Arjo Atayde hints at film tribute to Eddie Garcia
The winner of the Best Actor at the 2020 Asian Academy Creative Awards has recently renewed his contract with ABS-CBN
“I’m a team player. If they sink, I sink with them,” said Arjo Atayde after renewing his artist contract with ABS-CBN on 27 February.
The leading broadcasting network, which allowed a number of its contract stars to move to other networks after Congress rejected its franchise renewal in 2020, has successfully transitioned to digital operations and through partnerships with TV5 and A2Z. “If they’re gone, I’m gone with them. The reason I’m staying is this is my home and I don’t want to be elsewhere,” added Arjo.
The 30-year-old won Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 3rd Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2020 for the iWant and Dreamscape series Bagman. Arjo, who played barber Benjo Malaya in director Shugo Praico’s dark socio-political series, bested nine other nominees from China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand. He renewed his ABS-CBN contract along with Gary Valenciano, Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber, Francine Diaz and Donny Pangilinan — as part of ABS-CBN’s “Kapamilya Strong” effort to maintain solidarity among its talents.
If they’re gone, I’m gone with them. The reason I’m staying is this is my home and I don’t want to be elsewhere.
Arjo thanked the network for taking care of him and his fellow artists. Prior to the contract renewal, Arjo appeared on fellow Kapamilya talent Enchong Dee’s vlog where he also expressed gratitude to ABS-CBN. He recalled thinking about the network while momentarily speechless as he accepted his Asian Academy Awards trophy: “It was a team thing. If I win, it’s for ABS (CBN). Everyone wins…”
Though he declined to comment about upcoming projects, he hinted at a film tribute to the late legendary Filipino actor Eddie Garcia to be released in April.