KEN CHAN TRIES HIS HAND AT ‘FATHERHOOD’
PLUS: Newly engaged stars in the biz!
WHEN Ken Chan portrayed a transgender in “Destiny Rose,” he thought then it was the hardest role he could ever portray. Giving it his all—the “ultimate role” of his career—he received excellent reviews in his portrayal, turning the drama series into one of GMA Network’s notable hits.
“At that time, I really paid close attention to my transgender friends. Inaral ko yung kilos nila, pati boses nila na high-pitched. Even when I was at home, I tried to be like Destiny that one time my mom cried! She said she was afraid I had lost my real identity and that they were already living with another person in the house. That’s how focused I was,” the talented actor recalled to Showbuzz.
In fact, because Ken was so deep into his character, as he wasn’t able to shake off Destiny’s mannerisms when the show ended. He had to go on a two-week vacation in Hong Kong, where his dad was born and raised, to forget about her. When he returned, he was back to being Ken and ready for a new role.
He was Yuan Lee in “Meant To Be” with Barbie Forteza, another hit series for the network. His character was a far cry from Destiny, describing Yuan as a “serious guy na may pagka-suplado .”
Interesting as Yuan was, the demand to portray him of course came nothing close to Destiny Rose.
“Ang challenge nga for me was to make sure wag lalabas si Destiny kay Yuan,” he joked, “making me believe all the more that she was it. Mahirap nangi -top.”
Until now, that is, for it seems GMA Network was just waiting for the right material to challenge this gifted actor anew.
Admitting he may have spoken too soon, Ken excitedly talked about his latest assignment— another role of a lifetime— as Boyet in “My Special Tatay,” a 22- year- old man with autism.
“When our GMA bosses called me to present the project, I was so happy but natakotrinako. Kasi I realized nanapakabigat ng role,” he revealed. “How do you project a person who has intellectual disability pero slight lang. How do I portray it na hindi ako magmumukhang abnormal pero maipaparandam ko sa tao that there is something wrong in me? These were the questions racing in my mind.
“Thankfully, the production team was ready to help me prepare, lining up immersions which took me to facilities where I could study individuals in the same condition,” he continued.
Besides developing Boyet, Ken also valued the experience as one of enlightenment, saying, “Interacting with them made me understand the kind of thinking they have, and I really sensed their honesty and purity of heart.”
As such, this was the character Showbuzz saw on the set of My Special Tatay— in the manner of speaking, mo v - ing and the emo - tions Ken gave Boyet, which were all very touching and real.
Grateful for a whole new challenge, Ken—whose love life admittedly suffered when he was doing Destiny Rose— promises to give My Special Tatay his undivided attention all over again.
“Relationships will have to take the back given such an opportunity. I’m young and have so much time left for love. It’ll just have to wait,” he declared.
Showbuzz congratulates actress Sheena Halili who had the most special surprise of her life when her lawyer boyfriend Jeron Manzanero proposed to her over the long weekend. Apparently, Jeron had been planning the moment for months, with Sheena’s good friends Maine Mendoza and Juancho Trivino helping him out.
It was on Sunday that she went with Jeron to Greenhills Theater, thinking they were attending a special screening with friends. As she was getting inot her seat, the words “Will you marry me?” in big red letters suddenly flashed on screen as Jeron went down on one knee, ring in hand. Sheena cried as she gave her sweet yes. Still on Cloud 9 when she met Showbuzz the next day, Sheena giggled, “All our friends inside the theater knew about Jeron’s plan pero hindi ko nahalatana may alam sila! I’m so happy because I know that Jeron is God’s choice for me.” Thoughtfully leaving the wedding date for the 31- year- old bride- to- be to decide—given Sheena’s career—the actress nevertheless declared she is ready to start a new chapter in her life.
“Sabi niya we can get married next month or next year and that it’s up to me, but I really am excited to marry him,” she gushed.
Congratulations also go to Archie Alemanya and Gee Canlas, whose special moment Showbuzz witnessed on the set of “Inday Will Always Love You.”
Archie, who is part of the cast, acted normally when Gee arrived believing she was taping for a guest role. She was even given blocking directions to go out from the house where Archie was and holding the ring. She cried too, hugged him and said yes.
Asked for their wedding plans, Archie happily replied, “Hindi nanamin patatagalin pa. We’ve already found each other so there’s no reason to wait any longer.”
Showbuzz would like to thank the Gawad Amerika Foundation in California for bestowing us the Entertainment Journalist of the Year Award all the way in Hollywood, Los Angeles on August 19. After 40 years in the entertainment industry, it was with much pride and gratitude that this columnist went up the stage to receive the award, feeling that all the hard work and sacrifice -
everything!— through the years had been duly recognized. Humbled too at the same time, the award also serves as an inspiration to do even better to be deserving of the title, four decades and counting.
Maraming salamat, Gawad Amerika!