Cebuano in award-winning film Engkwentro

CEBU, Philippines - He admits he isn’t at the top of his game. But he’s on his way there.

For years, he has been waiting patiently for his break to come. And that break has finally come for showbiz newbie Zyrus Desamparado.

Playing as the antagonist Tomas in the indie film “Engkwentro,” Zyrus feels blessed.

“Baguhan pa lang ako, yet I was given this role. I ought to do my best,” he told The Freeman.

In the recent 66th Venice International Film Festival, “Engkwentro” won the Orrizonti Prize and The Lion of the Future – Luigi de Laurentis Award for debut film.

“Engkwentro” talks about two teenage brothers, Richard (Felix Roco) and Raymond (Daniel Medrana) who find themselves on opposite sides of a gang war. Complications arise when gang leader Tomas (Zyrus Desamparado) ordered one brother to kill the other.

But before Zyrus got at this point in his life, where was he?

Humble beginnings

This 18-year-old actor actually hails from Tabunok, Talisay City, Cebu and finished high school at the University of the Visayas – Main Campus.

The youngest of four siblings, he used to be an athlete, bagging gold and silver medals in sporting events, particularly in the field of gymnastics.

“Mga Palarong Pambansa, Milo and CVIRAA, naka-apil ko. Maka-mingaw pud baya,” he said.

Much to the surprise of his family and friends, Zyrus ran away from home after high school to try his luck in Manila and become an actor.

“Nilayas man ko sa amo. Kahibaw ko nga dili ko sugtan sa akong parents. So after graduation, nananghid ko nga mag-bakasyon sa Manila kay tua man pud akong ig-agaw. After ato, wa nako nibalik sa amo,” he shared.

Zyrus had no plans when he reached Manila. All he knew was that he wanted to be an actor, just like his idol Robin Padilla.

“Naa to’y salida si Robin nga layat-layat og mga terrace. Aw, sa among own terrace, nisuway sad ko og ambak. Dah, na-sprain lagi. Idol man kaayo nako na siya,” he laughed.

Coming from a middle-class family, Zyrus didn’t have much. So upon reaching Manila, he agreed to work as a Production Assistant in one of the TV networks in 2006.

Then he got discovered.

His talent manager John Fontanilla was shocked to see a good-looking lad working as a PA.

“Sabi ko sayang naman ang ka-gwapuhan nito at ginagawang PA lang. Tingnan nga natin kung may talent ba ito,” he said.

And it turned out to be true. Zyrus was multi-talented: he knew how to sing, dance and act.

This paved the way for him to snag roles in TV5 through the shows “Lipgloss” and “Lokomoko” and in GMA7 through the SOP Dance Squad Singers in 2008.

But Zyrus felt he could do more than just sitcoms and dance groups. He wanted to do more.

“Dugay gyud ko nagpa-abot. Di gyud ko gusto mo-uli og Cebu. Nana man gyud ko diri, padayonon na lang. Bahala na,” he said.

Then came the offer to do “Engkwentro.”

“Engkwentro” experience

For this Cebuano actor, working in “Engkwentro” was a rollercoaster ride. The acting admittedly consumed much of his energy that he would go home really tired.

“Lahi man among style. Ang usa ka act, usa ra gyud ka take tanan. Dili per sequence na pwede ra i-cut then edit. Sa amo kay if naay cut, sugod gyud balik tanan. Para pud mas realistic ang dating,” he said.

He can’t forget the time when he got accidentally hit by a bolo by Daniel Medrana.

“Na-sipyat. But okay ra, in-ana man jud na. Di pud ko kalimot atong nag-ginukdanay mi sa atop. Delikado sad to. Mahulog uroy mi. Nah, unsaun na lang,” he recalled.

But he has put his full trust on his director Pepe Diokno and doesn’t believe that just because their film is indie, the production values are less.

“Kabantay mo karon, mas gina-appreciate na ang indie films. Tungod man gud nagpakita siya unsa gyu’y tinuod sa society. Pareho aning Engkwentro. It reflects the reality of gang wars here in the Philippines,” he said.

He also related that what made the working experience easier was the camaraderie among the staff. “Kadaghanan nila, Bisaya pa gyud. Magkasinabtanay ra gyud mi,” he said.

For him, the best lesson he learned from the movie was that there is always time to change, although he revealed that his character didn’t have the conscience to transform his attitude.

He made it clear though that his role as Tomas was far from his real-life personality.

“Si Tomas gangster kaayo. Maldito. Ako buotan man,” he justified.

So what’s next?

Well, for a good-hearted guy like Zyrus, he will have a long way to go. Especially now that he is nominated as Best New Male TV Personality in PMPC Star Awards 2009.

He dreams of being Kapamilya so he can work with his long-time crush Mariel Rodriguez.

“Wala mana sa network. Naa na sa trabaho. But ganahan gyud ko maka-work with Mariel... ever since,” he said, smiling.

He’s open to working more indie films, but definitely no gay roles for him.

“Action gyud akong gusto. Robin Padilla style bah. Unya kanang di nako ma-sprain,” he said with a chuckle.

Aside from making a name in this cutthroat showbiz industry, Zyrus is also busy with his studies. He is now a first-year Mass Communication student in Adamson University. Take note: he pays for his own tuition.

“Kailangan sad ko moskwela kay unsa man akong fallback if di nako mag-artista?” he said.

Asked for an advice for youngsters who’d want to pursue showbiz, he added, “Kung unsa inyong gusto, ipadayon. Ayaw lang pagdali. Hulat lang sa opportunity. Patience lang. If nakay dream, makab-ot ra man gyud na.”

Zyrus is definitely not at the end of the road, but he strongly believes that when you start hitting the pavement, there’s no turning back. You just have to keep going, slowly but surely.