‘Many are called but few are chosen’

A few years back, the best passport, wika nga for one to join showbiz was to be part of the so-called entertainment royalties. Kaya you have to be part of the Muhlachs, the Salvadors, the Revillas, the Magalonas, or the Padillas para doors immediately will open sa ’yo sa showbiz.

These days though, another way to get into the entertainment industry is to join the numerous reality shows, which season after season, so, they say, are aired on TV.  Kaya nga, we have a Kim Chiu, a Melai Cantiveros, a Sam Milby, Jayson Gainza, and several others all products of the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB), gracing the entertainment scene.

But as Joey Reyes, a film director, writer, and scriptwriter and currently, a TV talk show host, said, kailangan pa rin ang may talent to stay in the business.

‘‘In time, the public will get tired just watching them doing another on the big or small screen,’’sabi ni Direk Joey.

Indeed, nagkatotoo nga sa showbiz ang kasabihang ‘‘many are called but few are chosen.”

Now we give you, as part of PM’s 10th anniversary celebration 10 of local showbiz’s most talented celebrities who joined showbiz the hard way, wika mga those who worked their way to what they are now.

Kaya nga, year after year, they remain in demand for entertainment work.

Gloria Romero said she was 17 years old when all the way from Pangasinan, she came to Manila and immediately presented herself to the matriarch then of Premiere Productions, Mrs. Adela Santiago. Gusto niyang mag-artista, aniya, sa may-ari ng isa sa biggest and busiest studios in the ’60s.

Gloria Galla, her real name was her former screen name she used. It was later when she chose to join Sampaguita Pictures na pina-adapt sa kanya ng noo’y may-ari ng nabanggit na studio and a confirmed starmaker si Dr. Jose Perez ang apelyido ng then ay nagsisimula pa lamang na movie director na si Eddie Romero.

The rest, wika nga, is history.

Now nearing her 80s (she was born Dec. 15, 1933), isa pa rin sa pinaka-busy na artista si Gloria. At her age, she is still assigned to play lead roles bilang proven by her current series for GMA 7, Forever, which co-stars her with Geoff Eigenmann and Heart Evangelista na gumanap bilang young Gloria Romero.

Susan Roces, whose real name is Jesusa Sonora, was a fresh graduate ng high school from La Consolacion College in Bacolod City when an uncle, who worked with Sampaguita Pictures, helped her na makapasok at makapamasyal sa loob ng nabanggit na studio. Dream niya kasi, sabi niya sa kanyang uncle, na makita at kung puwede ay makausap ng personal si Gloria Romero, her favorite actress.

Well, as obviously luck willed it, naispatan siya ni Dr. Perez. And as the classic line again says, the rest is history.

Susan’s first movie with the studio was Boksingera.

To date, she shares the title of Queen of Philippine Movies with Gloria.

Gabby Concepcion was playing basketball in San Juan’s public playground when the late Regal Films director Joey Gosiengfiao spotted him.

He asked Gabby if he would want to try showbiz.

The next thing Gabby, who had already appeared in a commercial for a toothpaste, knew ino-audition na siya for a possible role in a movie which would topbill another newcomer Dina Bonnevie.

The movie was Katorse, directed by Joey of course.

At that time, Dina was 17. And it was Mother Lily Monteverde, owner of Regal Films and which produced Katorse, who discovered her for showbiz.

As Mother Lily recalled, nakita niyang kasama si Dina ng nasirang si Alfie Anido na noo’y isang bagong Regal baby niya.

Dina had just won the title Miss Magnolia and was studying sa Ateneo University. Bagama’t married for the third time with a politician from the North, Dina still gives in the request to do films or a series.

On the other hand, Gabby is featured in the ongoing series Kahit Puso’y Masugatan.

Richard Gomez was the chaperone ang makeup box ‘‘carrier’’ ng kanyang pinsang si Stella Suarez, Jr. o Pinky Suarez na unang nag-artista kesa kanya, when the late movie and TV producer, star discoverer, starmaker, and talent manager Douglas Quijano, brought him to the attention of Mother Lily who immediately included him in the cast of Inday Bote topbilled by Maricel Soriano.

It was also the late Douglas, who enticed Joey Marquez, a basketball player, to join showbiz. Ditto with John Estrada, a former ramp model.

Joey, who is running for representative in one of the districts of Parañaque City, where he was formerly mayor, is currently a mainstay of the weekly talk program SIR (Showbiz Inside Report), on ABS-CBN.

John is on the ongoing series, A Beautiful Affair, which also stars John Lloyd Cruz at Bea Alonzo.

John Lloyd Cruz revealed in an interview once na namamasyal siya with a friend sa isang mall in Cainta, Rizal when he saw a guy looking at him intently.

Kaya niyaya raw niya ang kasama na umalis na sila sa kanilang ‘‘puwesto.’’

Kaso he noticed daw that the guy in question following them. Until finally, the guy approached him.

He turned out to be a talent scout. It was he who brought him to ABS-CBN.

Carmina Villarroel was only 13 years old when she became the endorser for a fast food chain. Mother Lily invited her to visit her at her Regal office.

Together with Ruffa Gutierrez and Sheryl Cruz, they starred in the movie, 13, 14, 15.

Si Jake Cuenca ay namamasyal din sa isang mall in Ortigas, Pasig City when Neil de Guia approached him and asked him if gusto niyang mag-artista.

Dinala raw siya ni Neil kay Douglas Quijano. Pero dahil chubby siya noon, Douglas advised him to lose weight and instructed Neil to bring him back to him.

Now a Star Magic talent, Neil co-manages him.

As Jake said: ‘‘I owe Neil and Tito Douglas a lot.’’