Body Talk with Marco Morales

Funny that before the start of the invitational screening of Walang Kawala, director Joel Lamangan’s second indie film (after Fuchsia, starring Gloria Romero, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Robert Arevalo and Eddie Garcia, which is the story of senior citizens in love), at My Cinema in Greenbelt, nobody seemed to take notice of a guy quietly seated in one corner of the lobby.

Barely two hours later, after the screening of the movie that, I’m sure, will hit moviegoers right where it should — the heart — the way Lino Brocka’s Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag does, everybody was taking a second, hard look at that guy who turned out to be newcomer Marco Morales.

So why the sudden interest and curiosity about Marco?

Credit it to that brief scene in which, as a macho dancer, he takes off his bikini and, well, lets it all hang.

“Did I feel embarrassed by that scene?” asked Marco who was also watching the movie for the first time. “No, I wasn’t. In fact, I’m very proud of the movie.”

Noted Mr. D., “He’s gifted.”

Tightly and beautifully scripted by Eric Ramos (former editor of FHM magazine), Walang Kawala is the gripping story of gay lovers (played without apologies by Polo Ravales and Joseph Bitangcol) from a fishing village trapped in the harsh claws of the big city...in the hands of a bisexual, brutal cop (played with an eerie touch of menace and meanness by Emilio Garcia) who runs a white-slavery ring and goes to the gay bar for recreation.

Born in Manila to Filipino parents, Marco was 12 when he migrated with his brother and their parents to Australia where he continued his studies. He came back as member of Showboys (with fellow Fil-Aussies) who used to appear on the GMA noontime show S.O.P. Before he signed up for Walang Kawala, he did bit parts in Paano Kita Mamahalin (starring Piolo Pascual and Regine Velasquez) and My Best Friend’s Girlfriend (with Richard Gutierrez and Marian Rivera), and is in the cast of Rakista, the TV5 show directed by Quark Henares.

Marco, 23 (July 16, 1985, Cancer), stands 5’9”, weighs 160 lbs., has a 30-inch waistline, and wears medium-size briefs and size-10 shoes.

What kind of diet do you follow?

“During the day, I eat anything, usually a lot of meat. I’m carnivorous. I also take enough carbo which I burn during my workout. At night, I eat very little.”

Any food that you avoid?

“None. I don’t believe in depriving myself or starving myself. I eat as much as I want, anything I want, as long as I work out regularly.”

What kind of workout do you do?

“I work out usually at Fitness First in Megamall four times a week, two hours everytime, and I run around the Ortigas area where I live almost every day.”

What part of your body needs improvement?

“Hmmmm. I’m pretty happy with every part of my body.”

What part is vulnerable?

“My skin. I suffer from skin asthma. I get red spots on my skin when I’m exposed to the sun or to anything that’s hot. Kapag nainitan ako, I get itchy all over.”

How much sleep do you get per night?

“I should be getting eight hours but I get only as much as five. I know that enough sleep is good for the health, and for the skin, so I make up for it by taking power naps as often as I can.”

Favorite sleep wear?

“My underwear... never in the nude! Hehehehe!”

Last thing that you do before you go to sleep?

“I have no such ritual. Sometimes, I’m too drunk to do anything else but sleep.”

Are you a hard drinker?

“No, not really. I just enjoy a good dose of alcohol with friends every now and then. Drinking is bad for my skin asthma but I can’t help it.”

Favorite drink?

“Jack Daniels on the rocks.”

What’s the first thing that you do when you wake up?

“I turn on the TV really loud to wake me up.”

Do you snore?

“Sabi nila I do, especially when I’m tired.”

Do you talk in your sleep?

“All the time, and that gets me in trouble. One time, I woke up without my girlfriend beside me. I found her at the garage smoking...fuming! It turned out that I was talking in my sleep and I was calling another girl’s name.”

Do you sleepwalk?

“No, I don’t...thank God!”

How do you cope with stress?

“Simple: I just keep to myself. Listen to my thoughts. I become a better person the next day when I spend one day with myself. Try it. It’s so relaxing.”

Are you a loner?

“On the contrary, I love socializing; I love to be surrounded by people. But once in a while, I need to be alone. At night, I take a walk, alone, and that’s my prayer. Long, long walks. That’s when I can think better, breathe easier. We need to reconnect to our inner self, don’t we?”

Favorite hideaway?

“In Sydney, it’s the Pratten Park where I take long walks. It’s a sports field near my house. There’s also Ashfield Park where you can just sit by yourself and let your imagine wander.”

How’s your love life?

“Great! I’m not going steady with anybody but I’m dating.”

Your sex life?

“Awesome!”

Nightlife?

“At the moment, I’m trying to tone it down a bit. Staying out late is bad for the health.”

Any favorite fantasy figure?

“In a sexual way? Before, it was Winona Ryder and then Maria Osawa, a Japanese porn star. But somebody to just hang around with...she’s somebody I used to be in love with; we’re far from each other but we have kept our friendship.”

What kind of girls turn you on?

“Those with a nice butt.”

And what kind turns you off?

“Over-aggressive girls and those who lack culture and have no appreciation for the arts, whatever form of art.”

Name three women you think have nice bodies.

“Jessica Biel. Demi Moore. Ehra Madrigal. If you noticed, they have one thing in common; they are all athletic.”

And three men...

“Ryan Reynolds. If I can have his body, I will be the sexiest man in the Philippines. Two more? Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Reynolds.”

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

“I just keep looking at her, walang kurap.”

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