No problem being typecast as nice guy
Zanjoe Marudo says that when he was cast as the male lead in Tubig at Langis, he felt pressure to make the show a success. But the pressure lessened when he found out Cristine Reyes would be his onscreen partner. He had worked with her before in the 2013 indie film Bromance, and came away from the experience with good memories of Cristine and that project.
“Every time I have a project and I am the lead, there is so much pressure. When I learned I will be working with AA (Cristine), I felt relieved,” he says.
Zanjoe portrayed Natoy Villadolid very seriously. He knew that his character was a reflection of so many Filipino men, and he wanted to make sure to do his role —
and those men — justice. “Natoy had a very important role in Tubig at Langis. Siya yung sumasalamin sa bawat lalaki sa bansa natin ngayon. Even if you did not seek for it, you will be drawn to situations where your love for your wife will be tested,” he explains. “As Irene and Natoy, we were able to show the audience our love and devotion for each other. And that we will not permit anything or anyone to destroy our family.”
Natoy was a faithful husband for most of the show’s run, but he also made his fair share of mistakes. Zanjoe says he’s similar to Natoy in the sense that he’s loyal to those he loves, but that’s as far as their similarities go. He would never cheat on the woman he loves, even in the face of temptation, and he advises married men to do the same. “I am not the kind na tuwing may babae na maganda or sexy, I take advantage of kahit na type niya ako. Madalas may naghahabol pa rin sa akin kahit taken na ako, pero hindi talaga ako bumibigay. Nagdadasal na lang ako,” Zanjoe laughs.
“Seriously, I never give in. People admire you if you are faithful. And when you are married you should refrain from doing naughty things.”
Zanjoe says most of the characters he has played were nice guys. It was only when he was cast as Natoy that he got the chance to play a guy who made his fair share of mistakes, which he enjoyed immensely. Playing Natoy taught him to see mistakes as learning opportunities. “Papunta na nga sa santo lagi characters ko, kaya natutuwa ako na ganito si Natoy — he’s human who commits mistakes but later regrets and asks for forgiveness. In real life, you have to experience failure to become better. So next time, you know what to do and you will be able to correct your wrongdoings.”
He also has a similar perspective on heartache now. When Tubig at Langis started last year, he had just broken up with Bea Alonzo. Doing the show gave him something else to focus on and eventually, his broken heart put itself back together. He also says that he and Bea are friends now.
“I am thankful to the cast because they were always there for me. I don’t want to pressure myself into having a new girlfriend just because I am single. It will come at the right time. I try to enjoy whatever I have right now. The present state of my heart, I can say, is very happy and I don’t want to pressure myself. For now, I am committed to my family, to myself and to my work.”