From sex symbols & matinee idols to award-winning actors

After listing down sex goddesses-turned-award winning actresses in the past, Funfare zeroes in on male sex symbols and matinee idols. Jay Manalo comes to mind first. The star of Totoy Mola and now leader of the Barako Boys has truly transformed from bold star to fine actor, with remarkable performances in Prosti, Huling Birhen sa Lupa, Kapalit, Bayaran, Hubog and Mano Po (all three, plus the upcoming Ako Legal Wife, billed as Mano Po 4, playing husband to Zsa Zsa Padilla, Rufa Mae Quinto and Cherry Pie Picache).

Jay won Best Actor awards for Prosti (Urian), Huling Birhen (Manila Film Festival) and Bayaran (FAMAS) directed by Erik Matti, Joel Lamangan and Jun Posadas, respectively.

The half-Filipino and half-Vietnamese actor also sings and dances onstage via the sexy musical All About Men: Penis Talks 2, currently showing at the Music Museum. Jay is Maricel Soriano’s love interest in the ABS-CBN telenovela Vietnam Rose.

Who comes next after Jay Manalo?

Wendell Ramos, this year’s Urian Best Actor for Sabel, which also gave Judy Ann Santos the Best Actress trophy from the same award-giving group, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. For years, Wendell languished in so-so roles until direk Joel cast him as the small-time hustler in Hubog, where people took note of his depth and sensitivity.

After which Joel got him for Sabel. Wendell also stood out in Mel Chionglo’s Two Timer opposite Ara Mina.

When not appearing on the big screen, Wendell makes people laugh in the GMA comedies Bahay Mo Ba ’To? and Bubble Gang. He also makes gals and gays alike swoon when he dons the skimpiest Bench briefs.

How about Victor Neri, one of direk Joel’s favorite actors along with Jay Manalo and Wendell Ramos? Victor won a Best Supporting Actor (Metro Manila filmfest) for a Lamangan film, Filipinas, topbilled by Maricel Soriano, who won for the same film the Metro filmfest and Academy Best Actress statuettes.

Belonging to ABS-CBN’s Talent Center (renamed Star Magic), Victor was initially built up as a singing matinee idol and later junior action star. He also appeared in a sexy film or two. It took direk Joel to tap to the fullest Victor’s acting gift.

Victor appeared in a Hollywood film shot in the Philippines, Brokedown Palace, starring Claire Danes, who said a mouthful or two against the country. Masakit pero totoo. But then that’s neither here nor there.

Senior to Jay, Wendell and Victor are accomplished actors Richard Gomez, Albert Martinez and Aga Muhlach, who started their careers in the early ’80s as romantic leading men and matinee idols.

Richard was also packaged as a sex symbol by his manager, starmaker and producer Douglas Quijano. Richard’s got the looks, the physique, and the height, truly a Brown Adonis. He’s also into sports like target shooting and fencing, representing the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games to be held in Manila this November.

Richard’s award-winning roles include Carlitos Siguion-Reyna’s Hihintayin Kita sa Langit and Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Ishmael Bernal’s Wating (Urian Best Actor), and Chito Roño’s Dahas (Metro Manila filmfest, Star, FAMAS and Academy Best Actor).

From Snooky Serna’s love interest on and off cam, Albert graduated to serious acting, snagging trophies for Tikoy Aguiluz’s Dapitan and Segurista, Lamangan’s Sidhi and Butch Perez’s Mumbaki.

Ageless Aga’s award-winning roles are Maryo J. de los Reyes’ Sinungaling Mong Puso (FAMAS, Star), Joey Reyes’ May Nagmamahal and Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (Metro Manila Filmfest), Lino Brocka’s Napakasakit, Kuya Eddie and Olive Lamasan’s Sana Maulit Muli (Urian).

Aga also won a special citation from the Catholic Mass Media Awards for Brocka’s Miguelito.

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