by Karlo Sevilla
Kung tutuusin, hindi na bago sa buhay ni JM de Guzman ang theme na ‘comeback.’
“Nag-start ako mag-commercials six years old, nag-start ako mag-Ang TV mga 13 to 14 years old,” JM recalls.
Sa kanyang freshman year sa UP Diliman, he was already in the acting field. He chose Theater Arts as his course in college.
“[But] between Ang TV and theater, wala na akong masyadong projects, kung meron man di nagtatagal,” he admits.
With less projects, mas nag-concentrate si JM sa theater while studying and being a a member of Dulaang UP.
Heartbroken siya sa nabiting acting career so he turned his attention to sports.
From acting to sports
Bata pa lang, physically active na si JM, engaging in basketball and rollerblading. Habang nasa college, he discovered long-boarding and contact sports like wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA).
In 2005, sumali siya sa UP Wrestling Club at naging president nito. Bilang deputy ng kanyang fraternity, nakapag-organize pa si JM ng amateur MMA event.
While busy in different fields, it seemed his heart really belonged to acting.
Habang nagre-rehearse para sa isang musical, pinag-audition ng kanilang director at propesor na si Alexander Cortes ang lahat ng mga male actors sa Pintakasi, isang indie film kung saan producer si Ilocos Governor Imee Marcos.
“Nangangailangan daw kasi siya ng theater actors,” balik-tanaw ni JM. “At first, may feeling ako na hindi pa ako ready, medyo mababa pa ang tingin ko sa sarili ko.”
It took one week for JM to audition.
“Heartbroken ako noon sa acting career ko, kasi walang nangyari. May feeling ako na ayaw ko na, na ayaw ko nang ma-reject ulit,” paliwanag niya. “So noong pumunta ako doon, bahala na. Wala namang mawawala. Awa ng Diyos, pinabalik ako. Actually noong audition, nagulat ako at pini-pair na ako sa iba’t iba, hindi ako pinapaalis. May feeling ako na gusto ako. Kasi yung iba, pinapauwi na (laughs).”
Para kay JM, big break ang kanyang first major role. “Top billing at yung pangalan ko sa poster. Never pang nangyari sa akin yun,” he says. “From there, doon ako nahubog sa indie films. Kasi yung freedom tapos kumikita ka pa.”
He was also in the Cinemalaya hit, Last Supper No. 3. Doon siya napansin ng director na si Lauren Dyogi. Bestfriend sa teleserye ng aktor na si Rafael Rosel ang napisil na role para sa kanya. Pero pinayuhan siya ni direk na magpapayat.
“Ang laki ko noon. Dahil sa gusto kong pumayat, nag-wrestling ako,” kwento niya.
Pero dahil naging busy na sa kanyang acting career, muling na-sidetrack ang sports sa buhay ni JM.
This article is part 2 of a series. To read the first article, click here. To read the third article, click here.
Related readings: Can JM DE GUZMAN triumph over drugs?, JM de GUZMAN, LIFE AFTER DRUG ADDICTION, Daddy Ronniel gets his “son back”
