Charo Santos Stunned When Jim Paredes Referred to Her as ‘Heartless’
CHARO SANTOS – Veteran actress and media executive Charo Santos was taken aback when Jim Paredes unexpectedly called her “heartless” during a candid moment from their past.
Charo Santos recently shared a deeply personal story on Instagram that left a meaningful mark on her career. In one of her heartfelt “story time” videos, she recounted being called “heartless” by Jim Paredes of the APO Hiking Society—an unexpected remark that challenged her perspective and taught her the value of empathy.
Charo looked back on Tatak Pilipino, an acclaimed cultural television show from the mid-1990s, hosted by Jim Paredes and Gel Santos-Relos. Although the program enjoyed a successful run, it eventually experienced a drop in ratings, leading to a decline in advertiser support. As a result, the show had to be cancelled—a tough call that Charo herself had to communicate to the hosts.
“I met with Jim and Gel at sinabi ko yung reasons behind it, tinanggap naman nila,” Charo recalled.
What she didn’t anticipate, however, was a moment during a team-building event with APO Hiking Society, where Jim suddenly told her, “You know, Charo, you’re so heartless.” Taken aback, she asked why he felt that way. Jim revealed that the show was cancelled on his birthday, something that Charo was unaware of at the time.
“Oh my God, natunaw ako sa hiya,” she admitted. “I said sorry so many times.”
The experience was eye-opening for Charo. It made her realize that behind every professional decision are real people with emotions. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging the human side of the entertainment industry.
“Talents are not just cogs in the machine. They’re people who get hurt,” she reflected.
Since that incident, Charo made it a practice to take note of the birthdays of all the talents she worked with, vowing never to cancel a program on such a personal day again. Her story served as a powerful reminder of the role empathy plays in leadership and the importance of treating colleagues with compassion and respect.
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