Former Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano returns to show business
After serving a three-year term as mayor of one most progressive cities in the country, film and television director Lino Cayetano is going back to his showbiz roots by making a comeback in producing, directing, and creating content.
The 44-year-old former Taguig City mayor was all smiles when he recently met with showbiz press to make the official announcement. Arriving at the venue in a casual shirt, Cayetano immediately greeted everyone the usual way he acknowledged scribes when he was still in government.
“It’s so nice to see everybody again,” Cayetano beamed and immediately accommodated questions even before he could settle on his table.
“Entertainment is just as influential as politics. Our industry is unique and has the power to shape thoughts and opinion, bring important issues forward, ask questions, challenge, and provoke popular opinion,” was his answer as to why he had decided to make a showbiz comeback instead of running for another term as mayor in Taguig.
“Yung hinawakan naman natin ay isa sa pinakamalaking lungsod sa buong Pilipinas at hindi naman tayo napahiya pagdating sa pagpapatakbo, having kept the people safe throughout the pandemic. And I think that experience that I learned there being a chief executive for three years, gusto ko namang dalhin dito sa industriyang mahal na mahal natin,” Cayetano explained.
The film director believes that he has left Taguig on the right track and he’s happy to transition from politics into entertainment.
“Sa isang banda, minsan hindi nagkakalayo yung intensyon natin sa pulitika at sa showbiz. Parang magkaiba lang pero ang totoo, ang laki ng responsibilidad natin makapagkwento, makapagbahagi, makapag hulma ng pagiisip,” he added.
Cayetano sees an entertainment industry revolution. And he wanted to be part of it while it’s in its early stage.
“It has already started, we are in the most exciting part, the return to glory of Filipino filmmaking and entertainment. I think nasa verge yung Philippine cinema, the Philippine entertainment industry of something very big. Hindi lang ho ito mangyayari sa isang araw, sa isang buwan, but this has been ongoing in the last few years. And I think in the next three or five years, talagang mag-e-explode sa international scene yung Filipino cinema,” he enthused.
As a director for more than 15 years, Cayetano started his career with StarStruck on GMA Network that produced Jennylyn Mercado, Cristine Reyes, Nadine Samonte, Yasmin Kurdi, and Mark Herras.
“And I would like to do a project with them. They’re like my children and seeing them still thriving in showbiz somehow makes me feel very proud,” he said.
Cayetano also directed ABS-CBN’s Little Big Star, a reality singing competition thatl aunched Sam Concepcion and Jake Zyrus then Charice Pempengco. He also directed Growing Up, the first pairing of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padila. As well as Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson’s first solo film, I’ve Fallen For You, produced by Star Cinema. He has also done several ABS-CBN telenovelas such as Calla Lily, Noah, and Mga Anghel na Walang Langit.
From directing, Cayetano started producing content in 2017 with the series Bagman together with writer-directors Shugo Praico and Philip King under Rein Entertainment. Its lead star, Arjo Atayde, for his role in the series, became the first Filipino to win the Best Actor award at the prestigious Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2020.
Since its establishment, Rein Entertainment has produced a number of series and films streaming on several OTT platforms
This year, Rein Entertainment has several projects in the pipeline. It is partnering with different investors to produce more movies and series and plans to work closely with industry leaders and established networks for co-production and collaboration.
“It’s going to be an exciting year for us,” Cayetano ended noting that his next project is the team-up of Ian Veneracion and Heaven Peralejo.
