He didn’t pursue photography as a profession as did his father Ronniel de Guzman and his grandfather Cornelio de Guzman, both of Bulletin Today. Instead, JM de Guzman took up music, sans regret and with considerable strides, proving his worth by recently coming up with his eponymous debut album, with Carried Away as carrier single (its Acoustic Version topped Astroplus/Astrovision’s hit list).
Released by Ivory Records, the album carries 11 other must-listen-to songs, nine of them covers (True, made popular by Ryan Cabrera; Collide by Howie Day; Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer; Out Of My League by Stephen Speaks; Sa May Bintana by James Coronel of Smokey Mountain; Pagdating Ng Panahon by Aiza Seguerra; Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order; Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O’Connor; and Yakap Sa Dilim by APO) and two originals (Carried Away and Give You The World, the latter written by JM himself).
Now into his mid-20s, JM at age six started as a print/TVC model. This much I got from the backgrounder sent by Ivory to Funfare: At 14, he was cast in Ang TV. In 2005, he entered UP where he got a Certificate in Theater Arts (major in Performing Studies), and apprenticed as an actor and production staff in Dulaang UP. The following year, JM joined the UP Wrestling Club and became its president. A well-decorated athlete, JM has reaped medals in several competitions sanctioned by the Wrestling Association of the Philippines, representing the UP Wrestling Club (or the Quezon City Wrestling Club for which he won a silver in the 2007 Philippine Olympic Festival’s National Capital Region’s qualifying round).
In 2009, he auditioned and bagged a role in the Cinemalaya entry Last Supper Number 3. Director Lauren Dyogi, unit head of ABS-CBN, saw it and promptly asked JM to audition for the TV series Midnight Phantom in which JM eventually played Rafael Rosell’s best friend. Then, he was cast as Gabriel Maglayon in the remake of Mula Sa Puso, the same role originally played by Rico Yan. More assignments followed: The Star Cinema movies Miss You Like Crazy and My Amnesia Girl, three more indies (Pendong, Rekrut and Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank), and guestings in Maalaala Mo Kaya, Banana Split, ASAP Rocks and other ABS-CBN shows.
Get to know more about JM in a “sexy talk.”
What is sexy to him?
“It’s more of the package. It’s a woman’s attitude, her personality and the way she handles herself.”
When does he feel sexiest?
“When I’m comfortable walking around topless.”
What part of his body does he consider sexiest?
“My chest.”
What part of a woman’s body does he find sexiest?
“Her neck.”
When did he lose his innocence?
“In high school.”
To a younger woman or an older woman?
“An older woman.”
Sexiest book?
“Harry Potter.”
Sexiest movie?
“Original Sin.”
Sexiest musical instrument?
“Saxophone.”
Sexiest song?
“Turn Your Lights Down Low (by Bob Marley).”
Sexiest TV show?
“Spartacus.”
Sexiest food?
“Kaldereta.”
“Porsche 911.”
Sexiest perfume?
“Issey Miyake.”
Sexiest time of day?
“Dawn.”
Sexiest part of the house?
“My room.”
Sexiest animal?
“Tiger.”
Sexiest billboard?
“The one with Anne Curtis.”
Sexiest scene he has seen in a movie?
“Any scene with Angelina Jolie in it.”
Sexiest scene he has ever done?
“Shower scene with a girl.”
Sexiest thing he has ever done to himself?
“Had tattoos.”
Sexiest thing he has ever done to or with somebody?
“Kiss for more than two hours.”
Sexiest fantasy?
“Make love sa beach.”
Sexiest clothing?
“Boxers.”
Sexiest face of a woman?
“That of Angelina Jolie.”
Three women that he finds sexy?
“Angelina Jolie, Kate Hudson and Katie Holmes.”
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)