The making of a multi-media model

Success in life is one’s ultimate goal. But it comes with difficulty, patience, hard work, and a road paved with thorns. Especially in show business!

“Is Xian Lim ABS-CBN’S hottest property?” The September cover of the glossy magazine Inside Showbiz shouted out the question. The past covers of the magazine had Sam Milby in August, Sarah Geronimo in July, Enchong Dee in June. We asked our suki at the magazine stand which issue sold the most and she quickly answered, “Ito pong kay Xian Lim. Nakapag re-order na nga po ako.”

Xian? But he’s a newbie! Barely four years in the business! It took even Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz more years to attain success and stardom, we protested. She shrugged her shoulders which spoke even more eloquently of the nature of showbiz, that there was no formula for success.

We read through the eight full pages for answers to our questions, which the magazine tackles in “Ten Reasons why Xian Lim is the Next Leading Man to Beat!” They pick the following: 1. Xian is professional — never late, without the attitude problem. 2. He is serious in improving his craft — widening the scope of roles to tackle, reading Sidney Sheldon books. 3. He takes the negative as positive — is never onion-skinned about criticism. 4. Respects his fans sincerely — went to the hospital to sing for a sick lola, a fan who requested it. 5. He is a natural leader — takes advantage of this newfound ability he never thought he had. 6. Values trust given him — these include projects given and endorsements. 7. Motivates himself — just about anything provides him with inspiration in writing his songs. 8. He has no pretensions — what you see is what you get, and Xian wants that to stay. 9. A hopeless romantic — he would shower a special girl with gifts and attention. 10. Unafraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.

It has been four years since stylist Ton Lao discovered him. We have seen him in the TV series My Binondo Girl of Kim Chiu, a turning point in his career; My Cactus Heart with Maja Salvador and Matteo Guidicelli; and in the recent The Reunion where he shared stellar roles with Enchong, Kean Cipriano, and Enrique Gil. In the same Inside Showbiz issue, direk Frasco Mortiz of The Reunion believed that Xian was shy, aloof, introverted after he had been bullied in high school. Perhaps he used the pain of that experience in his acting. He is a slow burn as an actor, continued the director.

Amazingly, this ability to turn the negative into positive, to be a role model and to respect his co-workers had been recognized by marketing managers early on. Today, Xian has 10 endorsements — Mint, Century Bangus, Rejoice, Myra-E, Technomarine, McDonalds, Globe, Surf, Faces & Curves and Gold’s Gym.

Xian topped the online polls of 2012 Inside Showbiz’s Hottest Man last August, with an autograph-signing session at The Podium. Fans at the venue said that more than reading about him, watching him on TV, movies, and billboards, there is nothing like seeing their idol in the flesh. Xian seems to have evolved into the perfect multi-media model.

Workshop weekends at Peta

PETA has designed a way to fit in theater workshops without disturbing school activities. With workshop weekends, courses including Creative Musical Theater II, Basic Acting, Teen Theater and Children’s Theater are being offered Saturdays and Sundays. The workshops of nine sessions with six hours each are held Saturdays (Oct. 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24; and Dec. 1) and Sundays (Oct. 28, Nov. 25 and Dec. 2). The last two sessions are allotted for a technical dress rehearsal and showcase.

Basic Acting, for ages 17 and up, is designed to provide basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes on becoming stage actors. Lastly, Creative Musical Theater II, for ages 17 and up, focuses on the elements of musical performance and composition. It also studies the forms of musical theater with focus on the Philippine experience. Registration is currently on. Applicants are invited for an interview at the PETA Theater Center. For details, call 725-6244, 0916-3090707 or e-mail at [email protected].

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