Joross Gamboa headlines gay comedy

Joross Gamboa is feeling happy as he just started a new movie titled “Deadma Walking” (a play on the phrase ‘dead man walking’) where he co-stars with real-life friend Edgar Allan “EA” Guzman.

They play gays in the film produced by T-Rex Productions from the Palanca award-winning script of  Eric Cabahug and which is the directorial debut of Julius Alfonso, who had worked as assistant director for Joel Lamangan, Chris Martinez and the recently departed Gil Portes.

This is not the first time that Joross is playing a gay role as he has done it quite a few times on TV dramas like “Maalaala Mo Kaya” and most recently in the Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo film “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” But this is the first time that he and EA are together in a film project. EA was a back-up dancer to Joross when he was still a newcomer as part of Star Circle Quest. Another backup dancer was Gerald Anderson, now also a big star.

Joross and EA play best friends in the movie. Joross is the closet gay while EA is the flamboyant gay who works as a showgirl at night.

At the story conference of “Deadma Walking,”  Joross was asked how he deals with his friends who are closet gays.

“Pinaaamin ko,” he says with a laugh. “Ako pa ba ang lolokohin mo? Minsan nagagalit sila kasi yung akala namin na pamhinta eh lalaki pala. Pero may mga kaibigan kami na alam namin na gay pero pag kasama namin lalaki siya. Pero pag kasama na siya nung mga gay friends niya, bumibigay na .”

Did any of his “pamhinta” friends ever attempt to court him? “None, kasi magaslaw ako. They were probably turned off by my antics,” said Joross.

He had a chance to work in some projects with some actors who were rumored to be gay and Joross was also asked if any of them had made a pass at him.

“I didn’t have such kind of experience with them. Teka sino ba sila? Siguro kasi kaya hindi sila nagpaparamdam feeling nila eh wala naman silang pag-asa. Parang ako, sa babae, kung nagpaparamdam ako nang panliligaw, doon ako magpaparamdam sa feeling ko ay papatulan ako. Pero kaya siguro kaya walang bading na nagpaparamdam sa akin kasi alam nila na di ko sila papatulan,” explained Joross.

In “Deadma Walking,” he plays a straight acting guy named John. He is the boss of a company and is respected by his peers and employees. That’s why he can’t come out as gay, unlike his friend Mark (played by Edgar Allan). But in his unguarded moments, he reveals that he is gay.

He is excited with the plan of the producers to field “Deadma Walking” as an entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival, as they were inspired with the success of the gay-themed movie “Die Beautiful” which won several awards, including Best Actor for Paolo Ballesteros, and Best Supporting Actor for Christian Bables who played Paolo’s gay bestfriend.

“Deadma Walking” will surely be compared to “Die Beautiful” but Joross says their movie has a different story about friendship and dying.

***

Fresh from the hugely successful launch of the country’s first signature pump track and bike playground, Ortigas & Co is at it again.

The revitalized industry player introduced yet another signature event which captured the imagination of millennials and kids of all ages. Everyone present at Circulo Verde looked skyward and witnessed a spectacle of lights and drone feats. The grandest yet: Game of Drones 1st Flight.

Circulo Verde, Ortigas & Co’s 10-hectare master plan of a mixed use community in Quezon City was set aglow with the spectacular sight of drones flipping in the air. After dusk, the place was ablaze with lights coming from the lit tracks where the quadcopters coursed through, prompting spectators to squeal in delight and excitement.

Circulo Verde offered the perfect venue for Game of Drones 1st Flight where drone professionals, hobbyists and amateurs had the whole day for themselves to race and learn a few tricks using remote-controlled aircrafts.

The games were open to two drone categories: the Spec Class or Beginners for pilots using a quadcopter with 35LiPo and 5” diameter props and Open Class or Advance for pilots with quadcopters that weighed a maximum of 50 lbs. The Game Arena was divided into several areas with different races for drone controllers, namely, Time Trial, Drone Spirit, Rotocross, and Drone Photography.

But Game of Drones was not exclusively for drone enthusiasts. The country’s biggest and grandest drone spectacle also enticed families and friends to bond over raffles and other activities while served with first-class entertainment throughout the jampacked one-day event. Everyone from kids and teens to adults took advantage of food booths and other stalls that sold sports apparel from sponsors and concessionaires.

It was definitely air supremacy ablaze as everyone enjoyed the spectacle, leaving a collective question which begged to be answered: What will Ortigas & Co. offer next?