The Marc of an artist

MANILA, Philippines - He has director Marilou Diaz-Abaya for a mom. Marc Abaya, however, has successfully taken the on-cam path of a vocalist, host-DJ and actor. That’s his mark as an artist. Proof is his Best Supporting Actor win at the recently-concluded Cinema One Originals.

“I auditioned for it,” answers the Kjwan lead vocalist when asked how he got into the indie Dagim. “When this job came this year and (director) Joaquin (Valdes) sent me the script, I fell in love with it. Joaquin was honest when he said, ‘There are other people that I have in mind for this role.’ Then, I got a call. I went to ABS. I just wanted to be part of it because I believed in the script. For the first time in my life, I was nervous. A couple of weeks after, Joaquin said, ‘The role is yours.’” 

But what made Marc try his luck was Dagim being a period film, not to mention his role Pido who leads a cult of cannibals.

“It was set in the ’90s about the tribe of men who are angry at the world finding a solution,” shares Marc. “I consider myself a baby of the ’90s. I grew up to grunge, Nirvana, Pearl Jam. That’s why I wanted to be part of this film because I remember what it was like to be in that indie. I wanted also to work with Joaquin. I was glad to know that it was his first full-length film.” Joaquin, director of a Kjwan’s music video, won the admiration of Marc when the latter watched Joaquin’s Bulong on the set of Ligaw na Bulaklak.

What’s next for Marc after winning his first acting award?

“I want to be better with what I do because that’s how my mother raised me with the value of humility and to keep on improving,” he replies.

According to Marc, Marilou, who wanted him to become a priest or a doctor, shielded him from showbiz when growing up. He had no idea how big his mom was in the movie industry and so with his Tito Rolando (Tinio) and Tito Ishmael (Bernal). It was only towards the end of high school and beginning of college that Marc only realized that these people are great men. He was grateful to have known and seen them work. He’s also grateful seeing his mom work. “We watched how she worked,” says Marc. “And how she came back home being a mother.” Marc has picked up values like the importance of working with others and being positive from his mom. But the most important of them is “to stand up after you fall and to walk.”

Is acting as interesting as singing?

“Yes. It is, even though they are different and the same,” answers Marc. “I was raised to know the value of the audience. If I enter any form of expression (be it singing, acting or dancing), by default, I put the audience above myself. My goal is for them to understand (me). If they don’t, I fail.”

“That’s why it helps when you are surrounded by good actors and good directors because they help you become better,” he adds.

But the thespian in Marc is eyes wide open about the reality of acting. He has to follow his director.

“At the end of the day, who’s telling and weaving the story is the director,” he says. “I’m just a marionette. (As an actor,) I believe in the dynamics of a team working with the right people.”

Marc was last seen in Magkaribal and is part of a Regine Velasquez soap. His band Kjwan has just released 13 Seconds to Love and goes to Malolos, Bulacan tomorrow, Dec. 11 for a show.

With or without an award, Marc is bent on “continuously trying to improve myself as a person and as an artist.”