Marvin’s World

Anyone who knows Marvin Agustin only from watching his television shows, TV commercials and movies has no idea of the scope and depth of this young man’s talent. His wild antics with fellow Whattamen members do not fully reveal his wit and candour as a television host. His portrayal of the protagonist in the popular TV drama series Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako was memorable, yet the character did not quite exploit his intensity as a dramatic actor. His roles in the early movies with screen sweetheart Jolina Magdangal were cute, but barely touched his potential as a comedian.

The astonishing this is he’d rather be behind camera. "I don’t really like acting." the multi-awarded actor confesses. "After I started working in show business, I realized that I would be happier being a director." These revelations may sound believable if they came from someone who’s seen his prime as an actor. But coming from this 22-year old abs-cbn star whose future in showbiz looks rosier that a bed of roses, they would indeed seem astounding.

"Don’t get me wrong. I’m enjoying my showbiz career now and I can’t thank the Lord enough for the blessings He’s bestowed upon me. But I guess I’ll be more fulfilled working off-cam." Marvin reveals. "Another reason why I don’t want to be an actor is I don’t want my personal life open to intrigues. For example, many people know that my Dad is in jail. Hindi ko ito ikinahihiya. Hindi ko ito itinatago. But ayokong pag-usapan."

His dad was jailed on drug charges when Marvin was in high school. When he entered show business, Marvin knew that one day this issue would eventually come up. "The world of showbiz in the Philippines is a small one. Kung malalaman, malalaman. I was ready to talk about it when rumors started coming out in tabloids, but abs-cbn thought it wise for me to be mum about it since my acting career was just beginning. However, when writers began blowing it out of proportions, I made the difficult decision to finally talk about it on national television. Fortunately, I got people’s sympathy and understanding. That ended it."

For a young lad of 18, that would have been a traumatic experience. Not for Marvin who sees these crises as trials he could learn something from. "The foundation of love that my family and my Dad have given me has made me stronger as a person. So I look at any major problem that we encounter as a trial for us a family. That also made it easier for us to accept his fate." He adds, "My relationship now with my father is fine. Whenever I have time, I make it a point to visit him, particularly during special occasions like Christmas, New Year and birthdays."

Marvin’s strength of character was evident even while he was young. Coming from a middle class family with two older sisters, Shirley May and Shirley Joy, he began to doing odd jobs while in high school at Sta. Rita College to help his mother Teresa support the family. "I started working when I was in fourth year high school. I was a family service representative with aca video then. But before that I had a lot of sidelines. I worked as a mascot. I was also the number one seller of tocino, torotot and paputok in our village." Marvin recalls with amusement.

"My father was already into drugs then, and we were having financial problems so my mom had to be the breadwinner. Kayod talaga ang mother ko–selling Avon products, tocino, you name it. I pitted her so I decided to work." he says with no remorse. From then on, without fuss and without drama, he took on the role of family provider. He was all of 17 years old at that time.

It was while working as marketing staff with Tia Maria when, by chance, he was discovered by abs-cbn. After passing the screen test with flying colors, he underwent rigid training with the Talent Center. "I’m proud to have come from the Talent Center. There, we were trained not only in acting, singing and dancing but in personality development, grooming and image building as well. They also trained us to be responsible persons. At hindi lahat spoon-fed. We learned to be motivated." Marvin recounts.

Talent Center is proud of Marvin as well. The way abs-cbn officers Minnie Francia, Eric John Salut and Rikka Dylim gush about Marvin as a person and the way he turned out as an actor, you’d think Marvin would have graduated valedictorian from the Talent Center if there was ever such a thing. Minnie enthusiastically discloses, "He’s hard-working and values his work. As an actor magaling siya; as a person he’s truly amiable." Rikka adds, "He’s a humble person, very modest."

These endearing qualities capped by a natural acting talent have propelled Marvin to the top, together with more senior heartthrobs Diether Ocampo and Rico Yan. In a span of four years, he completed ten films and countless television soap operas, sitcoms, mini-series and guestings. Recently, with the discovery of his sparkling wit and gift of gab, he’s been asked to do regular hosting in popular shows such as mtb and Sabado Live!

Marvin also joined the elite rank of movie stars who have been privileged to do commercial endorsements. To date his credits include those for Nike, Mister Donut and of late, for Smart Communications together with Whattamen gangmates Rico Yan and Dominic Ochoa.

