Joseph’s other love

Joseph Marco turned heads at this year’s Star Magic Games. However, this time it wasn’t because of how handsome he may have looked in his basketball uniform that day — people just couldn’t help noticing and remarking on the sheer athleticism he displayed.

Not only did Joseph play volleyball with other Star Magic artists, but he was also spotted racing up and down the hardcourt, playing basketball. He was breathing heavily and covered in sweat, but he had an electric grin on his face that signified he was having a grand time.

“Mahilig po talaga ako sa sports (I’ve always been into sports),” he admits.

“When I was in the fifth grade, I was a dual player. Varsity ako ng basketball and volleyball.”

He did that for several years, until he gave up volleyball when he entered high school in order to concentrate on basketball. His love for volleyball didn’t go away, however; he still joined pick-up games with his friends and former teammates once in a while. Recently, Joseph made time in his packed schedule to take up yet another sport: Flag football.

Flag football is like American football, except that instead of requiring players to tackle their opponents to the ground, they have to “tackle” them by pulling their flag or flag belt. Joseph says playing these sports is how he keeps fit.

“I guess my passion for sports comes from the fact na tamad po ako — I’m so lazy to do cardio like running, that’s why when I’m playing basketball or other sports nagiging all-out ako kasi yun na yung cardio ko,” he explains.

That’s the secret to Joseph’s chiseled physique, which he had no problems baring for viewers everywhere on his most recent show, the afternoon soap Pasion De Amor. That project will always be special to him because of the friendships he made working on it, particularly with his onscreen brothers Ejay Falcon and Jake Cuenca. “Actually, more than the show itself, I miss working with them and of course, the rest of the production staff. Every time I see them ngayon, grabe, ramdam ko na na-miss ko sila.”

According to Joseph, Pasion De Amor — where he played Franco, the youngest of the Samonte brothers and was paired opposite Coleen Garcia — opened a lot of doors for him, career-wise.

“I made an indie film called Triptiko,” he shares excitedly. “It’s a thriller. It was directed by Miguel Franco Michelena and siya rin yung nagsulat. It’s such a nice film, kakaiba talaga siya. Sa isang movie, tatlo yung storya niya.”

Joseph says he really loved being on the set of Triptiko. Not only because he got to work with some amazing actors — namely Albie Casiño, Art Acuña, Jerald Napoles, Kean Cipriano and Kylie Padilla — but because he enjoyed the change of pace. “It’s fun kasi you get to experience a different environment and meron kang freedom to do what you need to. It’s good to do indie films once in a while.”

He’s also set to do two more movies, this time under Regal Films, a soap opera, and a telesine soon. He believes this surge of projects is all down to his stint in Pasion De Amor, which primarily helped him grow as an actor. It pushed him out of his comfort zone and introduced Joseph to someone who took him under his wing.

“That show helped me so much and you know what, I’m thankful to Jake Cuenca kasi I learned a lot from him. He’s a very unselfish actor. Jake shares his passion for the work and his secrets when it comes to acting. That’s why I really look up to and love that guy,” he says.

However, when asked if he wants to emulate Jake’s career path, Joseph says he can’t do so because they’re packaged differently. “Jake is more of a rock star, parang ganun; with me, iba. Magkaiba yung mga characters that we portray.”

Joseph will mark his sixth anniversary in showbiz this August. “I want to be known as a dramatic actor. That’s why when I do guestings, I really give my all,” he says.

He still has a lot of items he wants to tick off his bucket list, at least in terms of his showbiz career. “Hindi ko pa masabi na na-achieve ko na yung goals ko for myself. I’m hungry; I never get contented. Kung meron mang pumuri sa akin, hindi yun yung basehan ko. I want to strive harder and be better than I was last year.”