Body Talk with JC de Vera

Featured star in four episodes in this month’s Obra, the new drama anthology aired Thursday nights on GMA (after the Telebabad shows), is JC de Vera who did an impressive performance in the initial episode titled Pretty Boy the other night, playing a handsome young man forced to work as a macho dancer to keep body and soul together. Written and directed by Rodolfo “Jun” Lana, Pretty Boy pitted JC against such veterans as Gina Alajar (playing JC’s ex-bar-girl mom) and Chanda Romero (as JC’s Sugar Mommy).

“I was worried that people would watch the episode for the macho-dancing and would not notice my acting,” said JC. Luckily, that was not what happened. JC beautifully acquitted himself in his dramatic scenes with Gina and with Chanda. “The dancing part was easy because I dance naman talaga sa S.O.P. During the shoot, there were real macho dancers on the set to coach me. They were also part of the scene.”

That single performance (which should get a nod from the Philippine Movie Press Club’s Star Awards for Television) easily ranked JC (along with, among a few others, Jason Abalos and Sid Lucero) with the actors-next-in-line to the likes of (the more senior ones) Christopher de Leon, Aga Muhlach and Richard Gomez, and (the junior ones) the likes of Piolo Pascual and Jericho Rosales. It’s JC’s most markado performance, several ratings higher than those in the other GMA drama shows like (Telebabad’s) Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita, (Sine Novela’s) Pati Ba Pintig ng Puso and Pasan Ko ang Daigdig, and a few fantasy-adventure series (Sugo, Captain Barbell, etc.).

“I never intended to be an actor,” confessed JC who was introduced in the GMA youth-oriented show Click five years ago when he was 17 (Pisces, March 10, 1986) and a high-schooler at Colegio de San Agustin (where he studied from grade school); he’s now an Associate in Arts freshman at UPOU. “Somebody introduced me to Tita Annabelle (Rama) who agreed to manage me even if she doesn’t usually manage male talents. Now, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else but acting.” He’ll soon be seen in another GMA show, La Lola, with Eddie Garcia, Keempee de Leon, Marvin Agustin, Rhian Ramos, Eula Valdez, et al.

The next three episodes on Obra are Dearest Daddy (playing a young man about to get married when he discovers that his father and uncle are gay), Rehas (about the plight of an innocent inmate who succumbs to the wicked culture of the penitentiary) and Liwanag sa Dilim (the story of a disabled person searching for love and a miracle), directed by Joel Lamangan, Maryo J. delos Reyes and Mac Alejandre.

John Carlo de Vera stands 5’8”; weighs 150 lbs.; has a 30-inch waistline; and wears small-size shirt, 30/31-inch briefs and size-9 shoes.

What kind of diet do you have?

“Mostly fish and chicken. I used to eat meat but not anymore. Rice once in a while, only when I have to work out or I have lots of work so I can have carbo to burn. I take lots of fruits (banana, orange, apple, pineapple, etc.). For breakfast, I take cereals. Every now and then, sinangag with daing na bangus or tuyo. For lunch, a bit heavy, always with salad. For dinner, veggies na lang and fruits. For snacks, peanut-butter sandwich; no junk food, please!”

How much water do you take every day?

“I should be taking eight glasses of water but I can’t. I make up for it with juices, mostly fresh orange juice with pulp bits. It’s good daw, nakakatanggal ng mga bato sa system. Also, cranberry juice which is good daw for the urinary tract.”

Hard (alcoholic) drinks?

“Black or Blue Label. But in moderation; social drinking.”

How much sleep do you get per night?

“An average of six hours. But when I have no work, I can sleep for 14 hours straight or the whole day.”

Favorite sleep wear.

“Boxers and, since I sleep with the aircon turned on full blast, with a loose over-sized shirt.”

Never in the nude?

“Never! Hindi ako nasanay ng ganoon, even if I sleep alone.”

Last thing that you do before you go to sleep?

“Eat something light, such as cereals. Midnight snack ‘yon.”

And the first thing that you do when you wake up?

“Go to the CR.”

Do you snore?

“Doesn’t everybody snore? I do kapag pagod, especially since I’m hyperactive.”

Do you talk in your sleep?

“I guess I do, especially when I’m dreaming.”

Do you sleepwalk?

“No, I don’t.”

How do you cope with stress?

“I have shoulder massage at the studio. There are masseurs at GMA. I listen to music, all kinds. When I have no work, I pamper myself with a spa treat.”

When you want to get away from it all, where do you go?

“I drive alone to Tagaytay. Wala lang. I buy fruits. We live in Parañaque and Tagaytay is the most ideal place to go, pinaka-malapit sa lugar namin and yet pinaka-malayo na puede kong puntahan. The drive back and forth is very relaxing.”

What kind of workout do you do?

“I have a gym set at home and a stationary bike. If I have time to spare, I play basketball; I also box. Or I go to Gold’s Gym (in Robinsons Galleria).”

What part of your body needs improvement?

“My abs. That’s the hardest to trim and to maintain, especially among us actors na nagpupuyat at kain nang kain for energy. It takes me time to trim my abs, mga two months at most.”

What part is vulnerable?

“My feet.”

And what part is your favorite?

“My shoulders. They are broad.”

You have a scar on your upper lip (like that of Joaquin Phoenix), which adds character to your personality. How did you get it?

“When I was in prep school, nakikipaghabulan ako sa classmate ko, I slipped and I hit my face on the corner of a table. I also have a scar on my eyebrow.”

What part of a girl’s body do you look at first?

“The eyes. If she smiles, so much the better.”

What else about a girl turns you on?

“A tight butt, ‘yung parang sa mga Negra. It’s very attractive. I’m a butt person; hindi ako mahilig sa boobs.”

And what turns you off?

“Those with dirty toenails. If they are not clean, it means hindi sila hygienic. If what you see is not clean, how much more what you don’t see? And also, I don’t like girls who don’t shave their armpits. Sobrang turn-off sa akin ‘yon.”

How’s your love life?

“Now? Boring. Zero! I don’t have a girlfriend. When you are very busy, it’s hard to find time for girls.”

How many girls have you been linked to?

“Well, there was Pauleen (Luna), Michelle (Madrigal) and Yasmien (Kurdi).”

What about your sex life?

“‘Yon din ‘yung mahirap ipaliwanag. But if you are a man, it’s hard not to have sex in three months. Naisisingit naman siya, although hindi madalas. Kailangan, eh.”

Nightlife?

“Masaya. Okay. I am one of the investors in Barracks (a bar located on Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City; other investors are mostly from showbiz). I go there as often as I can. Doon ako umiinom, doon ako may nakikilala, you know.”

What’s your outlook in life?

“I’m happy-go-lucky; optimistic. I don’t worry. Wala akong problema sa buhay. Offers keep coming. Moody? No, I’m not. But when I just wake up, kapag bagong gising ako, medyo grumpy ako. But the moment I have my first cup of coffee, okay na ang mood ko.”

Name three girls you think have nice bodies.

“Pauleen. Michelle. Yasmien.”

And three men...

“David Beckham. Ryan Reynolds. Marc Nelson. They are my idols, my role models.”

Using only body language, how would you make a girl know that you admire her?

“I stare and stare at her. Hindi ko siya tinatantanan, maski saan siya magpunta. My friends know that. Tumititig lang ako sa girl, sa bawat galaw niya.”

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