By GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE
GOING the distance in crackling flying colors best describes the acting career of actor Richard Quan who took to the tinseltown unobtrusively towards the late 80s and still actively counting up to the present time.
In hindsight, we would like to locate the career path of Richard from the lens of his religious affiliation Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) along with few others in the same religion sustaining highly postive ambitious path in the direction.
Richard has joinned the rank of actors from the INC who have earned a respectable niche in local tinseltown for their commendable performances including their durability in the business.
He was predated by the dear departed iconic and phenomenal Rico Puno including the touted drop-dead good looks of boy-next-door Joel Alano who was considered most promising teenage hearthrob of his time. Unfortunately, Joel died of heart attack at his prime age. He would have been in his mid-50s by now.
Add to the list GMA-7’s shining newbie Ruru Madrid and the old reliables like John Regala, Gladys Reyes, Snooky Serna, and Jaclyn Jose who was the first to win the most coveted Best Actress at the Cannes (2000) Int’l. Film Festival.
In the realm of film direction, it is most conspicuous to mention the veteran and iconic director of action films Director William G. Mayo of “Lapu-Lapu” fame, etc. He is also the current President of Kapisanan ng mga Direktor Sa Pelikulang Pilipino (KDPP), of which we happen to be his Chairman of the Board of Directors.
To date, Richard Quan has at least three acting awards tucked under his belt, namely as New Actor of the Year from the Phil. Movie Press Club (PMPC) for “Saan Ka Man Naroroon, ” Best Supporting Actor for “1957” from To Farm Festival, and just the past week an Award of Merit (Special Mention – Lead Actor) for “The Spidermans’ Man” from Accolade Global Film Competition 2020. This was directed by multi-awarded Italian Filipino actor-director Ruben Soriquez.
Quan is gamely riding the crest of indie filmmaking to the hilt and is more than lucky enough because he gets mostly the meaty roles and the good reviews as well. And as a Filipino actor he is an authentic role model in front and behind the camera.