Second victory for Joross

In this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival, there were several surprises. One of them was 

Joross Gamboa

’s winning the Best Supporting Actor award for

Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino,

a film that I co-produced with Boy So and Robert Bernardo and which tells the story of an unconventional love that blooms amidst the bleak landscape of poverty.

It was Joross’ second time to win an acting award after his Best Single Performance by an Actor in the 2009 Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Television for the Bisikleta episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya. Winning that was special to him because it was his first time. But this award was even more so because it gave him an opportunity to prove to the public and to his critics that he could be convincing as a dramatic actor. He had done indie films before, but this was his first for Cinemalaya. And yet, as filming went on, he realized the difficulty of the task. “Sobrang hirap talaga yung paggawa namin ng movie na ito, lalo sa akin kasi tiniis ko talaga na huwag mag-punchline, eh alam naman ng mga tao na mas natural sa akin ang comedy,” he said.

To be honest, I knew that. In fact, going into this movie, I told the creative staff that I wasn’t too keen on Joross taking on a dramatic role. I didn’t want him for it, and I told him that. I had been a juror in Star Circle Quest (SCQ), and from what I knew of him, I formed the notion that he was very playful. I felt he didn’t have it in him to be serious. But then I thought, that was in 2005 — seven years ago — so I decided to give him a chance. Now I am glad to say, Joross took my opinion of him as a challenge and happily proved me wrong.

Winning the Best Supporting Actor award was a journey that began when Joross’ manager Noel Ferrer talked to him about the project and the role of Bertong Baka, one of the friends of JM de Guzman’s character. “Maganda ang script, mapapansin ka dito,” said Noel. Aside from that, Joross was excited about doing the film because he would be working with JM, who he had teamed up with in My Amnesia Girl. It was a plus factor for him, and he even talked to JM and convinced him to accept the role. “Sige na, tanggapin mo na,” he said.  

Joross was challenged by the character of Bertong Baka, so-named because according to the story, as a boy, “iyak siya ng iyak, ang ingay-ingay niya (na parang baka). At saka siya yung example ng tao na walang pag-asa, na hindi na nakuhang mangarap. Doon siya nabuhay (sa hirap), doon na rin siya mamamatay.”

And when Joross said he dove into the role, he really did. He let his hair grow out, and let it become dry and disheveled to lend physical reality to the character. But that wasn’t all.

In some scenes, he and his co-actors were required to dive into the murky waters of Cavite. Joross shuddered at the memory of it. “Nag-shooting kami sa Cavite, may squatters area sa tabi. Lumalangoy kami doon, ang dumi ng tubig. May mga (sanitary) napkin na gamit, may tae, grabe talaga. Sa una, mapapaisip ka — gagawin ko ba ito? — pero lahat naman ng mga artista sa cast, ginawa, kaya ginawa ko na din.”

His efforts did not go unnoticed. The Cinemalaya jurors saw brilliance in the performance and gave Joross the Best Supporting Actor award. He has truly come a long way as an actor, and this award is the ultimate vindication.

Strangely enough, he didn’t even want to be one in the beginning. “Never kong pinangarap maging artista,” said Joross. “Mas interesado ako mag-basketball. Ako ‘yung typical na binata na sa akin, ang baduy maging artista. Ganoon ako mag-isip noon. Ang gusto ko talaga, mag-model kasi mas sosyal.” Then SCQ came along, and eventually, Joross learned to love what he was doing.

Joross is now a graduating Mass Communications student at the Southville International School in Parañaque, where he lives with his family. He also has several businesses. He dreams of doing more indie films, and maybe even going into scriptwriting and directing. He joins the creative teams of his projects in their brainstorming sessions and tries to absorb as much as he can about the process of filmmaking. “Pero gusto ko din makilala as a versatile actor. Gusto ko magawa lahat,” said Joross, who is part of the cast of the upcoming Mario Maurer-Erich Gonzales movie playing a gay role as the best friend of Erich’s character. He will also be co-starring with Ronnie Ricketts in an action flick titled Fighting Chef, to be produced under the Viva Films banner.

With his Best Supporting Actor win, no doubt, there will be more opportunities coming Joross’ way — and he intends to take advantage of every one of them.