00:00 I was questioning myself, I was questioning my craft.
00:03 It was like an existential crisis.
00:05 I was like, "What is the significance of our work to society?"
00:10 Because I started in theatre, we never worked for fame, we never worked for awards.
00:26 Well, we are eight siblings.
00:30 So I'm the second.
00:32 So our gaps are just a little close.
00:35 I grew up in Arpapa, Manila.
00:38 I studied at Santo Parroquial School.
00:40 Then in 1997, we transferred to Bulacan, to Santa Maria, Bulacan.
00:45 My father is from there, and my mother is from Manila.
00:48 So, elementary to high school, I think I missed two things.
00:54 One, I was a varsity chess player in our school.
00:57 So from 5am, we started training my coach, Kuya Carlo, to dance.
01:03 I also danced at the same time.
01:06 I think that time, we were still dancing more on techno dances and more modern dances.
01:12 The first thing I remember, that became my experience in acting, was
01:22 my first year in college, because there are junior colleges in mass communication.
01:26 By the way, I graduated from mass communication.
01:28 They need to mount theatre play for their theatre subjects.
01:33 So I auditioned for the play "Moulin Rouge!"
01:37 So since high school, I've been dancing until college.
01:42 They got me to be a partner of the Can-Can Girls.
01:46 Then after that, I was in my third year of college, that's when I really entered the theatre.
01:51 My first mentor invited me to do that.
01:55 His name is Joey Biting.
01:58 Since then, I've been doing theatre.
02:01 Definitely, I would love to be part of Love, Diaz films.
02:13 And also, Brilliante Mendoza, Eric Mati, and also our directors.
02:21 There are so many great directors, like Peter Zanvargas.
02:26 And also, senior actors, especially those I look up to, like Tito Joel Torre, Noni Bencamino.
02:35 Because they're the ones who came home from the theatre.
02:37 And also, rest in peace to Tito Eddie Garcia,
02:40 I learned that they're really hands-on in their work.
02:45 They give their heart even off-cam.
02:47 I think the most important thing in our work is not just in the entertainment industry,
02:53 but in any industry, our work ethics, and our relationship with our colleagues.
03:00 That's the most important thing.
03:01 Because there are many good people in all aspects of work, in all industries.
03:06 But sometimes, we tend to not want to work because it's not pleasant or easy.
03:11 We want to work because we're willing to learn, but it's also good to be with our colleagues.
03:19 So, those are the things I aspire to do in my work.
03:22 I think we all got affected by the pandemic, right?
03:32 In 2020, we all have a core memory of how devastated we felt.
03:40 We couldn't work like the usual.
03:44 We couldn't meet our friends, hang out with our friends, our families, and our loved ones.
03:49 We couldn't do anything.
03:50 So, during that time, I can still remember that I was questioning myself, I was questioning my craft.
03:59 It was like an existential crisis.
04:01 I was like, "What's the significance of our work in society?"
04:06 Because we were limited in what we could do, right?
04:10 We were more focused on media, medical work, and other things.
04:20 We were only thinking about food and basic needs.
04:26 We were just trying to survive.
04:27 We just wanted to survive the pandemic.
04:29 So, I was thinking about our purpose in life, especially with what's happening in the world.
04:38 For quite a while, it was depressing for me.
04:42 Because in the entertainment industry, we couldn't do anything.
04:47 Just to kill time, I listened to music.
04:50 Sometimes, I danced.
04:51 I watched movies, I watched films, and series so that I could sleep and doze off.
04:58 Then I realized, "Ah, that's it!"
05:00 Whenever we feel something, it can be any emotion.
05:05 We listen to music, we dance, whenever we want to bond with our families or friends,
05:12 we watch a movie or binge-watch at home.
05:18 So, that's the significance of art.
05:20 It's part of our daily emotions.
05:25 It's an extension of our expressions and feelings whenever we listen.
05:32 If we don't want to say what we feel verbally,
05:36 we listen to music.
05:39 I realized that what we're doing is still significant.
05:44 It's just that there's a pandemic that we can't move around.
05:47 But slowly, we're driving again.
05:51 Then, here comes the audition for "Padre Burgos."
05:55 So, that was the initial offer to audition for "La Madrid."
05:59 As an actor, I always practice looking for a script
06:03 so that I could understand the emotional arc of the character
06:07 and what the character will feel in the film.
06:10 [music]
06:16 [laughs]
06:18 Whenever they ask me, from all the several interviews and even pocket interviews from media people,
06:28 whenever they ask me, "What can you feel like?"
06:32 People who watch the film, from the special screening,
06:35 they keep on saying that my fight for the Best Actor Award is strong.
06:40 So, because I started in theater, we never worked for fame.
06:45 We never worked for awards.
06:47 Why?
06:48 Because we feel that if that's our goal,
06:51 the significance and sense of our role in society will be lost.
06:59 And that's to inspire, to tell stories.
07:03 So, if your focus is about fame and award,
07:07 there's a tendency to always perform as if you want to get something after that.
07:14 So, that's why I always say that I don't want to expect.
07:17 So that I don't feel too disappointed,
07:21 and I don't have too many expectations.
07:23 Then, the glamour of the film comes from the people.
07:28 From 39 cinemas when MMFF started, we reached 133 cinemas.
07:34 Because of their reviews, because of their love,
07:38 they see that the story is still relevant.
07:42 That's what's rewarding for us, for the team of Gumburza.
07:46 And for me, it's a bonus.
07:48 That's what I really said, that if ever I get the award, it's a bonus for me.
07:55 And somehow, it's also a validation of my craft.
07:58 I really said, "Okay, fine, Lord."
08:01 Because they keep on feeding me that if ever I win, and so on.
08:05 I said, "Why not?"
08:07 Maybe sometimes, we can be too literal in what we're praying for, right?
08:13 So, I said, "Okay, why not, Lord?
08:15 Just now, if ever you give it to me."
08:19 I said, "I will use my platform, my craft to widen my knowledge and also to inspire more people with my craft."
08:32 I said, "Why not?"
08:34 But if not, it's okay.
08:36 Because it's just a bonus.
08:39 Then, they called all the nominees.
08:41 I said, "Oh my God, there's a nomination."
08:45 And of course, the ones that got chosen were our seasoned veteran actors.
08:50 So, Piolo Pascual, Ding Dong Dantes, Derek Ramsey, Alden Richards, and Mr. Christopher DeLeon.
08:58 It was like, "Oh my God."
08:59 Then, as I said, it was really 5 Goliaths and 1 David.
09:04 Then, I also called my name.
09:06 I just said it to myself while I was walking because I was so excited to go to the stage.
09:11 I really said to myself, "I need to not forget the people I need to thank."
09:16 That's the most important thing.
09:17 Because I can't do that if we're not together.
09:22 Because I always treat my work as ensemble work.
09:25 So, as much as possible, I want to thank everyone.
09:29 But when I'm about to step on the stairs, I couldn't avoid my emotions.
09:34 My voice was breaking so much.
09:37 I was holding my tears in my mouth.
09:41 But I still have a lot of things to thank.
09:44 True enough, I still forgot a few things.
09:46 But I tried to compose myself because I also want to ally it with the injustices that happened.
09:56 Not just in the Philippines, but in the world.
09:57 That award.
09:58 [Music]
Comments