VJ Mark: Basketball’s loss is TV’s gain

When he was a kid, MYX VJ Mark San Diego had dreamed of being everything a boy could imagine himself to be – a basketball player, a firefighter, a cop or even being in the navy – except being seen on TV.

"When I realized I really couldn’t play in the NBA, I totally gave up the ambition of becoming a basketball player," shares Mark, a native of Seattle who is of Filipino-American descent. "My dad is a police officer. That’s why I also wanted to become a cop when I was younger."

Apparently, Mark’s destiny was far different from what he earlier imagined himself to be. Born and raised in Seattle, Mark’s dad hails from Mindoro. This allowed Mark to visit the Philippines for the first time in 1997. He came for a short vacation with younger sister Lisa Marie.

In Seattle, Mark tried modeling on the side and put up a construction business before he returned to Manila. He also took up business management and shifted to marine biology in college. "But I never imagined myself being a VJ – and in the Philippines yet," Mark says.

Mark, a dead-ringer for 98 Degrees soloist Nick Lachey or Smallville lead actor Tom Welling, returned to Manila last year for commercial modeling. Mark did a string of TV ads like Astring-O-sol, Coffeemate, Sony, Enervon, Nestlé Milk and Nesvita Cereal. In November, he heeded the MYX audition for new VJs and was fortunate enough to chosen from more than a hundred aspirants.

"I had this dream before that I was leaving Seattle and I became successful in another place," Mark shares. "I guess being on MYX is already part of the realization of that dream."

Mark was launched as a MYX VJ last November in the MYX-Mo party-concert at the Luneta Grandstand, before 80,000 people. The grand event was a thanksgiving for the loyal followers of the popular music channel.

MYX is the only 24-hour Filipino music channel with innovative programming and viewer interactivity, zeroing in on the unique and fickle taste of the Filipinos. The channel airs music videos, local and international, which are programmed and sequenced according to the lifestyle and preference of the average Filipino young viewer.

Mark joins the roster of MYX VJs who include Karel Marquez, Luis Manzano and Heart Evangelista. Mark tapes twice a week for his shows. He takes viewers down memory lane with Backtrax, featuring all the classic hits from ’70s to the ’90s. He is also the choice for Rock MYX, since he grew up in Seattle, the home of Nirvana and other legendary bands.

In the morning, Mark is seen with Luis, Heart and Karel with the latest and hottest music videos on Pop MYX. All the most requested music videos are tabulated daily for the most accurate music chart in the country, the MYX Daily Top Ten.

Afternoons on MYX feature a good mix of R&B, hip-hop and soul via Urban MYX, with VJ Luis. VJ Karel showcases Filipino talent on OPM MYX. Viewers’ requests, sent through e-mail, text and even snail mail are granted by VJ Heart on the widely popular My MYX. Cap the day as VJ Heart sets the romantic mood with her Melow MYX. Meanwhile, Cyber MYX connects the country with the most exciting cyber chat community.

Mark, who is managed by Velvet Rope Modeling Agency, admits he still has to get used to the fame he now enjoys. "It’s flattering when people recognize me in the mall, although I still find it funny at times," he says.

Although working here keeps him away from his family in Seattle, Mark has admirably learned to cope with homesickness. "I miss my sister and my family altogether because we’re really close," Mark says. "I also miss my set of friends in middle school, but I really love it here. I want to put up my own business here one day. Fame is okay, but it’s not the most important thing to me. I want something more stable."

Unlike other talents who have made hosting a stepping stone to an acting career, Mark insists he will not pursue acting. Nor will he embark on a singing career. "Hosting alone scares me," Mark allows. "But I’m not as nervous today as I was before when I do my job. There’s a different kind of excitement I get whenever I go in front of the cameras. I always want to get better."

MYX, however, is not just all music. The channel also delivers the coolest events for the gimmick-hungry Filipino. Parties, concerts, free trips abroad, CD give-aways and freebies are always part of the promo activities MYX serves its viewers. MYX recently invaded Boracay, hosting the biggest summer hip-hop party on the island. Last month, one lucky winner was awarded an all-expense paid trip to Dublin, Ireland, to meet The Corrs.

"MYX pledges to deliver music that will truly appeal to the hearts and tastes of the discriminating Filipino viewer," said Andre Alvarez, channel manager of MYX. "We try to act as fast as to what’s really relevant. We are open to what viewers have to say. It’s pointless to tell them what’s popular. We give them what they want."

MYX is one of the channels produced by Creative Programs Inc. (CPI), an ABS-CBN subsidiary which is also a content provider for SkyCable and other leading cable networks in the country. Other channels exclusively distributed by CPI are Lifestyle Network, the ABS-CN News Channel (ANC), Cinema One and Cinemax.