EXCLUSIVE: Directors Nico Faustino, Raiko Santiago hope to bring Filipino artists to global stage
Following the success of Janine Berdin’s first major solo concert, concert directors Nico Faustino and Raiko Santiago hope to bring more Filipino artists and their shows to the global stage.
In an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, director-producer Nico shared his pride in showcasing the talent and creativity of Filipino artists, emphasizing that they deserve opportunities to reach wider audiences.
“Sa amin kasi, our goal always, with all of us like Paolo (Valenciano), myself, Raiko and all of the other directors, and other producers, ang goal naman natin na we believe na our Filipino artists deserve the global stage,” he said.
“Kapag Filipino artists, magaling talaga sa lahat, like, in everything and we are very passionate in what we do,” he added.
Nico also pointed out how the success of K-pop serves as an example of what Filipino artists can achieve with continued support from their community and the industry.
“Siyempre may advantages yung sa K-pop kasi they are already years ahead of us and they have a good support of their government kaya ayon yung goal natin na we need to support each other,” he expressed.
He went on: “At the end of the day na ang lahat ng mga artists natin ay magkaroon ng global audience because I think, in general, Filipinos, in any thing that we do, we are capable and we excel in everything.”
Nico, together with concert director Paolo Valenciano, served as one of the creative producers of Concert ni Janine Berdin, which was produced by Go Live Asia. For Raiko, the show also marked his debut as a concert director.
Looking back on their collaboration with Janine, Nico shared how the singer’s creative vision helped shape the concert’s concept.
“How we started kasi is one, Direk Paolo Valenciano is also part of Go Live Asia. When we meet with Janine, maganda yung vision na gusto niya. When she presented something that was on her mind, sobrang dami. We were like, ‘Janine, what was your initial plan kasi maganda yung ideas mo.’ She showed us the peg na Ghost in a Shell. So, kami, why not do this and that until we come up with this. We are excited because it is basically how Janine thinks. It is what is in her head,” Nico expressed.
He also credited Raiko for helping bring the concert’s ideas to life, saying: “Kami ni Paolo, we did the whole concept but Raiko was the one who took this nitty gritty and I’m proud of him.”
Meanwhile, Raiko shared that working with Janine was a smooth process, as they had already collaborated on the singer’s performance at the Awit Awards before her first major solo concert.
“We’ve done Awit (Awards) with her. Doon pa lang we did the getting to know part with her and everything so the transition to this concert was easy. Janine’s vision was grabe,” Raiko told PUSH ABS-CBN.
Nico shared the same sentiment, describing Janine as an artist who is open to collaboration and willing to explore ideas with her creative team.
“With Janine, she is very open to collaborate. Kami sa Go Live Asia, we always collaborate on the ideas on the table. There is no good or bad ideas. It’s the idea we all build on. We all collaborate on it,” he explained. “Janine talaga, once you get to talk to her, mas maiintindiahn mo siya. Madali siya maintindihan na kahit marami yung gusto niya, alam niya kung anong gusto niya. She’s just always game. When you gave her idea, she’s always game.”
For Nico, Janine’s talent and the response to her work are reasons to believe that the singer has the potential to reach an even wider audience.
“That’s a surprise kasi we have to look out for that one. Janine is a global star. Iba talaga. Even the reception online, like Demi Lovato, doon pa lang alam mo an and the support of her label,” he said.