The ever-evolving Jake Cuenca

MANILA, Philippines – His co-stars in the ABS-CBN soap Pasion De Amor (PDA) have noticed how intense an actor Jake Cuenca has become since they started working together in the drama series that began airing in June. Jake’s acting performance is full of passion, always leaving an impressive mark on the audience.

That’s why during last Friday’s thanksgiving and final presscon for PDA, EJ Falcon said he has to be as intense as Jake whenever they have a scene together because “you cannot be lax. He’s a very intense actor so I really need to be on the same level of his emotion. Not once did I try to surpass his passion but I really can’t kaya sumasabay na lang ako kasi ganun s’ya ka intense talaga.”

For Arci Muñoz, who portrays Norma Elizondo, the love interest of Jake’s Juan Samonte, the Kapamilya actor has a way of losing himself into the character, which somehow also leads her to easily plunge into her role. “Napakagaling kasing artista ni Cuencers (referring to Jake); lahat ng eksena ramdam ko sa kanya,” she added.

Joseph Marco said he appreciates how Jake is too willing to give acting tips and guide them in tackling their roles effectively. Wendell Ramos, Ellen Adarna and Coleen Garcia further validated his statement by also sharing memorable scenes with Jake.

Jake, on the other hand, cannot be thankful enough upon hearing such wonderful remarks from his co-stars. They may be music to his ears yet he stressed that those compliments should never be a reason for him to be complacent. They all the more had him yearning to better his craft. To recall, he flew to New York in 2014 to take a short course in Method Acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute.

“My acting is ever-evolving parang now more than ever, I know I can do anything; ganun yung kumpiyansa na I can portray any role and this is because of my love for acting and my enthusiasm to keep learning,” said Jake in a chat with The STAR after the presscon. “Like for me, I studied in New York once but I’m gonna study again after the show and it will be in L.A. this time so parang I’m just ever-evolving; I always try to improve myself. Some people when they heard na magaling sila, they just settle for that. I’m not like that because I so love my craft.”

Besides, Jake believes that acting is all about “philosophy” and one can have a different approach or perception to it. That’s why, he wanted to learn all there is to learn and pick up what he deems effective when attacking a role. He has also attended every workshop being offered here. “What I learned in New York was about theater. In L.A., it would be more on film and TV. Don’t get me wrong, you can go to any school but if you feel you’re not happy with how they do things or kung di mo maintindihan, you have the freedom to choose. In my case, I’m like a sponge absorbing everything.”

However, Jake has not decided yet where to enroll. He will choose between The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and the Stella Adler Academy of Acting. “I’ll choose the one that would fit into my time frame because I have to come back and work again.”

Asked if he is not worried that he might miss out on a meaty project while abroad, Jake said, “I’m not afraid to miss out on anything just for the main fact that I’m not choosy with roles. I can play good or bad guy role so there’s a lot of projects that I can do. Besides, Pasion lasted for nine months and I gave so much of myself to this project. I think I deserve just a little break.”

Jake is planning to leave for L.A. two or three weeks after the airing of Pasion De Amor’s finale episode on Feb. 26.

Does he plan to work behind the cameras in the future?

“That’s another plan but the (film) directing course is a bit longer and if I take it up now, definitely I’m gonna miss out a lot of different projects but trust me when I say that one day, I will study directing and I will become a director as well. That’s definitely a long-term plan for myself, but I’m only 28 so I can still do a lot of roles. One day, I will be a director but not anytime soon.”

In the meantime, stay tuned for Pasion De Amor’s last four weeks filled with unpredictable twists, intense emotions and passion-filled romance. Find out, too, if the Elizondo sisters Norma (Arci), Sari (Ellen) and Jamie will walk down the aisle with the Samonte brothers Juan (Jake), Oscar (EJ) and Franco (Joseph).