The street of Escolta is colored with a sense of vibrancy. Parellel to the Pasig River, the historic avenue was once a major financial district, with origins tracing back to 1594. In contemporary times, it remains to be a cultural torchbearer, with many buildings retaining their distinct art deco style.
Manileños of today find themselves drawn to Escolta for a vignette of what life once was. Modernity has certainly taken its course across the street, but despite what has changed, Escolta continues to inspire its visitors to create—and in the process of creating, to realize what parts of themselves are meant to be as unshakeable as the pavement they step on.
Escolta reminds Raven Rigor of his hometown of Victoria, Tarlac. During his first visit to the famed street, the 23-year-old was brought back to the Old Manila-esque architecture he grew up around. Nowadays, it's usually big city skylines and concrete walls for Raven, but inhaling the Escolta air was a much-needed breather. It was more revitalizing than he initially thought.
A fresh face in the roster of artists under Star Magic, Raven regards himself as a constant work in progress. His work, so far, includes supporting roles in primetime titles such as Dirty Linen and Fractured. This year, the young actor seeks to find out what else lies before him, both as an actor and as a person.
Raven Rigor Rising
Raven found himself roaming Escolta and its neighboring streets when he shot his first-ever short film At Least We Had This Moment. The project is directed by student director Joshua de Vera, who describes it as a "yearning coming-of-age." In the movie, Raven played Dino, a photographer who explores Escolta with a stranger-turned-tour guide named Vince, who was then played by Andre Miguel.
"Nag-start kami mag-film at 4:00 a.m.," Raven recalls of their sole shooting day. "Yung pinaka-vivid na memory sa akin was yung isang scene when we were on a motorcyle, tapos magsa-sunrise pa lang. Doon ko na-realize na iba yung Escolta."
ON RAVEN: Sleeveless Top, VANDRO CASIWAN. Shell Necklace, BIRTUD.
As a province boy, being immersed in the heart of Manila was somewhat of a self-introspective experience. "Sobrang naka-relate ako kay Dino, sa bubog nya," Raven expresses. Without needing to detail things, portraying Dino was a means for him to acknowledge the constant state of change he's in. "May mga remnants pala ng past niya na nakikita niya [sa Escolta]. May mga answers siyang nakuha," he says.
Raven's past involves aspirations to don a white coat. He looks back on how his show biz career began, attributing it to a Zoom call he had during his days in medical school. "Initially, ang dream ko was to become a doctor. Nagaaral na ako sa St. Louis University sa Baguio when someone reached out to me from Dreamscape Entertainment," he tells Preview.
With the opportunity to try something new in front of him, Raven became a recurring face in the Kapamilya network's productions. His three years in the industry granted him peers in the likes of Xyriel Manabat and Elijah Canlas, and a reel-to-real mother figure in Angel Aquino. Of course, being a celebrity also entails handling instant critics who can't help but pick at even the most minute of mistakes. It was something Raven had to learn on the fly.
"At first, I didn't take it well. Hindi ko siya na-absorb nang maayos kasi, siguro, I was young and inisip ko na, 'Bakit kayo ganyan magsalita?'" he recalls. It took a car ride home with his fictional family from Dirty Linen for Raven to comprehend these comments and how he should receive them.
"Kaya siguro in-idolize ko si miss Angel kasi sya yung nakausap ko about this. Nagda-drive sya and sinabay nya kami ni Xyriel," he narrates. "It was the first time na nag-open up ako sa co-actor ko. Nalungkot kasi talaga ako. I got really, really anxious sa mga nangyayari."
Angel's piece of advice to Raven is something that lingers to this day. In her words, "Laging may chance to redeem yourself."
This allowed Raven to allow himself more grace. As someone who's just starting out, it's as normal to fumble as it is to not please everyone. "Ngayon, I know I have to let go of the weight of not doing well or not doing better. I can always move forward," he says with a firmer sense of confidence.
Now, he's more focused on showcasing just how much he's worked on his craft. "Hindi ko rin kasi alam kung nag-improve ba talaga ako. There's always that fear na baka hindi pa ako prepared or equipped enough. But I wouldn't know unless I try," he adds.
Looking ahead, Raven actually thinks that fulfilling his childhood aspirations of becoming a doctor is still on the table. Even after immersing himself in the entertainment scene, it's still a dream he isn't passing up on just yet. Although, he does reason, "Pero gusto ko muna ma-reach yung mga goals ko as an actor. Hindi pwede na hindi ko magawa yung mga kailangan ko i-prove sa sarili ko."
ON RAVEN: Embellished Pants, ERCIA AGUILA.
As of now, Raven has his eyes set on reprising the role of a kontrabida. His favorite genre in cinema is horror, so featuring in a skin-crawling flick is also on his bucket list. One would be amused (or at least intrigued) to know that his favorite movie is The Handmaiden, an erotic psychological thriller that starred Kim Tae Ri. All of this paints an interesting portrait of a young gun who's eager to expand his horizons.
In retrospect, Raven has already manifested some of the things he used to hope for. At Least We Had This Moment is only one of them, and like many of his supporters, he's excited to see it on a big screen (He says it's premiering in select theaters soon. So stay tuned, folks.)
While he's still busy fulfilling his other desires, he's constantly reminding himself to be grateful for what he's already achieved. As early as now, he realizes that lasting in the industry entails a firm sense of self.
"Hindi ko kailangan ng maraming projects under my belt. Gusto ko lang na meaningful yung bawat project na ginagawa ko, and that I get to improve and contribute," he states. "I hope I get to say na proud ako sa mga nagawa ko."
And for all things that are still coming his way, Raven has learned to trust the universe and the way it moves. He's taking it day by day, step by step. "The life I have right now, it's not too grand, but it's peaceful. Mas independent na ako ngayon," he waxes.
"I'm a firm believer na if it's really for you, it will find you. It will always work out if it's meant for you."
Photographed by Lyndon Kyle Asuncion
Styled by Angelo Vasallo
Grooming by Bhads Castor
Shot at Espacio Creativo Escolta
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