AFTER A decade or so I was finally reunited with veteran actress Jossette Campo Atayde aka Sylvia Sanchez, Sylvia started her career as a sexy star.
As a bit player her journey towards success wasn’t that easy.
Tougher than you think.
In fact, after years of being in the industry, she almost gave up her career.
But because of her passion for her craft, she pursued her childhood cream.
True enough, it paid off.
In 1992 a meaty role came along.
She was proclaimed Best Supporting Actress via the movie “Takbo… Talon…Tili!!!” in the 18th Metro Manila Film Festival.
“Nuon kasi uso ang mga sexy movies. So, para medyo makasabay sa takbo ng showbiz, pumayag ako na tumanggap ng mga sexy roles. Pero nakatanim sa isip ko nuon na gagawin ko lang stepping stone yon para ma-penetrate ko ang showbiz.
“Well, siguro parang nagsawa rin ako sa mga ganung roles. Kasi nga, puro pa-sexy. E, gusto ko sana maiba ang mga roles na pino-portray ko.
“Tapos yun na nga, dumating yung role ko sa ‘Takbo…Talon…Tili!!!’, di akol nagdalawang isip na tanggapin yon.
“Good enough, nakuha ko ang best supporting actress.
“Yun, since then, talagang halos ng gampanan ko puro kontrabida. Palaging nangaapi. Palaging nananakit.
“Hahaha!”.
When she did “Be Careful With My Heart” did she ever expect to gamble and turn 360 in her career?
“You mean, yung role ko sa teleserye?
“Nung mabasa ko yung script, medyo nagalangan din ako. Sabi ko nga sa sarili ko, kaya ko kayang maging mabait sa mga pinopoereay kong role?
“Hahaha!
“Syempre, nasanay na ang mga tao na palaging malakas ang boses ko. Palaging nanlilisik ang mga mata ko.
“Naging hesitant din ako at first. Pero sabi nga ng yumao kong manager si Tita A, Malaking challenge daw yon para sa akin.
“So, ako naman being adventurous naman sa mga roles, syempre tinanggap ko. Nagulat na nga lang ako dahil positive naman ang pagtanggap ng mga tao.
“Nakakatuwa kasi kahit sa labas iba na ang tingin ng mga tao sa akin.
“Nung matapos nga yung teleserye, sinundan naman ng ‘The Greatest Love’. So, ayun, nagtuluy-tuloy na rin ang mga roles ko na mababait ang character ko.
Speaking of “The Greatest Love” how would she relate her role as Gloria in real life?
“May pagkakahawig naman. Kasi sobra naman talaga akong mapagmahal sa pamilya ko. Ganun kasi si Gloria sa mga anak niya. Hindi lang siya naiintindihan kung minsan.”
Now that, her children Arjo Atayde and Ria Atayde are both in showbiz what advice does she usually tell them?
“Well, palagi ko naman sinasabi sa kanila anuman ang marating nila sa showbiz keep grounded. Huwag lalaki ang ulo nila. Kasi hindi naman permanente ang career sa showbiz. Ang dmaing gustong magartista. Ang dami rin magaling. So, isang pagkakamali mo lang puwede kang mapalitan.
“Yun lang naman madalas kkong saibhin sa kanila.”
In terms of acting?
“Ah, kapag nanghihingi lang sila sa akin ng advice. kasi, kung magbigay ako ng pointers sa kanila, may limitasyon yon. Gusto ko gawin nila kung ano ang inaakala nilang way ng pagatake nila sa isang role na ibibigay sa kanila.
“Ganun din naman kasi sila,e. Lalu na si Arjo, hindi siya masyadong nagtatanong sa akin. Kasi gusto daw niya magkaroon ng sariling identity. Kaya hinahayaan ko lang sila.
“Basta kami ng Daddy nila, nandito lang para sumuporta.”
Arjo and Ria doesn’t need to work. Sylvia and her hubby could provide them with all the comforts in life.
But now that they earn their own money do they interfere with how they spend their earnings?
“HIndi naman. Bahala sila. Basta nire-remind lang namin sila na mag-invest muna sa bahay, yung magkaroon ng sariling bahay sila. Then, saka na yung mga cream car. kasi lahat naman yan may mga ganung pangarap,e. Tapos business. Pero huwag silang papasok sa isang negosyo na hindi njila naiintindihan. Dapat alam nila ang papasukin nila.
“At syempre, piliin nila ang mga taong makakasama nila o makakasosyo nila if ever na magopen sila ng business.”
As an actress in the real sense of the word, Sylvia has a lot of achievements in terms of acting is concerned.
In 1993 she was hailed Best Single Performance by an Actress via “Calvento Files” in the 11th PMPC Star Awards for Television.
Then in 2012 again, another Best Single Performance by an Actress in “Maalaala Mo Kaya:Aswang” in the 26th PMPC Star Awards for Television.
Another with the Golden Screen TV Awards as OUtstanding Performance by an Actress in a single Drama/Telemovie program the “Untold Stories:Kahit Ako’y Mangmang”.
In 2013 she was nominated as Darling of The Press by the PMPC.
On the 27th PMPC Star Awards for television she received a nomination for the Best Drama Supporting Actress for her role in “Be Careful With My Heart”.
The 31st PMPC Star Awards for Movies unanimously chose Sylvia as the Movie Supporting Actress of the Year for her portrayal in “The Trial”.
Then in the 63rd FAMAS Awards she received the Best Supporting Awards also for her role in “The Trial”.
The 30th PMPC Star Awards for television biominated her as Best Drama Supporting Actress in “NingNing”.
At the 15th Gawad Tanglaw Awards she took hom the Best Performance by an Actress in a series in “The Greatest Love” abd in the 25th KBP Golden Awards as Best Actress in a Drama Program.
With all her awards, what more can Sylvia ask for?Any dream role?
“Wala na siguro. kasi naging napakabait ng Diyos sa akin at sa pamilya ko.
“Palagi ko rin sinasabi na ang dream role ko yung magportray ako ng bulag, pipi at bingi.
“Actually, hindi ko alam kung paano ko iaarte yon. Kasi magiging iba sa mga role ko yun. Pero gusto kong gawin kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na kaya kong bigyan ng justice yung role.
“Isa pa, gusto ko rin gumanap ng mga action roles. Gusato ko yung makipagaway, barilan at magmotor.
“But not now, siguro kailangan ko pa magloose ng weight.Hahaha !Mabigat ako ng ngayon,.e. But starting August, magsisimula na akong magtrain uli. Maganda na rin yung in good shape ako hindi lang para sa career ko, para na rin sa health ko. she stressed.
Sylvia has four children with husband Arturo Atayde; Juan Carlos (Arjo Atayde), Maria Sophia (Ria Atayde), Maria Angela (Gela), and Juan Arturo Xavier (Xavi). She also has another daughter named Pia Marie from a previous relationship.
At the moment, Sylvia is focused on doing fi lms. Before the end of the year of probably early next year, she’ll be back doing teleserye.
