Empoy's next film to be directed by Cebuano filmmaker
Comedian Empoy Marquez is still reeling from the changes brought by his performance in last year’s sleeper hit “Kita Kita” – that film that suddenly transformed him into a box office star. Empoy, who was in Cebu to grace MLhuillier’s Sinulog Festival Grand Parade float, spoke to Cebu press at Radisson Blu Hotel about his upcoming projects and newfound fame. Who would have known that the 36-year-old who hails from Baliuag, Bulacan would become one of country’s most sought-after leading men? Certainly not even Empoy himself.
Julius Erman “Empoy” Ramos Marquez was discovered through the “Mr. Suave” lookalike contest in the defunctABSCBN noontime show “Magandang Tanghali Bayan” in 2003. He claimed the Mr. Suave look-alike title, landing himself a role in the “Mr. Suave” film as Mr. Takatak alongside Vhong Navarro. He also became a co-host of “MTB: Ang Saya Saya” for a year. He has since been a constant face on television and film, working with different networks as the comical sidekick.
“Akala ko po na yung ‘Mr. Suave’, yun na po yung end. Hindi ko po inakala na magiging ganito po akong artista,” Empoy begins of his journey.
“Sa kagandahan po ng karera ko, mula po ng 2003, hindi po ako pinabayaan ni Lord. Continuous po na hindi ako nawalan ng trabaho kahit po lumipat ako ng channel 7, channel 5, hanggang sa bumalik na po ako ng Channel 2. Hindi po ako nawalan ng project. Sobrang pasasalamat ko po sa Panginoon,” the actor reflects.
Empoy – who idolizes comic actors like Charlie Chaplin, Rowan Atkinson, and Filipino Comedy King Tito Dolphy – revealed that he had no idea if the public would welcome “Kita Kita” warmly. The independent romance-comedy film that had him starring opposite Alessandra de Rossi earned more than P300 million on its third week, thereby making it the highest-grossing indie film as it surpassed that of 2015’s “Heneral Luna.”
“Wala [idea] po eh. Nung ginawa po namin yung pelikula, parang naglalaro lang po kami. Yung iba nga naming shoot ay guerilla shoot. Hindi po talaga namin alam na yayakapin ng masa yung pelikula.”
This year, the mass communication and culinary arts undergraduate will be starring in a new teleserye alongside Alessandra, Arci Muñoz and Piolo Pascual. Empoy divulged little about the project aside from it being “about a poor boy who works at a junk shop.”
It has also been confirmed that a Star Cinema film to be helmed by Cebuano director Victor Villanueva (“Patay Na Si Hesus”) is in the works. Entitled “Kusina Kings,” Empoy will star with Zanjoe Marudo.
Is there pressure for Empoy this time, knowing full well that the success of his previous film had been off the charts? “Meron pong ganung pakiramdam. Pero nasa tabi naman po natin si God, siya po ang nakakaalam kung ano ang nararapat,” he quips.
With success as astronomical as his, he sure has come a long way from his sidekick days and now endorses brands like Mang Inasal, San Miguel, Lucky Me and Isuzu. He adds that he is thankful to have been made part of the MLhuillier family and looks forward to a great relationship with them.
After becoming an instant showbiz favorite, it would be safe to say that Empoy has a bit of leverage when it comes to requesting preferred roles or co-stars. He mentions Kaye Abad as one of his dream leading ladies, and would love to try a psycho role—one of the many things he hasn’t had the chance of portraying just yet, and which is also an interesting contrast from his jesting image.
With his line of work, the star is often not taken seriously. When off-cam, the eldest among seven siblings says that he can be serious too, and takes on the role of kuya very earnestly.
“Ako po ang nagdidisiplina sa kanilang lahat. Kailangan ko po kasing magseryoso para seryosohin nila ako. Ang lalaki na po kasi ng mga kapatid ko. Pagpinatawa ko sila, baka akala nila na nagpapatawa pa rin ako kahit seryoso na,” shares Empoy, adding that he disciplines them by engaging in serious chats and encourages them to attend church.
Many entertainers claim that it is easy to make people cry, but making people laugh is an equally difficult task. When asked about his thoughts on why audiences like his brand of comedy, Empoy muses that it must be because what he does comes naturally for him.
“Siguro yung pagiging natural ko lang po,” Empoy ponders. “Sa bahay po kasi nagsisimula. Pag gising sa umaga, patatawanin ko sila, hanggang sa paglabas ko ng bahay, and tuloy-tuloy na sa work ang good vibes.”