Participantes face acting challenge in George and Cecil

MANILA, Philippines – Jommy Teotico, Manuel Chua and Marion de la Cruz were the last three guys to compete in ABS-CBN‘s Pinoy Fear Factor, along with Janna Dominguez, the remaining lone female participante. Now, Jommy, Manuel and Marion feel lucky to be part of the romantic comedy, George and Cecil, and they’re elated that they were personally handpicked by its director, Joey Reyes.

Jommy was the big winner in Pinoy Fear Factor, but Manuel was the first one to be given an acting break in Precious Hearts Romances Presents Bud Brothers. How does Jommy feel about it? “Okay lang yun,” he says. “Happy naman ako playing Ryan Agoncillo’s friend in George and Cecil.”

How did he feel when some folks say he won in PFF because he used to work as a waiter at ABS exec Deo Endrinal’s bar at Esquinita? “I applied in PFF on my own. I only worked at Sir Deo’s bar for one month, right after I finished college at Lyceum and was looking for work. I won because of my determination. Sir Deo wasn’t even there while I was doing the stunts in Argentina, so he didn’t have anything to do with me being the winner.”

The second and only boy of three kids, Jommy admits he used to be the black sheep in his family. He nearly died once when he had an affair with a married woman and he was mauled by the relatives of the woman’s husband. “Mga one hour nila akong ginulpi,” he says. “I learned my lesson from that experience.”

He’s been a model for print and TV commercials before joining PFF and he’s now the male celebrity endorser of Bobson Basics.

Manuel says he, Jommy and Marion remain good friends. “We took an acting and dance workshop at ABS-CBN together after PFF and they made us closer as friends,” he adds. 

He’s paired with Valerie Concepcion in Bud Brothers. They appear in the episode based on the novel He’s The One. Manuel is Ed, the pretty boy in their barkada who’s a model and actor. He has put up a flower farm with his friends.

Did he use Pinoy Fear Factor as a stepping stone to join showbiz? “No. Wala akong planong mag-artista. I just wanted to get the cash prize to help our family business in Nueva Ecija. But now that I’m here, enjoy naman ako kasi masaya lagi sa set.”

He was only 22 when he became a dad and his daughter, Klarine Angela, just turned five on March 5. He’s not married to the mom but they’re good friends. “Weekends, we all go to the mall together.”

He feels lucky to be acting with Judy Ann in George and Cecil. “I play a cop na kasamahan niya sa police force. She’s very approachable even if she’s a big star. I have two shows now, one a romantic drama and one a comedy.”

Marion is a balikbayan from Austria. Born on October 7, 1986, he was nine years old when his family moved to Vienna where his dad works as a driver at the Philippine Embassy in Austria. The eldest of three kids, he now speaks fluent German but he has not forgotten how to speak Tagalog as they talk in it at home. He had just finished a business management course in Vienna when he went to visit his maternal grandmother in Valenzuela for a vacation.

“I was about to go back to Austria when I learned about the audition for PFF so I went to ABS and took it,” he says. “Fortunately, nakuha ako as one of the participantes. Our stay in Argentina was a great experience for me.”

After PFF, he decided to stay in Manila and try his luck in showbiz. “Mas masaya rito, even if I miss my parents and siblings who are all still in Austria. I’ve done guestings on various ABS shows and also did mall shows with my PFF colleagues.”

While in PFF, some folks thought he’s gay because he appeared in a woman’s bikini in one episode. “I’m not gay. Masayahin lang ako talaga as a person so I’m happy that my first TV show is a comedy. They also called me Tarantino while in PFF kasi madali akong mataranta.”

In George and Cecil, he plays Ryan’s co-teacher in school. “It’s a blessing that most of my scenes are with him as I’m already comfortable in his company since he was our host in PFF while in Argentina.”

Jommy, Manuel and Marion are all praying that George and Cecil, which premieres tonight in ABS-CBN, will have a very long run as they enjoy working with Judy Ann and Ryan and the other members of the cast.