Grateful for all the breaks

When he first started in showbiz after winning Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition, Ejay Falcon was shy and unsure of himself and his place in the industry. People would point out how his runner-up Robi Domingo — now also making a good career as a TV host — seemed to be gaining more ground than he was.

But now, they are singing a different tune. Ejay has finally come into his own, starting with his headline-making role in the action serye Dugong Buhay, and recently, in Pasion de Amor where he validated his worth as a leading man. The industry has finally recognized it, too, and has sent more projects his way. The latest is another lead role, this time in the Wansapanataym series I Heart Kuryente Kid (opposite Alex Gonzaga and directed by Andoy Ranay) where he plays a superhero.

Ejay is grateful for all the breaks he’s gotten, and to show how thankful he is, has tried to consistently pay it forward. Just like his character who has superhero powers, there are times that in real life, Ejay becomes a hero to the people around him.

He shares one particular incident that was particularly memorable for him. It happened about two years ago. “Nagkaroon ng basketball game, ‘yung Dugong Buhay versus Be Careful with My Heart, na may mga artista din. ‘Yung isang cameraman, na-injure during the game, nagkaroon ng ACL (he tore his ACL, which stands for anterior cruciate ligament, an injury common to athletes). So I wondered why he wasn’t coming to the set. Then one day, someone was soliciting contributions for him. Eh nu’ng time na ‘yon ako ang pinakamaraming tapings, so sinagot ko lahat yung pagpagamot niya. Ngayon nakakapag-taping na siya.”

Ejay has also not forgotten about his province-mates in Oriental Mindoro. Every December, he organizes a basketball tournament for them, and brings small gifts for them when he does. He started doing this five years ago. “Nagpapa-liga ako sa Mindoro, tapos ‘yung mga endorsements ko, binibigay ko sa mga tao,” says Ejay. “Every Christmas ‘yan. Minsan, kahit simpleng pabango or sapatos lang, shine-share ko sa kanila.”

According to him, this advocacy stems from the fact that when he was growing up, he didn’t have very much. Ejay used to haul copra back in his hometown, and grew up amid humble beginnings. So now that he is in a position to help others, he does so whenever and wherever he can. “Naranasan ko nu’ng bata ako dati, parang humingi ako ng gift every Christmas, hindi ko nararamdaman. Nakikita ko ‘yung mga bata ngayon na wala ‘yung mga parents nila, walang mabigay so ako na lang. Ang sarap ng feeling.”

Sharing his blessings has become so important to him that he once turned down a show abroad — he asked his handler to send his regrets — after finding out that the scheduled trip would conflict with his visit home to Mindoro. “Gusto ko talaga nandoon ako,” explains Ejay.

Of course, he also makes sure he takes care of his own family. He has already put some of his siblings through school. Seeing people close to him achieve their dreams and make something of themselves always gives him a good feeling. “Nakaka-proud na may dalawa akong kapatid na nagtapos,” reflects Ejay. “Kahit di ako nakatapos, at least sila napag-aral ko.”

This is why Ejay is working so hard at his showbiz career. He approaches every project eagerly, but this latest Wansapantaym installment is special in the sense that he’s never played a superhero before. But when the opportunity to play Kuryente Kid in the Wansapanataym series came along, he couldn’t say no, even if his latest projects have been more along the lines of molding him into a daring and sexy leading man. It helped, of course, that Ejay is in the best physical shape of his life right now. Thus, playing the part became easier for him. And it was too good an opportunity to pass up. “Lahat halos ng artista, nangangarap maging superhero,” reasons Ejay. “Sino ba naman ako para humindi?”