Pass the Ketchup, please!

Days after he brought home the Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actor award for Sa Aking Pagkakagising Mula sa Kamulatan, Ketchup Eusebio still can’t believe his good luck. And he shows it.

Strikingly simple in plain white T-shirt, Ketchup doesn’t look like someone who has adopted the look and airs of an actor who beat stage veteran Soliman Cruz to the draw. At least that’s how he came across to a group of press people who came over to ABS-CBN for a solo interview with the Star Magic talent.

Turns out the nonchalance is just the tip of the iceberg. Deep inside his fluttering heart, Ketchup feels the pressure his new status has given him.

"I have to double my efforts," he admits. And while this doesn’t mean he’ll be selective with upcoming roles, Ketchup knows the audience has raised the bar where his acting is concerned.

"They will expect fine performances from me from now on," Ketchup says.

And why not? When you – a wholesome comedian – can spew the lewdest, foulest language like you are to the gutter born the way Ketchup’s character did, you have what it takes to be called a serious actor.

That’s not all. When this same character (Pogi) morphs into a marshmallow the minute he faces his lady-love, you’ve got to be something else.

Credit it to Ketchup’s years with Gantimpala Theater, where he acted in classic plays like Florante at Laura and Alikabok.

The guy can sing, too. In fact, he has a band. And he has the Musicat production Sino Ka Ba Jose Rizal for it.

But that will take a backseat, now that acting has captured Ketchup’s heart and soul. After doing Regal Films’ White Lady, he has just enough time to catch his breath and report to another movie set.

Ketchup will do two more films for Regal: Binibini (with Alfred Vargas, Katrina Halili, Gabb Drilon and Say Alonzo) and a Joel Lamangan vehicle.

Star Cinema and an independent film outfit are tapping his services.

In October, Ketchup will do the play Sabado sa Sam’s, where he will work with his friends from Berks – Cholo Barretto and Glaiza de Castro.

TV has also claimed Ketchup. He hosts Studio 23’s lifestyle show It’s a Guy Thing with Bubbles Paraiso, Borgy Manotoc, John Joe Joseph and Bernard Palanca.

Neither hectic schedule nor the long distance, however, can keep Ketchup from visiting his girlfriend, Bethany "Beth" Devendorf. He met the 19-year-old American-Irish in one of his trips to Subic, where she is based as a student.

Since then, Ketchup was so inspired he even mentioned her name in his acceptance speech at the Henry Lee Irwin stage where he got his acting trophy.

Now that the girl’s parents want her to fly to Boston to take up college there, Ketchup is not taking things sitting down. Our love-struck hero plans to follow her there and study at the New York Film Institute.

"I’m saving up for it," he reveals, flashing a boyish smile.

Ketchup Eusebio can very well do that, now that assignments are pouring in.

Not bad for someone who stopped schooling to help augment the family coffers.

As the eldest of four children, Ketchup started working at 15 – right after high school – because college for him then was a luxury. In a scene straight from a soap opera, Ketchup worked hard to send his younger siblings to school.

The irony of it all is, the same guy who is sending the younger ones to school has himself missed the chance to go to college.

Ketchup is not complaining though. If plans push through, he will go back to school, not in the Philippines, but in the Big Apple no less.

To top it all, he’ll take up a course close to his heart.

That’s sweet reward for someone whose heart is as big as his talent.