Jojo Flores: From showbiz aspirant to talent agency head

MANILA, Philippines — Talent and modeling searches are part of the local entertainment landscape. They become launching pads for showbiz wannabes. One of them is JAMS Top Model Philippines, presented by JAMS Artist Production, a talent and casting agency, whose founder Jojo Flores was once an aspiring actor.

“I attended an ABS-CBN workshop,” he said in an interview. “My classmates were Jana Victoria (Love Thy Woman and Lagarista) and January Isaac, known as Lumen (of the Surf commercial). I had then a handler-manager, (the same handler of) Hero Angeles. This was before the Star Circle Quest. I did bit roles (and I had guestings in shows like GMA 7’s Click).”

Winners of JAMS Top Model Philippines 2019.

Jojo made it through the Top 20 screening but only the Top 10 were introduced during showtime. The eventual winner was Hero. A family problem made Jojo put aside his showbiz aspiration.

It dawned on him that showbiz was perhaps not for him and that prompted him to consider a career change.

From there, he decided to work abroad as a chef. After three years, he returned to the Philippines and was encouraged by friends to give acting another try. He appeared in Ikaw ay Pag-ibig and E-boy. “This (point in my life) made me realize to consider managing talents instead of me acting,” said Jojo, who put up JAMS with would-be life partner Maricar Moina as co-founder. The acronym stands for “just attitude makes you successful.” They inculcate in their talents the importance of having commitment or good attitude towards work.

This is also put to the test now that the COVID-19 pandemic has directly hit the entertainment scene and talent agencies like JAMS. In a press statement, Jojo shared that his agency and the latter’s annual search need “to evolve and level-up. I think it’s the best way to adapt to the new normal.” Going online or digital is the way at the moment.

As for JAMS Top Model Philippines, their flagship project, Jojo and Maricar set up an online registration to continue their goal of paving the way for acting and modeling newbies. A cash prize of P500,000 awaits the winner.

Jojo and Maricar are looking for ways to give talents new doors of opportunities in the “new normal.” They plan to produce digital shows and segments for the meantime. If gathering people is a possibility soon, with safety guidelines to follow, then, JAMS will do a movie and mount its search (which can also be done virtually).

Life goes on as agencies and talents enter into the “new normal.”