Charo Santos took to social media to express her gratitude to her fellow Philippine Air Force (PAF) reservists for their support of her new movie, Only We Know.
"Mission accomplished with hearts full. 🎖️ Grateful to stand beside my fellow Philippine Air Force reservists, this time not on the field, but inside the cinema supporting Only We Know," she posted on her Instagram page on Tuesday, June 17.
Charo's fellow PAF reservists organized a special block screening of the movie at Newport Cinema. "Your presence last night meant so much," the actress remarked.
It was in October 2024 when Charo became a Philippine Air Force reservist after graduating from training.
"It’s never too late to start something new, to challenge yourself, and to keep on growing," she posted on her Instagram page last year upon achieving this new milestone in her life.
She went on: "[It was] a journey that was as rewarding as it was challenging. There were moments when I doubted myself, wondering if I could meet the demands, but I embraced every challenge, pushed forward, and found joy in each step of the process."
The actress shared that her admiration for soldiers began at a young age. "I'm always drawn to the stories of soldiers. Bata pa lang ako parang may paghanga na ako sa kanila," she said in a recent interview with Korina Sanchez on Korina Interviews.
Charo relayed that her decision to train as a military reservist stemmed not only from admiration but from a desire to better understand what it truly means to be a soldier. "Gusto ko maintidihan, how does one become a soldier? 'Pag tumingin ka kasi okay may baril, nakabantay ganyan, pero what makes one a solider, 'yun ang gusto kong maintindihan," she said.
She also reflected on how her calling as a storyteller may have played a role in her interest in the military. "Siguro parte pa rin ng pagiging storyteller ko at pagiging artista ko na ah talaga pa lang pagdumaan ka sa pagsubok ng pagiging isang militar, pwede mong sabihin na 'I'm ready to put my life on the line for my country,'" she said.
Through the intensive training and lectures she went through to be a reservist, Charo was able to understand the mindset and the mission of a military. "When you go through the military training, all the lectures, listen to the sense of mission of soldiers, what they are here for, now I understand. Talagang kakalimutan mo lahat," she said.
Charo stars opposite with Dingdong Dantes in Only We Know. She plays the role of Betty in the movie.
In a recent interview with Boy Abunda, Charo reflected on how portraying Betty stirred memories of her younger years. "Nakaka-bagets kasi parang you imagine that you are going back to your high school years, di ba? Parang ganun. There's you meet this dashing young man, there's nasa harap mo di ba? Wow gwapo naman nito, 'yung ganun, so it brings you back to your youth," she shared.
When asked about the message Only We Know hopes to impart to audiences, Charo shared: "Love transcends everything. There are no labels, no boundaries. Age is just a number. When it comes to feelings, you just go with flow. And when you go with the flow, it brings you happiness, authenticity."