Crazy over their moms...and adobo

CEBU, Philippines -  “I love him already!,” quipped a colleague who had been quietly observing from the sidelines while Mario Maurer and Baifern Pimchanok’s interview with the Cebu press was progressing in one of the function rooms at Shangri-La Resort and Spa.

The 25-year-old heartthrob had gamely and smilingly posed with everyone who sidled up to him and Baifern for a quick photo, even when they were running on a tight schedule. “He sounded very respectful while answering,” this colleague added.

It was just a brief, 18-minute first encounter with the star of “Pee Mak,” (a 2013 horror-comedy that’s currently one of Asia’s highest-grossing films of all time), yet we can’t help but compare his polite, down-to-earth demeanor to that of one Filipino teen idol who has yet to achieve half of Mario’s legit acting feats.

Speaking through an interpreter, the cute and charming Baifern, 21,  was equally as endearing – her soft-spoken, delicate way of talking a pleasure to listen to.

The two Thai stars were brought here by Penshoppe last Sunday for the retail brand’s first-ever Fan Conference in Cebu. Fittingly so, as the now-global brand traces its origins in Cebu. With the Cebu FanCon’s success, crossing our fingers that Penshoppe’s other international endorsers also be flown here in the near future? We can only dream!

It turns out, the stars of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” had much more in common aside from being crazy famous all over Asia. For one, they both adore their mothers and have an inherent passion for business.  Read on for more of our chat with Mario and Baifern.

What have been the most memorable moments during your previous visits in the Philippines?

Mario: Every time I come here, there are many fans at the airport all the time. Each time we have an event here for Penshoppe, there are lots of people. For me, it’s very surprising that we have so many fans here, and they really support me and come to our event.

Baifern: It’s the same thing..it’s the fans. I had a fan who posted on my Instagram, telling me that they’ll be waiting for me at the airport…and they always keep their promise. They always keep on supporting me. The most impressive thing that happen every time we come back here are the fans.

Aside from acting, do you have any other dream job?

Mario: I want to do business, like selling something…because my family, we have our own business. So one day, I’d like to take care of the family business.

Baifern: Apart from being an actress, I also have my own business. If you follow my Instagram, you will see that I have a cream gel…very good product.

What are some Filipino food you’ve tasted and loved?

Mario: Lechon, we’re going to try it today. But usually, my favorite is adobo.

Baifern: I would like to try lechon later tonight.

Mario: I will suggest that we will eat balut. Lami.

What are the highlights of your endorsement stint with Penshoppe?

Mario: For me, every moment is a highlight because all the events of Penshoppe are good. So each time, it has been exciting and very nice.

Baifern: Same with Mario. Every time, there is something new with the clothes… every collection that we shoot, there is always something new, and you can mix and match. The clothes are very comfortable and easy to match.

When not dressing up for work and the cameras, what type of clothes do you typically throw on?

Mario: Jeans, because I think for men and women, it’s comfortable and tough. So I always wear jeans with a T-shirt.

Baifern: Anything comfortable, I feel confident in.

How is it working with one another?

Mario: It’s very nice working with her. We did a campaign for Penshoppe twice, and it’s been very nice.

Baifern: It’s always very nice working with Mario, because it is easy since he is very professional. He’s always very helpful.

What upcoming projects can your fans look forward to?

Mario: Right now, in Bangkok, I have a drama that’s currently showing titled ‘Rising Sun.’ I also shot a movie in Singapore, which is now in the editing process.

Baifern: I’m shooting a new TV series for one of the TV stations back home. It’s going to premiere this August 28. I also have a new movie, which will be shown this September. 

What is the most challenging aspect of being a young, Asian superstar?

Mario: For me, it’s my movie roles. They are always challenging. I always get a different role each time. One movie I’ve done is ‘Jan Dara,’ where I had to play someone from a young age until he was 80 years old. That was very challenging for me.

Baifern: The hardest part for me is trying to push myself. I feel that people have expectations of my work , so I have to push myself to make sure that my work is good and will satisfy the fans and viewers.

How did you get into acting?

Mario: At first, I didn’t want to be an actor. I knew absolutely nothing about it. I went to a movie show where I met my teacher, who taught what acting was all about. From that, I got to learn about acting. It’s a very hard job, you have to give time to it and study about it, too. 

Baifern: This dream of mine began from the other side…watching other actors on TV. I told my father I will be one of them. Actually, the one that inspired me to improve myself as an actress was the project I did with Mario, ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love.’ Mario is one of the important people who helped me pursue this career. He was very good in the movie, very professional and very nice.

How do you unwind after a long day’s work?

Mario: I usually go with my friends, and we ride bikes. Sometimes, we workout at the gym.

Baifern: I try to give my free time to my family, because before I got in to the entertainment industry, I always spent time with my family. Since I became an actress, I hardly had any time, so whenever I’m free, it’s usually spent with the family. 

For Mario, you have a Filipino best friend in Thailand. What Filipino traditions or traits have you been exposed to?

Mario: They always made adobo at home. I always eat adobo every time I go to his house. I’ve also met a lot of their Filipino friends.

What was the best thing a fan ever did to you?

Mario: Every time I come here to the Philippines, I always get gifts that are related to your country. Sometimes, I get this very little house. How do you call it? A bahay kubo that’s in a bottle. It’s very well-made, and I still keep it.  I always keep what the fans give me. Sometimes, they give me a [miniature] tricycle or a golden jeepney. I actually have a limited edition jeepney at home.

Baifern: In the Philippines especially, it’s always beyond my expectations. When I arrived yesterday, the fans who waited at the international terminal…they ran after our car just to get to see me. They had this small photo book…little things, but they put in a lot of effort into it.

Who is that one person you look up to the most?

Mario: My mom, because she’s a very hardworking woman and she is very kind. She is very happy when I’m around.

Baifern: My mother also, because she does a lot of social charities. I want to follow in her footsteps by trying to do a lot of charity work. 

Filipinos loved the film you starred in together, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.’ Why do you think it was such a hit?

Mario: I think it’s because of Fern. Her acting there was really good, as well as the acting of her friends in the movie. I was really touched with their acting. The first thing I watched the movie, I cried in the theater during that scene where she was with her friends…they were crying there and saying sorry to one another. I thought that scene was very good, and it also touched a lot of people.  

Baifern: Because Mario was the lead actor, that’s why the movie became really famous.

What was the best advice you’ve ever received when it comes to handling fame?

Mario: At one time, there’s this very famous comedian in Thailand…he told me that the more you get famous, the more you have to act small. You have to think small always. Because whenever you think you’re big, you’re the smallest. When you think you’re small, you will be okay.

Baifern: I listen to people around me. I listen to a lot of advice…I listen to my parents, my manager, and to the more senior actors because they know the industry better.