Maryo J.'s 'Men with M'

So what does it take to be a Masculado?

“One must have muscles, of course!” says direk Maryo J. delos Reyes who has just organized Masculados Dos (a reinvention of the ‘70s’ Hagibis) after some members of the first batch grew up and grew older, with the original three retained.

Except for Orlando Sol, who’s also a member of direk Maryo’s “Men with M” composed of six young talents he plans to groom as actors (original number was seven but one was dropped because he was confirmed to be a drug addict), the six other Masculados are known by just their nicknames — Enrico, Ozu, Lexter, Nico, Robin and Dart.

“One of them could be another Yul Servo, who knows?” muses direk Maryo who groomed Yul into a fine, award-winning actor.

Both groups are managed by direk Maryo’s Productions 56.

Orlando is being introduced in Halik sa Tubig, an indie directed by Bong Ramos, which also stars Paolo Paraiso, Marco Morales and Althea Vega; and will soon star in Macho Dancer 3 (after Macho Dancer by Lino Brocka, and Midnight Dancer by Mel Chionglo), to be directed by Maryo himself. He might also star in an indie titled Tiktik Kalawang, maybe with Yul as co-star, and probably with direk Maryo again at the helm.

Born Emanwell Canles on Dec. 9, 1986 (Sagittarius) in Butuan City to parents who are both teachers, Orlando was discovered by direk Maryo one Maundy Thursday during a dramatization of The Washing of the Feet at the St. Paul The Apostle Parish Church on Timog Avenue, Quezon City. Orlando, who stands 5’9” and weighs 165 lbs., was then working at the nearby Chowking (on Quezon Avenue).

“I represented Chowking in The Washing of the Feet,” said Orlando who came from a sing-and-dance group called M-Gage (of Viva Records). “That’s where Tito Maryo saw me. ‘You want to be an actor?’ he asked me. I said, ‘Why not?’”

Direk Maryo promptly sent Orlando to Geleen Eugenio to train as a dancer. That was last year. Early this year, he and the six other Masculados were introduced at a presscon where they sang some selections from their first album, Ganda, Ganda! Seksi, Seksi! (released by Universal Records).

“I really wanted to see the world, so I studied at the Philippine Martime Institute (PMI),” said Orlando. “But I also dreamed of becoming an actor.”

To maintain his Masculado form, Orlando works out every day and follows a low-carb/high protein diet, drinking as much water as he can “because I sweat a lot at the gym.” He doesn’t smoke and, upon the fatherly advice of direk Maryo, drinks only “socially,” refrains from going on nocturnal “gimik” and gets as much sleep as he can.

As a Masculado, he has no qualms about showing his body — “But not my front,” he qualified.

In a scene in Halik sa Tubig, which is showing soon, Orlando has an orgy scene with Paolo and Marco. “I show only my bare butt,” he said.

From indies, Orlando hopes to graduate to the mainstream.

“Kuya Yul is my idol,” volunteered Orlando. “It’s from him that I get pointers in acting. I also admire Coco Martin (Who also started in indies directed by Cannes Best Director Brillante ‘Dante’ Mendoza. --- RFL). Mahusay siya umarte; ang mga mata niya nagsasalita even when he’s not delivering any dialogue.”

In the meantime, in-between Masculado gigs (one set for today in Metro East; tomorrow, May 15, at Robinsons in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; and on Sunday, May 16, at Robinsons Starmills in San Fernando, Pampanga, and at night at Metro Bar on West Avenue, Quezon City), Orlando spends his free time visiting gay bars around Quezon City as part of his training/research for Macho Dancer 3.

“I will also study macho-dancing,” he said.

* * *

Ryan David Dungo

Tall, dark and handsome, he has a beautifully-sculptured body that easily made him the grand winner of the Hataw Superbodies 2008 search at Zirkoh (San Juan City). The name Ryan David Dungo became controversial when his indie debut Sagwan (also starring, among others, Ayen Laurel) was given an ‘X’ by the MTRCB. The film was a hit in the DVD circuit because of its graphic depiction of gay love and sex. A Computer Technician graduate from AMA (who dreams to be a restaurateur), Ryan is also a member of Masculados Dos.

Ray-An Dulay

He started acting when he was in high school and later joined the TV drama Balintataw. Between 2002 and 2004, Ray-An starred in the indie film Bathhouse, followed by four more indies (Ang Laro sa Buhay ni Juan, Moreno, Ben and Sam, Metlogs 2008 and Kambyo). He has also appeared in TV commercials for Tanduay, Jollibee and Nescafé. A Broadcast Communications graduate from UE, he enjoys watching movies, reading and listening to music; and dabbles in ‘extreme’ sports like mountain-climbing, skate-boarding and ‘roller-blading.’ He’s in the GMA soap Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak  which is directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes.

Topher Barreto

Mark Christopher Barreto in real life, he just turned 21 last March. He grew up in Pasig City. Topher has starred in several indie films, including Showboyz, Ang Pinakamahabang One-Night Stand, M2M Eyeball2, Uncovered Boys and Quicktrip which ranked No. 47 in the Top 100 Sexiest Performances of the Decade (2000-2009). ‘I live a simple life,’ says Topher. ‘Someday, I will build a house of my own.’ He considers breakfast as his most important meal for the day and he exercises regularly to keep fit. He’s also in Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak.

Shaun Rodriguez

He’s better known as the ‘hot daddy’ of Survivor II (Palau) in which he placed sixth. Also the 2008 Mr. Slimmers World, Shaun works as a PRO at the City Council’s Office in Manila for which he organizes medical/dental missions and feeding programs. He’s the first cousin of Ruby Rodriguez and the late Miguel Rodriguez. He studied at the PETA Summer Theater Arts Workshop in 2009. His TV credits: Rosalinda, Saan Darating ang Umaga, Maalaala Mo Kaya and Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak as the bodyguard of Sandy Andolong. He was with Orlando Sol in M-Gage as lead singer.

Kiel Rodriguez

Tall (5’11”), young (20) and handsome, Kiel started in showbiz at 13 when he was discovered by the late Douglas Quijano. After three years, he quit to help his parents run the family business. ‘But I realized that I have fallen in love with showbiz, so...’ said Kiel who is deadset on finishing his studies through the home-study program. Among his TV credits:Cool Ka Lang, Kakaba-kaba Ka Ba?, Mulawin, Zaido, Atlantica, Love 2 Love Season 2 and The Last Prince. He was also in the movie Gagamboy with Vhong Navarro in the title role.

* * *

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])