Mark’s birthday wish

Mark Herras is turning 21 on Dec. 14 and his birthday wish is: "I wish nasty intrigues about me would stop."

At the presscon of his Metro Manila Filmfest entry, Super Noypi, Mark was besieged by writers who all ask him about the controversial sex video he allegedly did with ex-girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado.

"I dare anyone who has a copy of that video to show it to me or come out with it in public," he fumes. "Ilabas na nila, para matapos na! Puro lang sila salita, why don’t they prove it? What makes me so mad is that they even say I was the one who took that video of Jen in the buff. I cannot do such kababuyan to Jen dahil minahal ko siya at nirespeto ko siya at the time that we were going steady. Malakas ang loob ko to challenge them na ilabas ‘yung video as I know for a fact that no such thing exists. I feel so bad for Jen, lalo na nga’t siya ang babae. It also puts me in a bad light kasi parang lumalabas na manyak ako. Whoever started and spread that ugly rumor should clear our name. Two years ago, natsismis na rin that I took Jen’s video while she’s taking a bath and it turned out to be false. So I really hope they’ll stop such fabricated stories."

He says other false stories have been circulated about him in the past. "I just shrugged my shoulders then and considered them as part of the game since we’re in showbiz. But this time, sobra na sila. In my case, when a story about me is true, inaamin ko naman and, when I’ve wronged someone, I won’t hesitate to ask for an apology. They can call me a babaero, they can say mahilig ako sa gimmick as I’m always seen in bars with friends, but for me to take a sex video of my girlfriend is really foul. I have not lost my senses or my sanity to know that in this day and age na agad ikinakalat ang ganyang videos, it’s a no-no for anyone to take anything incriminating on video. I’m not a pervert. When I love a girl, I really care for her at hindi ko gugustuhing mapahamak siya. I think they are belittling me. Even if Jen and I are no longer on, I would still want to protect her and her reputation dahil kawawa naman siya."

To pacify Mark, we ask him about his alleged new squeeze, Nicole Anderson, the daughter of Jean Saburit. "I admit that I tried to court her but I have since stopped because I felt that it would be difficult for me to cope with her kind of lifestyle. Sinubukan kong sumabay, pero hindi ko kaya. They’re quite well off and she’s used to a higher kind of lifestyle. E, ako, galing sa hirap, mas masa. I cannot tell her naman to come down and adjust for my sake as I’m sure she’d find it difficult. It’s about three weeks ago that I realized that we’re just both wasting our time, so huwag na lang ituloy. But we’ve remained good friends. So as of now, I’m still loveless."

He’s happy to be part of Regal’s action-fantasy entry, Super Noypi, which is about young superheroes. "The sensibility is very youthful as we have a young director, Quark Henares, who’s only a few years older than us. I’ve seen the film’s action scenes and they’re all very exciting. I play Lorenzo and I have telekinetic powers. I can make heavy objects fly without lifting a finger. My sister is Annys, played by Katrina Halili, who has the power to be invisible. Barkada namin sina John Prats as Iñigo, an athlete who turns into someone like Incredible Hulk with superhuman strength; Polo Ravales as Euen, a magician who can perform all sorts of amazing tricks; Sandara Park as Michie, who has the power of fire and ice, and child star Andrew Muhlach as Tonton, who has the power of elasticity. Jennylyn plays Lia, a character from the year 2075 who travels from the future to our own time to save our country from Diego, the villain played by Monsour del Rosario who wants to dominate the world. She’s a martial arts expert and helps us discover our super powers. Together, we all help to fight the forces of evil."

Mark will also hold a birthday concert, The Mark Herras Dance Party, on Dec. 16, at Zirkoh. His special guests are Jennylyn, Sandara, StarStruck colleagues Yasmien Kurdi, Rainier Castillo, LJ Reyes and Ryza Cenon, plus the EB Babes, Gladys Guevarra, Jose Manalo and the EB Babes.

"I’m inviting everyone to join us and celebrate my birthday with me," he beams.