Marvin Agustin: The first time, the last time

Despite what detractors (there are legions in showbiz, or have you forgotten?) say against him, Marvin Agustin is in a class of his own as a role model. When his father, Danilo Cuyugan, was sent to prison, convicted in a drug case, Marvin as the only boy in the family (never mind if he’s the youngest child) mobilized his sisters in a collective effort to keep them together, with their mom, Teresa Cuyugan, eventually acting as both mother and father to the brood.

"We started from scratch," said Marvin who is not ashamed to admit that his father is serving term at the National Penitentiary. "With our father gone, our family could have disintegrated but we didn’t let that happen to us. Thank God, we managed to turn things around."

Launched seven years ago as a member of the ABS-CBN Talent Center’s Star Circle Batch 2, Marvin has amply proven his thespic salt not only on TV but in films as well, showing his competence both in comedy (the sitcom Whattamen, etc.) and drama (specifically Laurice Guillen’s landmark movie Tanging Yaman as the obedient son of Johnny Delgado and Hilda Koronel).

Minus their buddy Rico Yan, Marvin and Whattamen colleague Dominic Ochoa co-host the ABS-CBN noontime show MTB and will soon be seen in the new ABS-CBN teleserye Tanging Yaman and in Star Cinema’s Dekada ’70, directed by Chito Roño from the Palanca-winning novel by Lualhati Bautista, where he plays one of Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon’s children.

In the newly-revived Manila Film Festival (June 12 to 25), Marvin stars as the timid boyfriend of Rufa Mae Quinto in the Neo Films’ official entry Super B (with Rufa Mae as the title role), directed by Joyce Bernal. As one of the image models for the teen fashion line Molecules, Marvin takes over from his departed friend Rico whom he misses "terribly, terribly!"

In a free-wheeling Conversation, Marvin recalls the "first time" and the "last time" he has done this and that, or felt this and that. Here’s Marvin "the first time"/"the last time"...

• He cried really hard

"The first time was when I learned that my father was going to jail. (Marvin’s dad is still at the National Penitentiary, convicted in a drug case. – RFL)

"The last time was last March when Rico (Yan) died. I cried like I never cried before."

• He told a lie

"The first time was when I was in high school. It was a Saturday night and I told my Mom I was attending a school affair when actually I went to the disco with my girlfriend.

"The last time was only a few days ago when I arrived late for the shooting of the new Talk ’n Text commercial. I told them that something happened. It was an alibi."

• He fell really in love

"The first time was in 1997. I was already in showbiz then. Do I have to tell you who the girl was? How did I know I was in love? Well, iba ’yung feeling, e! I have her as girlfriend not just for the sake of having a girlfriend but because I felt that I was really and truly in love with her. It’s hard to describe the feeling. Basta, I knew I was in love. Tinamaan talaga ako.

"The last time was only last January. She was a non-showbiz girl. It was a short-lived romance, lasting for only three weeks. She was older than me. Why did it end so soon? Naging complicated ang situwasyon; hindi niya masakyan ang pagiging artista ko."

• He had a heartbreak

"The first time was in 1997. Yeah, that girl, my first love. Did I get drunk? No, I didn’t. Luckily, I was busy so work became my therapy.

"The last time? I haven’t had a heartbreak since then."

• He prayed really hard

"The first time was when we were starting life anew after my Dad was imprisoned. There was my Mom, and my two sisters, Shirley May and Shirley Joy. We all decided to work. My sister worked at Shakey’s and the other one worked at Dunkin’ Donuts. I worked at Tia Maria’s. Nag-buy-and-sell naman ang Nanay namin. Our prayers were answered naman; nag-improve ang buhay namin.

"The last time was before the showing of Tanging Yaman at the Metro Manila Filmfest in December last year, na sana kumita ’yung pelikula. What I’m praying hard for now ay sana kumita itong Super B. Do I pray to any particular saint? No, I don’t. I pray straight to God."

• He made a wrong decision

"The first time was after I finished high school (at Sta. Rita College in Parañaque). I decided not to go on to college. I would have taken up a course in Marketing. Kaya lang, I was already starting in showbiz then so I quit school. Later on, I realized that I didn’t have to regret that decision because something good happened to me in showbiz.

"The last time was when I became friendly with a girl (identity withheld). Nothing happened between us; we were just friends talaga. But then, she made up stories – you know, that something happened between us – and she got me into a mess. I regretted having known her. I’ve become very careful in dealing with girls since then."

