The way to fame

MANILA, Philippines - Kapuso star Barbie Forteza was a very raw nine-year-old when she went to Jojo Victorio’s Victo Rio’s modeling agency. She hasn’t met leading man Joshua Dionisio yet. And the hit TV show First Time was not even a glint in its producers’ eyes.

But Jojo saw the promise in the innocent model wannabe who stood before him. So he agreed to help the then nine-year-old get public exposure.

Kapamilya talent Bangs Garcia was a little older when she sought Jojo out as well.

Now, Jojo wants to continue his search for future stars. And he wants them not only good-looking, but models of good behavior as well.

“Character is important to me,” he notes. That’s why he turned down a wannabe who always showed up late for shoots. He also junked a young man whose first question was whether he will get a booking with gays or not.

The 29 finalists of Jojo’s talent search, Walk to Fame therefore passed through the proverbial eye of the needle before they faced the press recently.

Most of them have a colorful story to tell. Angela, one of the contestants was a househelp whose mother abandoned her. But this did not keep her from dreaming of a better life.

Jojo can relate to her because he himself has humble beginnings. He took on odd jobs as a high school student to make it to college.

“I was a janitor during my first year in college; a machine operator on my second year and a boy on my third and an office clerk on my fourth and last year in school,” he recalls.

After passing the CPA exams, Jojo worked and lived in Europe, Singapore, the US and Hong Kong until he landed a job in Australia, where he migrated. As an executive in an American bank, Jojo felt success didn’t make him complete. He just had to pay back — not in his adopted country, but in his native land.

Six years ago, he packed his bags and returned the Philippines. He staged pageants and fashion shows. He produced winners, brand endorsers, image models, etc. He launched the annual Mr. and Ms. Philippine Youth 2011, which is now on its third year.

And he made it his mission, not only to discover talents, but to train them on good manners and right conduct.

“I don’t mind if the person is rich or poor,” he states, “Character is more important and I develop that in my talents.”

Thus, he’s not only a manager, but a mentor.

“I spend time with the talents in my agency,” he reveals. “I let them open up to me when they have a problem. One of my talents used to have an attitude problem. I counseled her and she changed her ways.”

It’s never easy. It needs a lot of time and patience. And these is what Jojo has — in generous amounts.

“I love helping people. It’s a long-term thing and I’m very patient,” he goes on.

Patience is what Walk to Fame winners will expect from Jojo as a manager once they are proclaimed on coronation night on Nov. 19 at the Tanghalang Pasigeño, Pasig City.

The grand winner will get P50,000 cash, a trip to Hong Kong and prizes from sponsors. The second placer gets P30,000 and the third prize winner will go home with P20,000 cash.

A pair of winners will be proclaimed for the grand prize, the first runner-up and the second runner-up positions.

Unlike other pageants, the premium is on personality.

“Criteria for judging is 70 percent personality, 30 percent looks. If you look at my models, they’re not the most handsome or the most beautiful, but they have this total appeal,” states Jojo.

He has proven his gut feel right, so far. Barbie, he goes on, was not that striking when she first approached Jojo. But she has totally blossomed now.

His other models, Jojo adds, are just as disciplined.

Thankfully, that’s just what the industry needs these days.