Ejay marks his firsts

MANILA, Philippines - Working with Comedy King Dolphy is a must — and a dream — in every local actor’s book and career. Ejay Falcon is lucky to have fulfilled the dream this early in his career. He plays the son of a politician and suitor of co-star and fellow Star Magic talent Maja Salvador in Father Jejemon, RVQ Productions’ official entry to 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival come Christmas Day.

“It is my first film fest and my first movie,” says Ejay of his latest project. “Star Magic informed me that I had a shoot for Father Jejemon while I was still doing Momay. I would be working with Tito Dolphy and Maja as my partner. It is straight comedy. I also want to do comedy. It is a dream come true to have worked with Tito Dolphy.”

“I’m the son of Tito Roy (Alvarez) and boyfriend of Maja,” adds Ejay. “I acted, sang and danced in the movie.”

Father Jejemon is about a new priest named Fr. Jeremiah Jerome “Jejemon” Montes who endears himself to Parmbil people through his offbeat ways. He loves rock music and stages activities for the youth. Thus, Fr. Jejemon is not your ordinary priest. However, it is not easy for him to win the parishioners’ heart. He will also come face to face with a crime syndicate leader who wishes to convert the church into a golf course.

This is different from what Ejay has done in TV series such as Katorse and Tanging Yaman. Father Jejemon shows Ejay’s versatility and open-mindedness to try other genres in acting.

Asked what movie Ejay would like to do in the future, he replies, “My dream is to star in an action-comedy similar to the movies of Robin Padilla. It’s a mix of action, comedy and romance.” It is also reminiscent of Jeric Raval, Ace Vergel and Rudy Fernandez starrers.

“Hopefully, we will see more of the action genre,” wishes Ejay. “And given the chance to do a project or a role, I want to do it. We don’t see characters holding guns and chasing bad guys these days.”

While waiting for that chance, Ejay does Muay Thai twice a week and plans to do air soft. According to him, he is the type of actor who can easily learn things and likes the idea of a man saving a woman in the movies. He likes Leonardo diCaprio, Tom Cruise and James Dean.

“I’m happy where my career is going,” says Ejay. “There was a long lull in my career before. During that time, I attended workshops. It helped me prepare for TV work. If they did ask me to act right after PBB (Pinoy Big Brother), I think I couldn’t do the job. Then projects came in.”

Ejay says he has adjusted to a celebrity’s life and to the city living. He, however, remains the probinsyano from Oriental Mindoro.

“Hindi mawawala yon. Duon naman ako galing,” Ejay shares. “I’m proud of being one. Kung hindi dahil sa probinsya ko, hindi siguro magkakaroon ng direksyon ang buhay ko. I learned a lot from that place. I have become a better person there. People are conservative.”

Whatever success Ejay is enjoying now, it is because “I have worked harder.”