Cebuano recognized for breakthrough performance

CEBU, Philippines - His biggest acting break also earned          him his biggest reward. Cebuano showbiz newbie Zyrus Desamparado won Best Breakthrough Performance—his first ever acting honor—at the recently-concluded Golden Screen Awards for his role in the award-winning indie film “Engkwentro.”

When The FREEMAN interviewed him last year, Zyrus, who hails from Talisay City, said the project, directed by Pepe Diokno, was the break he had long waited for. “Baguhan pa lang ako, yet I was given this role. I ought to do my best,” he then told The FREEMAN.

“Engkwentro” is gritty social commentary film that talks about two teenage brothers, Richard (Felix Roco) and Raymond (Daniel Medrana) who find themselves on opposite sides of a gang war. Complications arise when gang leader Tomas (Zyrus Desamparado) ordered one brother to kill the other. “Engkwentro” won the top prize in the Orizzonti (New Horizons) section of the 66th Venice International Film Festival last year.

Zyrus' best efforts as the ruthless antagonist Tomas were finally recognized in the recently-held Golden Screen Awards, joining the likes of Iza Calzado, Eugene Domingo, Dennis Trillo as acting honorees. "Thank you for all the support, I am shocked because I didn't expect this. I dedicate my win to my family in Cebu,” he texted The FREEMAN, adding that he hopes this award will open doors for him to take on more meaningful projects in the industry.

Zyrus also told The FREEMAN that there are no other movie offers yet, but he can continue to be seen on TV 5 shows, where he also started, first as a production assistant, then as a TV talent.

This former varsity player of the University of the Visayas left Cebu in 2006 to pursue his dreams of making it to showbiz. Now, the persistence is paying off.