Marvin Agustin: Young showbiz veteran

At 24 years old, Marvin Agustin has seen it all. He started show business at 17. They asked him three times before he agreed to come join the entertainment world. He was frightened at first. He really didn't want to be an actor. He knew the money was good but he also knew that politics and rumors and lies littered the life of an actor.

But Marvin is not the type to shy away from opportunity; especially if it came knocking three times. So he took it, assured that his family life would not be made public. But they didn't expect him to make it so big, so soon. Naturally, it all came out. " They told me when I came into showbiz that they would spread lies and rumors; they'd just make up stories. But that is just part of the game."

And it is a game that Marvin played and won. He was part of the extremely successful movie "Dekada `70" and is soon to come out in two more films - "Moral" directed by Marilou Diaz Abaya and "Tanging Ina" with Ai Ai Delas Alas.

"Dekada `70 was a great experience for me, professionally and personally. I got to work with Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon and Chito Rono is the director. It took us 3 years to put the film together." And puts another high point in the career of the young actor.

"I'm enjoying it (my career). I think right now, what's important for me is that I'm enjoying myself. Before, I was thinking and thinking about what to do with my career; what else can I do and how to maintain my status but now, I'm just enjoying," he says, confidently, a big smile on his face.

So what is there left to do? Stories and rumors have come and gone and he's weathered them. He's been part of one of the most important movies of 2002. He's been a businessman, a dramatic actor and a comedian. Is there nowhere else to go for Marvin?

"There is still so much to do, so much I want to do. I keep planning," he says. He plans to take a course in Arts Management in Asian Institute of Management and plans on taking Humanities to finish his schooling. " I want to take up Humanities. I want to appreciate life more. I want to be able to enter the room and know the details. You tend to appreciate life more when you know the culture and the history," he says, with his eyes brightening up at the topic, "That is definitely one of my goals for this year - to go back to school; to learn more."

And very soon, Marvin will be directing. He's already directed a video for "Hanggang" and the people at Star Cinema liked his work. So will we see less of Marvin in front of the camera as he starts moving towards off camera work?

"Acting is still my priority but it is more fulfilling for me to do directing work," he states, "I realized I wanted to be a director. And I want the responsibility to be the one on top. I just love responsibility."

His life is an open book. And that is what is fascinating about Marvin Agustin. He almost doesn't have a personal life. It's only now that he feels secure about his position in show business that he can stop really caring about other people's expectations of him. He's having fun and there's still so much more fun to be had.

He doesn't believe that people should be working for 24 hours. " You have to have a balanced life. It can't be all work," he states. He plays badminton and billiards with friends, watches movies and tries to live a normal life on his free time.

"I have friends and family and they keep me grounded. They are very supportive." Marvin uses them as an inspiration to continue working hard, taking on responsibility and trying to succeed in this cut-throat business of smiles, glitz and glamour.

There is barely anything to hide now for Marvin Agustin and we still want to know more, want to find out what he is going to accomplish next. And if that doesn't make an intriguing person, I don't know what does!