"'Direk' Mac explained to me that the scene is really needed to show I learned to lose my inhibitions because of Carlo, so I agreed to it, with no plaster at that. It was Carlo who was reluctant to do it at first. But I advised him to do it and we should do it well para take one lang kami at hindi na ulitin pa."
How did her parents react to this? "My mom has checked all my 'bold' scenes and okay lang sa kanya. But I told my dad huwag na lang siyang manood."
She's glad her leading men did not take advantage of her. "Kay Raymond, siyang nagdadala ng eksena because he's more senior. I really learned much from him, lalo na in our dramatic scenes when I am leaving him to join my lover and in the scene where he has a heart attack while we're making love.
"With Carlo, ako ang nagdadala ng eksena because he's a newcomer. I'd often tell him he should not be embarrassed to touch and kiss me because it's just a job. For the love scenes, I studied how to project being horny in front of the mirror, pati kung paano umungol at humalinghing sa sarap pag dumarating ka na sa sukdulan ng lovemaking."
She's proud to proclaim that she's the only Viva sexy star whose body has not been retouched by any doctor. "Before shooting started, they asked me if I'd like na mas patangusin ang nose ko, or do I want to make my lips look fuller like those of Angelina Jolie. I refused, kaya sa akin, what you see is what you get. I have several breast exposure scenes in 'Sukdulan' and I can proudly boast na walang niretoke sa 'kin, lahat original, especially my bumpers. All the women in my family are bosomy and compared to my sisters, maliit pa nga ang sa akin."