You were brought into another field — directing. Can you share how it started?

“It started in 2009 when I got to work with the late director Gil Portes. I was part of the cast of his Cinemalaya project, Two Funerals, and then, I was amazed at how things worked behind the cameras. Then, I kept on asking him, ‘How does it work?’ (because) it’s such a magic, seeing the movie it’s so magical. He gave me ideas on camera angles, art direction and also his (piece of) advice na sabi niya you just have to do it; no one’s gonna teach you. You just have to find the right thing.

“So, I started to pursue it. Matanong na ako sa set. I also started taking Ricky Lee’s scriptwriting workshop. I was part of Batch 17. Then, I started turning in entries sa iba’t-ibang festivals and eventually, I was accepted in the Cinemalaya 2019 for a full-length film.”

What kind of a director are you? Are you the type who has a very specific view of how the process will unfold?

“It depends on the scene. Since I started as an actor, meron akong naiisip na sana kung ako ang nag-direk nito, ito ‘yung ipaparamdam ko. So, I give them (actors) space to play around with that space, then once you have shown to me how you understood the scene, then I’ll come in and let’s meet at a point where you feel comfortable.”

But are you going to pursue directing?

“Oh yeah, this is something I want to do for the rest of my life.”

We went through the pandemic and, in the three years, a lot has changed in our lives, How did it change your relationship with your mother and grandmother?

“I think we just value life more kasi before, or three years ago, I was just like work, work, work. It’s a race for me but after everything that happened parang I just wanna slow down and spend time with my family, just being in the moment with family and friends.”

As an actor, how is your relationship with people in the showbiz industry?

“I feel sa work, it’s a bit different because I feel na parang being behind the scenes, mas minahal ko ito kasi hindi lang ako in front of the camera ngayon. So, mas nakikita ko na rin ang nangyayari behind the cameras. It gives me a whole new level of respect sa ginagawa natin.”

Xian, nasaan kayo ni Kim Chiu ngayon pagkatapos ng lahat ng taong pinagdaanan ng inyong relasyon? What have you become in terms of your relationship?

“After being together for many years, you would think that as a mark na okay na, that you already know the person so well but no, actually, you still find out more about each other every day. And I think the secret behind it is letting each other grow individually and growing together as a couple.”

I like what you said that the discovery process doesn’t end, that every day, every week, there’s something new that you get to discover.

“At hindi rin dapat natatapos ‘yung pangliligaw sa isa’t-isa because once you get comfortable, that’s the danger zone.”