WE were at SM Mall of Asia early Saturday, and despite the threatening clouds that warned of an impending storm, the mall was the scene of an explosion of beauty as multitudes of models turned out all wishing to get assignments for the coming Philippine Fashion week in October. Models of various nationalities lined up to be screened, hoping to get a slot with the different participating brands and the spring and summer collections of our much-revered fashion designers.
Many of the models we saw were tall, and most likely these were the ones the designers will pick. But there were also those who tried out, and although not tall enough when put side by side with their Brazilian rivals, were much better looking than most of the actors and entertainment celebrities that we see on TV and everywhere else.
Which brought to mind the models who have tried to cross over to show business—some became successful, while the others vowed to never return to the showbiz jungle.
All warmed-up
FROM a simple teenager in Batangas, Zanjoe Marudo played for the high-school varsity team of San Sebastian College before he was lured by designers to take part in the 2001 Bodyshots modeling contest. Marudo emerged a close second to eventual winner Lauren Novero (who incidentally also tried acting) and this opened a big door for him in the modeling industry.
A bigger door opened for Marudo when he joined the 2006 celebrity edition of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother. If not for fellow model Rocky Salumbides who backed out at the last minute to fulfill an overseas modeling assignment, Marudo would not have been that lucky Big Brother housemate. As they say, if it’s meant to be, it will happen.
Although Marudo did not emerge as the grand winner (sexy starlet Keanna Reeves did), his career blossomed. He admits that he needed time to warm-up, “Ibang-iba kasi ang mundo ng showbiz. If you don’t know how to play the game, ‘tsaka kung hindi ka marunong makisama, lalamunin ka ng buong buo at hindi ka rin magtatagal.”
Most of the people who have worked with Marudo attest to his being good-natured, although most of them think that his being quiet can oftentimes send the wrong message. “Parang antipatiko lang pero makulit din ‘pag kilala mo na” and “Suplado lang ang dating and defensive minsan kung sumagot pero he can be sweet naman....”
But Marudo knows how the value of hard work, perhaps from what he learned during his modeling days where one needs a tremendous amount of patience to be able to stand the long hours of go-sees and rehearsals and fittings, not to mention the egos and power-tipping tendencies of fashion designers, fashion show directors, brand executives and production people.
He has never been out of work on television and he has just finished his sixth movie, titled Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi, under the direction of Joey Reyes. Zanjoe supports both mainstream and indie movies. “Basta maganda naman ang role at swak sa schedule natin, bakit hindi?” he tells us.
Marudo says that he enjoyed shooting his latest film because he was working with intelligent people. “I learned a lot from them. Direk Joey is brilliant; ang bilis mag-isip tsaka very sensible. Si Toni [Gonzaga] naman, witty din. Si Eugene Domingo naman nag-iisa lang talaga ’yan!” Marudo recalls that fun times he shared with Domingo when they did Kimmy Dora, the comedienne’s breakthrough movie. “She was a pro, and my favorite scene was when her head was on my chest and when her face was so near my nipples, she could almost taste it.” Marudo breaks into hilarious, naughty laughter.
“I have learned to enjoy acting. My being sidelined into acting from modeling was a blessing. I never thought I could last since the pressure and the expectations and the politics are just too much to handle. But I’m still here, all warmed-up already, getting used to it and happy,” he concludes.
In limbo
While Marudo’s career is on an upswing, Rocky Salumbides’s is in limbo. His career is temporarily on hold and we learned that he has tried to go back to modeling again. Salumbides became interested in acting because of his romantic relationship with top-rate actor Eula Valdes. “I wanted to understand her world,” he told us once, so when the opportunity came for him to enter Pinoy Big Brother, he said yes. After only five weeks, Salumbides voluntary exited from the reality program citing his girlfriend and how much he missed her.
Then he tried to enter the world of independent films, making three movies in a period of six months: Adolfo Alix’s Muli and D’Survivors and Neil Tan’s Tarima. Salumbides impressed the critics with his performances and earned himself both awards and nominations. He won the Breakthrough Performance by an Actor from the Golden Screen for Tarima, where he played an inmate who returns the good deeds and unconditional love of his frequent gay visitor with a night of sex. He also scored nominations with the Urian and the Star Awards for both Muli and Tarima.
Salumbides also forayed into television, making an indelible mark on Imortal. He impressed the production people and the viewers with his natural acting ability. But just before his next TV assignment Amaya on GMA could begin taping, he decided to drop everything and turned his back on acting. People were taken aback by this sudden decision.
There was no clear explanation why he changed his mind. All we know is that he wanted to go overseas again to continue his modeling chores. Such missed opportunities.
Passion and discipline
Like Marudo and Salumbides, there are a thousand other hopefuls who wish to become models and actors. Nothing wrong about nurturing a dream, especially when these hopefuls have been gifted with such wonderful physical attributes. But it is important to have the right attitude and personality because modeling and acting require a different kind of passion and discipline.
