Not just another body beautiful

For many newcomers in show business, getting the big break that will carry them over from wannabe to bonafide star would be the ultimate dream come true.

Not so for Pinoy Big Brother Double Up finalist Hermes Bautista, who got noticed in the contest for his good looks, charming personality and promising talents. Although he yearns for big projects, he is more concerned about having a body of work that he can be proud of or at least, mold him into becoming a better actor.

This is the reason he’s not too picky with roles. Sexy, drama, comedy — he’ll try them all. Hermes said that at this point, he wants to find his niche and the only way for him to do that is through trial and error.

Early this year, Hermes appeared in Your Song Presents Isla and Agimat Alias Paniki. He will soon be seen in fantasy TV show, Wansapanataym. He is currently in the indie film, Astro Mayabang, an entry in the 2010 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival. In Astro Mayabang, the budding actor plays support to Ahron Villaflor.  

In Wansapanataym, Hermes is Apitong, a statue that turns human at night to search for his true love. He gets to work with Pokwang from whom he learns about acting as well as people skills.

Although he usually gets noticed initially for his long hair and well-toned body, Hermes would like to be known as versatile actor rather than a sex symbol in the long run. He said that if it can’t be helped, he wants his looks to open doors for him but not to be the main reason he is considered for projects.

Hermes looks up to Piolo Pascual and Coco Martin. Asked if he is willing to take on daring roles like Coco when the latter was just starting, Hermes simply said, “Why not?”

“I want to be known as an actor so that means I don’t have to limit myself to characters I can relate to. If the job requires me to assume a personality, then that’s what I’ll do,” said Hermes, who looks forward to having Maja Salvador as his leading lady.

Perhaps Hermes’ attitude towards work is a result of his background. Before trying out for PBB, the so-called Reluctant Amboy of Pampanga worked as a nursing assistant in the US where he was born.

Unlike others who have not had a taste of the real world before becoming a celebrity, Hermes knows exactly how it is to search for your place and to fight for it, if need be.

In a line, this newcomer is primed to proceed forward. And like his namesake, the god with winged feet, Hermes will soon fly higher, higher.   

Art 2 Art episodes this month

Art 2 Art recently named by the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) as the Best Educational Radio Program for the second year in a row continues to bring usapang sining at kultura para sa lahat this month with host and prima ballerina Lisa Macuja interviewing an array of personalities from various art disciplines. Here are the episodes:

Nov. 21 — Paul Morales of Ballet Philippines and Ronilo Jaynario of Philippine Ballet Theater join Lisa Macuja of Ballet Manila in assessing the state of ballet in the country today.

Nov. 28 — Art 2 Art pays tribute to another National Artist as it has every last Sunday of the month for the past three years and a half. The show presents national artists as positive role models who have devoted their lives to the advancement of Philippine art and culture.

Produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Art 2 Art is aired nationwide every Sunday, 3:30 to 4 p.m., on dzRH (666 khz on the AM band). It can be viewed simultaneously on Cablelink cable television’s Channel 9 and accessed on the Internet through the website http://dzrh.tripod.com.

For details, e-mail at [email protected]. On Facebook, check out the account Ballerina ng Bayan for updates on Art 2 Art episodes and Ballet Manila performances.