The Chosen. The One. In the vernacular, Sugo.

In local television scene, these seem to best describe Richard Gutierrez, Annabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez’s son whose career on television is clearly on the upswing.

"I don't wanna compare it to "Mulawin". "Sugo" is totally different from Mulawin. From the telefantasya, we shifted to a totally new trend."

Coming on the heels of “Mulawin”, Richard is up against himself in proving that he can measure up to his own previous fantaserye’s success. Another landscape-changing series “Sugo”. Richard’s latest TV Starrer, is bruited to be television’s mini-version of Keannu Reeve’s the Matrix, Jet Li’s The One and Jacky Chan’s Rush Hour (minus the comic punches) in terms of execution of action scenes, choreographed flying kicks and kung-fu techniques.

 Clearly, Richard is on another level in Sugo. At the preview held at Music Museum, the actor showed the press a glimpse of his tip top action form as he flew, kicked and punched goons.

 In his new action teleserye, GMA-7 gave Richard the best shot. They even imported talents like Taiwanese actress Joe Chen (Star of “Twin Sisters”) and fight choreographer WongWai Fai who is behind colossal projects such a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Anna and the King and Bulletproof Monk.

 “Right now, I’m very happy, very excited for the show. Sobrang thankful ako sa GMA-7 sa tiwalang ibinibigay nila sa akin,” Richard said after settling down in a corner for this interview.

 “This is very challenging for me at naghahanda kami para rito. And dami naming training na pinagdaanan. Nag workshop ami, nag research ako for my Chinese character. Isa ito sa pinakamahirap na ginawa ko, pero pinakamasaya,” he narrated.

 Richard said sugo is an entirely new concept, totally new that it has never done before on local TV. For one, he plays a dual role here, as Miguel and Amante, personifying good and evil respectively.

He declined to compare it, however, to his previous work, Mulawin. “I don’t wanna compare it to Mulawin. Mulawin was different. Iba rin ito it’s totally different from Mulawin. From the telefantasya, we shifted to a totally new trend.” He explained.

 With Sugo, the actor has suddenly turned into an action star and he’s not complaining. “Oo, mahirap. Kailangan talaga, focused ka at fir ang katawan mo. Todo ensayo at training ako dito.”

 The young actor is also excited with his new leading lady, Isabel Oli who initially caught the public’s attention with her appearance in Max’s Fried Chicken commercial with Piolo Pascual.

 “Napakabait ni Isabel. She gets along with everyone on the set. It’s very exciting to work with her. It’s a wonderful feeling because she’s very professional. Magaling sya umarte.” He said on his new leading lady.

 “She’s very sweet at saka excited akong mas makilala pa siya. Especially because she’s a Cebuana, kababayan ko siya, kababayan siya ng mama ko, so I’m proud of her.”

 A lot of the press agree that they do make a good pair. “Talaga, bagay kami? Thank you,” was Richard’s curt reply.

 “Right now, hindi ko masasabi kung pwedeng maging totoo yun kasi, like what I’ve said, nandun pa lang kami sa stage na nakikilala naming ang isa’t isa. Pero bakit hindi, diba? she’s very pretty, sexy, mabait, so lahat ng katangian na yon nasa kanya.”

 Just as high as his kicks is Richard’s career now. Clearly, he soars and how. DP