Rabin Angeles: From almost quitting to owning the spotlight

August 15 ------ Rabin Angeles was on the brink of giving up his acting dreams to return to school until “Ang Mutya ng Section E” came along. It was the project that reignited his passion and propelled him into the limelight. In the second episode of The Philippine STAR’s On The Rise on YouTube, Rabin looked back at how his love for acting was sparked by his family’s fondness for teleseryes.

Growing up in Angeles, Pampanga, in either his grandmother or aunt’s household, he loved mimicking teleserye characters when he was a kid, earning the nickname “Santino” after the lead in “May Bukas Pa.” “Mukha akong sobrang bait, kaya tawag sa akin, ‘Santino.’ Sinasabi ko, ‘Ay, mag-aartista talaga ako. Kaya ko ’to, kaya ko ’to.’ Pero mahirap,’” said the actor, who initially dreamed of becoming a doctor — a dream his mother never got to fulfill.

Rabin looks up to his mother, who singlehandedly raised him and his two siblings while juggling multiple jobs as a nurse and call center agent after his father passed away from a brain aneurysm when he was just four. “Sinasabi ko lagi, gusto kong maging doktor kasi si mommy ko, pangarap niyang maging doktor. Tsaka gusto ko rin maging artista. Nagsusubok talaga ako maging artista nung bata ako. Pero parang, hindi yata para sa akin… Gusto ko pa rin mag-doctor, neurologist,” he shared.

At 17, Rabin made the life-changing decision to pause his studies and move to Quezon City to pursue acting, guided by the director who discovered him, Jason Paul Laxamana. For nearly a year, he immersed himself in back-to-back acting and dance workshops — sometimes commuting from Pampanga to Quezon City every other day, driven by passion and a genuine desire to learn. “Nag-stop ako mag-aral kasi gusto ko talagang i-focus ’yung pag-arte ko,” he recalled, sharing how there were days he couldn’t afford transportation or meals just to attend workshops. “Nung una na nadidiskarte ko ’yun. Hindi ako kumakain nga minsan, eh, para sakto ’yung pamasahe ko hanggang pauwi.”

His first major project came in 2023 with the BL series “The Day I Loved You,” which gave him valuable experience and launched a growing fan base. But after the project, work slowed to a halt. He stayed in Pampanga for a year without new projects, continuing to train and attend industry events while his mom gently urged him to return to school. “Sabi ng mommy ko, ‘Aral ka na.’ Parang wala na ’yung ginagawa mo. Iniisip ko nun, puro na lang ako pangarap,” Rabin said.

Then came the invitation to audition for the TV adaptation of the hit Wattpad series “Ang Mutya ng Section E,” which also stars Andres Muhlach and Ashtine Olviga. Nervous and unsure, Rabin was stunned to land the role of red-haired Yuri Hanamichi — his big break, finally. The series became a turning point, earning him a loyal following and boosting his confidence. After “Mutya,” Rabin was quickly tapped for his first lead role in “Seducing Drake Palma,” marking another milestone in his career. Despite this momentum, he remains grounded. “Marami pa po akong gusto ma-achieve. Malayo pa, sobrang layo,” he said. For Rabin, success isn’t just about fame — it’s about giving back, especially to his mother. His ultimate goals are to buy her a home, help her retire, and eventually return to school himself.

Earlier this year, he reached a personal milestone by buying his family’s first-ever car, which he calls the fruit of his hard work. “Sobrang laki na ito para sa akin. Hindi ko maisip na makukuha ko siya ngayon, taon na ’to. Gusto ko talaga gulatin ‘yung family ko na nakakatulong na ako sa kanila. ’Pag nabilhan ko ng bahay ’yung nanay ko, tapos Rolls Royce pa,” he joked. Career-wise, he dreams of working with stars like Julia Barretto and Nadine Lustre, exploring different love teams, and taking on more challenging roles, including starring in a film. “I love what I do. It doesn’t work for me. Parang lumalabas ang totoo ko ‘pag nasa taping ako. At lahat ng meron ako ngayon, pasasalamat lang kay Lord.”

Source: philstar.com