MANILA, Philippines - “It was a challenge,” replied Jeric Gonzales of his Magpakailanman starrer as the third wheel in his father and stepmother’s relationship. “I find (the situation) scary to happen to anyone. It is also the type of roles and projects I want to venture into. Gusto ko na. I want to do drama, para mahasa ang pag-arte ko. It’s also the plan of (GMA) Artist Center for me to veer away from cute and tweetum roles. I also want to become versatile. I’m happy that GMA has given me roles like the Magpakailanman character. I want to show my depth in acting.” With that offbeat character, Jeric has shown his promise in doing meaty roles.
The Male Protégé winner from Laguna is slowly but surely breaking away from the boy-next-door characters his mother network had assigned him early in his career. Although small and marked, his Ivatan character in the Nora Aunor film, Dementia, perhaps did something good to him, proving that he is more than just a pretty face.
This was probably the reason why Jeric tried his luck to topbill Destiny Rose, which eventually went to Ken Chan, whose woman-trapped-in-a-man’s-body Joey has been gaining more afternoon drama followers.
“I auditioned for it,” Jeric recalls. “It was tough playing to be a woman. I can play a gay character, but to portray a transwoman is a different story. There must be a reason why I didn’t get the lead role.”
Although he didn’t snag the title role, Jeric was cast in the Afternoon Prime series as Vince, the closest friend of Joey who will soon transform and be known as Destiny Rose.
“Being part of the teleserye was something I didn’t expect because I didn’t make it to the (final casting),” he says. “Maybe with what I had shown during the audition, (the people behind the show) gave me another chance by giving me (the Vince) role. (When Ken and I shot our first few scenes before,) they had also seen a chemistry between us, playing our respective roles.”
Aside from the special feelings Joey has for Fabio Ide’s character, everyone is all eyes on the brewing friendship between Joey and Vince.
“As of now, Vince is just a friend, who is there for Joey,” Jeric says. “He has no idea that Joey has a crush on him. He is just a best friend to Joey. For now, my character is not yet in love with Joey. However, it is possible (to happen) in the future episodes. It’s something we will look forward to later on.” So, the Joey and Vince tandem is a work in progress. But the working condition on the Destiny Rose set is a happy one, shares Jeric. “We’re solid and united, lahat kami nagtutulungan, masaya kami sa set. Everybody is familiar with each other’s characters. All are excited to go to work.”
As for auditioning for and playing another gay role, similar to that of Tom Rodriguez (straight acting gay) and Dennis Trillo (out-and-out urban gay), Jeric remains open to that idea. “I will take it as a challenge as an actor. I want to explore different roles and kinds of acting.”
Jeric, who admits missing being paired up with a woman, has to bring his A game since new showbiz aspirants are coming in year in and year out, and a new set of StarStruck winners will be revealed soon.
“It’s threatening, especially in my case, which I haven’t established myself yet,” he says. “It will serve as a challenge, na dapat galingan at husayan (ko ang trabaho).” Jeric is dead serious with his showbiz work and he won’t easily give up. After all, GMA 7 has been good to him, giving Jeric, “sunod, sunod ang assignments, from Pari ‘Koy to Destiny Rose and then (my recent) Magpakailanman assignment,” as he puts it. “I’m blessed; with that, it boosts my morale.”
This also motivates Jeric to be in his tip-top shape for his Destiny Rose role as well as for future projects that may come his way.
“I work out (because) I’m on the chubby side,” he says. “I go to the gym. I follow a low-carb diet, which is more on protein, like having chicken on my meal. I eat veggies and fruits. I have brown rice in the morning.”
(Destiny Rose airs weekdays after Buena Familia.)