• He kissed a girl

"The first time was when I was 12. I kissed my girlfriend at the back of the church. I was a sakristan at that time. How did it feel? Masarap!

"The last time was three days ago, on a Saturday night, while we were in my friend’s house, drinking. The girl was not from showbiz. Bigla na lang niya ako hinalikan. She caught me by surprise."

• He got really depressed

"The first time was when I learned that my sister was pregnant. I knew that things were not okay. Thank God everything turned out well.

"The last time was when Rico died. His death really hit me hard. There wasn’t any premonition at all."

• He felt ashamed of himself

"There has never been a first time. I don’t remember ever feeling ashamed of myself.

"The last time? Wala ring last time. I’ve always been happy with myself, proud of myself."

• He felt really loved

"The first time was in 1999. I had a girlfriend and she made me feel how much she really loved me. Whoever she is, she knows; wherever she is, I wish her well. How did she do it? Well, she really fought for me, she really fought for the relationship. Unfortunately, nagkaroon ng complication so we had no choice but to end everything.

"The last time happened only last January. Yes, the girl in that short-lived, three-week romance."

• He felt really sad

"The first time was, I guess, when my Dad went to jail. I felt sad for him, for our family. I continue to visit him and I can feel that he’s proud of me. I’ve never been ashamed that my father is a prisoner. He didn’t steal anything; he didn’t kill anybody. He’s there because of drugs.

"The last time was, you guessed it, when Rico died. It’s a deep sadness that I feel until now. I feel even more sad when I recall my happy days with Rico and Dominic, especially our kalokohan on the set – on MTB and while we were doing the Talk ’n Text commercial. Now, when Dominic and I are monkeying around, I could feel that something is missing, that somebody is missing. Nobody can ever replace Rico’s place in my heart, in our hearts."

• He felt really angry

"The first time was when my Dad and I had a fight. That was before he got into prison. It was a father-and-son thing. My Dad was getting deeper and deeper into drugs and I felt more and more helpless. Nagagalit na ako sa situwasyon. Inevitably, nag-clash kami. Early on, I saw the ill effects of drugs, that’s why I stay away from drugs. I’ve never tried drugs because I know how they can destroy people. I can face anybody and say that I’m clean.

"The last time was when I heard all those bad things about Rico and Dominic, which were all lies. Let’s leave (especially) Rico in peace. He’s gone and let’s just pray for him, that he may rest in peace."

• He felt like a star

"The first time was when I did my first movie, Flames (The Movie), and I found myself swamped by moviegoers when I visited one of the theaters. Sarap ng feeling! The movie was a blockbuster at ang feeling ko buong mundo nanood. Feeling star talaga ako.

"The last time was during the shooting of Super B. I’m not the bida in the movie; it’s Rufa Mae who’s playing the title role. But Rufa Mae made me feel like a bida even if I was playing only a ‘supporting’ role. She’s so down-to-earth, sobrang bait, and she never acted like, ‘Hoy, ako ang bida rito!’ She was never like that. She allowed other people enough space."

• He hated himself

"The first time was when I quit school, but I’ve gotten over it. I never regret decisions I make even if they turn out to be wrong. I always try to learn from my mistakes. But then, as I’ve said, something good comes from what I thought were ‘wrong’ decisions. I wasn’t able to continue my studies (but I still hope to resume them soon) pero nagkaroon naman ako ng hanapbuhay sa showbiz. I’ve been able to build a house for my family, invest in business (rice toppings called Ricecapades) which my sisters and I are running. I have also been able to save. Kaya no regrets.

"The last time was when I invested a good sum on a business na agad-agad nalugi. Like with meeting (kiss-and-tell) girls, I’m now extra-careful about going into business. Sayang ang pera; mahirap pa naman kumita ng pera ngayon."

• He felt really happy

"The first time was when my family and I were able to turn our lives around. Kasi when my Dad went to jail, we thought that was the end of us. But we did our best to save our family, to keep all of us together. Hindi kami nagkawatak-watak.

"The last time was only recently when I renewed my Talk ’n Text contract."

• He wished he were somebody else

"The first time was when I watched Superman. I was just a kid then. I wanted to be Superman; he’s my superhero.

"The last time was two years ago when I watched Gladiators. At that time, I wanted to be like Russell Crowe playing a Gladiator."

• He had sex

"The first time was… kailan ba ’yon? Oh, yes, I was 12. But don’t ask me with whom, where and when. The girl knows who she is.

"The last time was a month ago. With whom? Secret!"