Body Talk with Alex Medina

Meet indie actor Alex Medina…the Ultimate Gay Heartthrob?

Indeed, the ruggedly handsome actor and lead star of the horror-comedy flick Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil has been the object of the local gay community’s sexual fantasies, earning him the moniker “kilabot ng mga beki” or “gay heartthrob,” according to Echorsis producer Chris Cahilig.

“I like it,” Alex, the son of acclaimed actor Pen Medina, unabashedly admits. “If my being a gay heartthrob catches on, eh di sige, okay. I am comfortable with the way I am, which is why I’m fine with it. Nakaka-flatter s’ya actually.”

Secure with his sexuality, Alex relates that he used to receive numerous “indecent proposals” from gay fans on social media. However, such rabid attention eventually declined when he became more visible in movies and television.

“I used to get those kinds of messages but lately hardly any. How did I respond? I would nicely but candidly tell them, ‘Sorry po, that’s not my thing,’” he says.   

In Echorsis, Alex plays Carlo, a sweet-tongued and charismatic gigolo who gets possessed by a gay spirit after the death of his lover Kristoff (John Lapus). The film, which likewise stars Kean Cipriano as Father Nick, was directed by critically-acclaimed filmmaker Lemuel Lorca and was written by Jerry Gracio.

“Doing the role was both fun and challenging. Mahirap ang role, especially the physical aspect because I had to play various personas at the same time,” he recounts. “Echorsis is about love and forgiveness. I guarantee that you will laugh hard but once you leave the moviehouse you will realize na ni-respeto ka ng pelikula bilang isang matalinong manonood.”

While we wait for the movie to open in cinemas nationwide on April 13, let’s get up-close and personal with Alex, 29, and find out what makes him the “kilabot ng mga beki.”

How did you get into acting?

”I tried everything so sabi ko why not give acting a try since naka-line naman (sa pamilya).”

What do you mean by “tried everything”?

”I mean, I tried being a waiter, call center agent, assistant director, production designer, mga ganun. So I decided to try acting kasi wala namang mawawala. I was surprised na nagbunga siya.”

Who are your influences in terms of acting?

”Well, my biggest influence is my dad. I really like his philosophy in acting. He taught me everything that I needed to know. Well, not all because he wanted me to find my own voice. I’ve also worked with great actors like Mark Gil and Joel Torre.”

What makes you physically fit?

“I’m not so physically fit now; I’ve been eating a lot, but I’m going back to working out. Typically, push-ups, sit-ups, and squats lang.”

What’s your diet?

“Less rice. The ratio is one-is-to-one but still enough not to make you feel hungry. It’s hard to deprive yourself when you’re acting. You need to eat because your body needs fuel for you to think clearly. Kapag walang laman ang utak mo para kang zombie na nag-a-acting. Plus, iwas bisyo kasi it really affects your performance.”

Is there any part of your body that needs improvement?

“Yes, my skin. Also, my tummy which needs care kasi delikado at mahirap tanggalin, so I avoid carbs.”

What’s usually for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Snacks between meals?

“I have done all the happy kind of diets but I still need to gain muscles so I eat lots of protein. And I avoid pork so as much as possible. I eat mostly chicken, fish, beef and loads of veggies.”

What do you mean by happy eating?

“Healthy lang dahil malinis sa katawan. Sana organic pero mahirap naman ‘pag puro organic.”

What workout do you do?

“I’ve learned to do push-ups talaga. I just hold my push-ups so that I can develop bigger arms. I also have to concentrate on my legs so I have to run. I haven’t run in almost three months so I need to get back to that, too. Normally, ‘yun lang and then crunches, but the push-ups really work for me.”

What part of your body is vulnerable?

”I guess sa gilid? Well, my heart is the most vulnerable. That’s why I avoid love kasi it can kill you. Too much love will kill you sabi nga ni Jovit Baldivino. Hahahaha!!!”

What part of your body is your favorite?

“My eyes. I got my eyelids from my dad. You can see the tense sa mata and it’s a great tool for acting. Like Nora Aunor, eyelids talaga, the biggest tool niya.”

What part of a girl’s body do you first notice?

“It depends on what front she is ‘fronting’ — ‘yung boobs nila, legs, tummy or butt. Okay, all those parts, hahaha!!!”

What kind of girl turns you on?

“‘Yung wala masyadong arte, panalo ‘yun.”

And what type turns you off?

“Nothing really turns me off but I prefer the cowboy type. I guess what turns me off is the type with a strong personality. Pero okay lang din kasi lahat naman sila mamahalin ko, eh. Hahahaha!!!”

So you don’t like loud girls?

“Actually, okay lang. I’ve been with girls who are loud and I think I am attracted to them.”

How much sleep do you get per night?

“These days, around six hours but I try to catch up by having a good night’s sleep on weekends. I seldom get a sound sleep kasi ang dami kong iniisip.”

Favorite sleepwear?

“Boxers.”

Do you sleep in the nude?

“Not much kasi kakabagan ako, eh, hahahaha!!!”

How many pillows do you sleep with?

“I have three pillows.”

Any special pillow?

“None. The moment it gets dirty, I throw it away. I don’t cover my pillows with punda. Hahahaha!!!”

Do you snore?

“I don’t think so, but I talk in my sleep, especially when I am tired.”

Do you sleepwalk?

“Not anymore. I used to. When I was around 10 or 11 years old, I wanted to sleep on the chair.”

Last thing you do before you sleep?

“Turo nila, pleasure daw po. Hahahaha!!!”

First thing you do as soon as you wake up?

“Check my phone.”

How do you cope with stress?

“In different ways. I play Playstation and I eat. I also go out for drinks pero hindi naman madalas. Pero gusto ko sanayin ‘yung exercise sana as much as possible, I want to put that into my default routine sana.”

Favorite hideaway?

“My apartment.”

Favorite city?

“Quezon City.”

How’s your love life?

“I love myself more than I used to. Dati mahirap mag-isa.”

How’s your sex life?

“Ang sarap sa Frazzled Cook.” (That’s the restaurant where this Body Talk was done, along Scout Gandia in Quezon City.) “The food is fantastic, mas masarap kaysa sa sex. Hahahaha!!!”

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