Jake Cuenca Back From New York, Doesn't Care If Netizens Bashed Him At Bench Show, Breaks Up With Aussie Girlfriend

JAKE CUENCA was in New York taking up classes in Method Acting when the International Filmfest in Manhattan was held in late October. It so happened a movie he finished for Director Diane Ventura, “Mulat”, was an entry and he attended the awards night. To his big surprise, he won as best actor.

“I was really so surprised when my name was called,” he says at the presscon of “Mulat” which will be shown at SM Megamall and Glorietta as an entry in the Metro Filmfest New Wave Section from December 17 to 24. “I was there to take up acting. Nataon lang na nandun ako when the filmfest was held, so big bonus for me ang pananalo ko. I really like to thank Direk Diane kasi nahirapan sila sa’kin when we were shooting the movie as I was also busy taping for ‘Ikaw Lamang’. They worked around my schedule.”

So how’s the acting classes he attended? “It gave me a deeper understanding of the craft of acting. One month lang ako roon and it went so fast. Parang back to basics ang nangyari sa akin kasi kinakabahan ako uli. More than film and TV acting, they respect acting in theatre much more, so I really want to try doing theatre this year kasi iba talaga ang response ng live audience. The experience is very inspirational for me and also a confirmation na tama yung personal thoughts and direction ko about acting. And I’m very thankful kasi pagbalik ko rito, ABS already have a new assignment for me, ‘Pasion de Amor’, with Ellen Adarna, Arci Munoz and Coleen Garcia.”

Before he left, he participated at the Bench Show in MOA Arena and he was bashed on the net for being out of shape. “Honestly, for me, yung bashing sa internet might be something bad but at the arena itself, it ended in a good way as I got the biggest ovation in my life. Grabe ang sigawan at palakpakan pag labas ko. After that, I will never appear again in my underwear. Last na yun. And you can bash me all you want on the net as long as you spell my name correctly.”

We thought he’d win in the recent Star Awards for TV for his tour de force performance as the villainous Franco in “Ikaw Lamang”. What happened? “I didn’t win. Nag-expect ako, so I was really disappointed kaya I will never expect again. Move on na lang tayo.”

How come he broke up with his Aussie model GF Chanel Olive when he returned from New York? “I admit naman I’m not the perfect guy when it comes to relationships. Mahirap, kasi I was away for more than a month. But we’re still friends and I’m hoping she’ll give me another chance.”

How is it working with a new director like Diane Ventura in “Mulat”? “You know, after our screening in New York, there was a Q&A and the viewers really liked it, especially the foreigners. They couldn’t believe it was filmed for only a few days. Ang pagkakagawa dito ni Direk Diane, sigurado, e, hindi alanganin, malinis, pulido. When you watch it, parang mainstream movie. I’m confident that after this is shown, a big movie company will get Direk Diane to make movies for them.”

The name of his character in “Mulat” is also Jake. “I play the second man in the life of Sam, played by newcomer Loren Burgos. She’s in an abusive relationship with Ryan Eigenmann and then we meet and I help her make an assessment of what’s happening in her life. It’s a movie about love, relationships and the choices we make that viewers can easily relate with.”