It was the offer of Mister Donut to be their product endorser that prompted Marvin to start his career as a businessman. "As a kid, whenever I asked what I wanted to be when I grow up, I would answer ‘I want to be a businessman." When I was invited to be an endorser of Mister Donut, I thought of this long-term dream for my family and for myself–to engage in business. "Marvin says excitedly. So instead of an endorsement fee, I asked for an ex-deal na lang–a franchise for the food chain outlet."

Marvin becomes more animated when he talks about his initial venture into the entrepreneurial world. "It was the best decision I’ve ever made. Nag-start mabuo ang pagka-business minded namin as a family when we opened our first Mister Donut outlet. It was our learning process." Now, Marvin has two outlets, one in Makati and another in Quezon City, and is keeping an eye open for a good location for a third one.

One would think that with peaking careers in showbiz, commercial modelling and a fledgling fast food business, Marvin would have no more time for anything else. Not so. Perhaps his work experience as a young lad had made a lasting imprint on him as an entrepreneur. Last year, he ventured anew in the food business and launched Ricecapades, a fast food establishment specializing in various recipes of rice dishes.

"My friends were urging me to start my own sago business. But the thing is, ang dami na ng ganitong business. If you liken it to a bottle of water, the sago business would be half empty already. I would therefore be left with only half of the bottle to cash in." Marvin relates further, "I told myself, I’ll just venture into a newly conceptualized business. So I consulted my mother and my sisters and we came up with this novel concept of rice dishes. Pinoys love to eat rice. At the same time, you wouldn’t say this is going to be just a fad because rice is anytime meal." This indeed makes good business sense, especially so coming from a high school graduate who has not taken courses on product development, sales strategies or niche marketing.

Marvin is excited about the prospects of Ricecapades. He now has three branches, all in Quezon City because "the delivery of stocks will be difficult if we’re too spread out". But he’ll be opening two more this May–one in front of abs-cbn and another along Pearl Drive. "Fortunately, the business has been doing well. In June, we’ll be able to sell franchises already." Marvin says, beaming with quiet pride. Not bad indeed for a high school graduate.

Asked if he’s really the one running the business, Marvin replies, "Yeah, but it’s really a team effort with the other members of my family. I’m the so-called President of the Sixth Sense Food Corporation." Sixth Sense as in the movie? Marvin recounts with amusement the incident leading to the naming of the family corporation, "At that time, my sister was at the sec to register the name. We prepared many names but they were all taken! My sister called me up on my cellphone from the sec. She was frantic because Ricecapades was about to open the following day and the cash register had to be enlisted. She wanted me to give her a name right there and then because we wouldn’t make it if she had to go back the following day." Marvin goes on, "During this whole conversation I was driving from our outlet in Fairview to our house. So along the way, lahat ng nakikita kong pangalan sa mga karatula ng karinderya, barber shops and stores, I was mentally processing. Then I saw this movie billboard of The Sixth Sense. Sabi ko sa sister ko, ‘Sixth Sense?’ Sabi niya, ‘Okay, okay, go na!’ So Sixth Sense na yong pangalan namin."

What next for Marvin? "I would really like to study film abroad. That’s why I’m currently enrolled at Thames International Business School in Greenhills which is affiliated with a vast number of prestigious universities and educational institutions in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia. After two years, I’ll get my advanced diploma which will enable me to pursue film studies at the New York University." Marvin adds, "I plan my life. I know when I will get married. I know when I’ll go to NYU. I know when I’ll travel. That’s one of my dreams–to see the world. I have plans for almost everything, so mapuwing man ako, I know where to go. But of course there’s bound to be changes along the way and I’ll be open to them."

‘The only thing you cannot plan is love. I don’t have somebody now and I’m not really looking. Kung darating yan, darating yan." confesses this heartthrob who’s been chased and proposed to by many girls and women.

In an age when most young men would just be looking for directions in their careers, Marvin has already accomplished what many would achieve in a lifetime. He will of course modestly dent this. "I do know that the trials and hardships that I encountered as a teenager were God’s way of leading me to where I am now. He’s taught me how to deal with challenges," says the young man who once was a sacristan in their village church.

Asked is he has plans of going into politics one day, Marvin was quick and brief in his response, "No. I don’t have any interest in politics." Too bad. After watching his touching narration of the ppc’s television documentary on Edsa 2 entitled "Rebolusyong Pinoy: Bagong Politika, Ating Pag-Asa", we are certain he would have made a good politician. Intelligent, articulate, charming and most certainly hardworking, he could have set a good example too for many showbiz stars going into politics now.

For the moment, as part of his plan, Marvin will continue to enjoy being an actor while clearing the pathways towards the crossroads of his dreams.