Comedian Empoy Marquez Actually Has A Very Dramatic Life As The Eldest & Breadwinner In A Brood Of 7

EMPOY MARQUEZ joined showbiz in 2003 when he was 21 and won in “Masayang Tanghali Bayan’s” contest, Mr. Suave. He was quickly introduced in Vhong Navarro’s movie, “Mr. Suave”, as Julius Marquez, his real name which he eventually dropped for his nickname, Empoy. He has since done several comedies for Star Cinema like “All About Love”, “My Only You”, “Villa Estrella”, “Cinco”, “I Do”, “The Possessed”, “Bride for Rent”. He also did several TV shows like “Bora”, “Super Inggo”, “Maligno”, “Flash Bomba”. But it was in TV5 where he did more shows like “Ogags”, “Lokomoko U”, “Kidlat”, “Astig”, “Madame Chairman” and “Kapitan Awesome” where he played the title role. Now, aside from “Mac & Chiz” that’s seen on Sundays at 8PM, he’s also seen on Saturday nights in “Tropa Mo Ko Unli” with his new manager, Ogie Alcasid of the A Team.

What people don’t know is that before he became a comedian, Empoy was a musician in 1999 who lives in Baliuag, Bulacan and became the vocalist and percussionist of various bands like Testube Babies, Atari and Skabeche. The eldest of 7 children, Empoy is the breadwinner in his family. Their parents are separated and it is he who sent his younger siblings to school. “Tatlo sa kanila, napagtapos ko na,” he says. “Ang courses nila are masscomm, food technology and business management. May mga trabaho na sila and now help me sa pag-aaral in college ng tatlo pang natitirang kapatid namin. Sabi ko, ako naman ang pag-aralin nila kasi ako, college dropout. Nagtrabaho na kasi agad ako para sa pamilya namin.”

He’s happy to be working with Derek Ramsay in “Mac & Chiz”. “Mabait siya, pero napansin ko lang, na-insecure sa akin kasi mas guwapo ko sa kanya. He gives me advice tungkol sa health, tamang exercise, the right food to eat. Sa ‘Mac & Chiz’, mother namin si Diana Zubiri at father namin si Jun Sabayton who’s married to Ana Roces. Nang ipangangak kami, kinuha ni Ana yung baby na guwapo, si Derek nga. Ako naman, baby pa lang, may bigote na, ipinatapon. Sa pilot episode, pinahanap ni Derek ang twin brother niya. Maraming nagprisinta, puro kamukha niya, all played by Derek himself. Pero napatunayan sa DNA na ako talaga ang twin brother niya. Siempre, ayaw niyang maniwala. Pero naniwala siya kasi mahusay akong magluto, gaya ng ama namin, at kinuha niya kong chef doon sa restobar ng aming family. Si Bianca, personal assistant niya at pinaturuan niya ko ng good manners kasi laking iskwater nga ako. E, sa aming dalawa ni Derek, ako yung habulin ng chicks kaya mas maa-attract sa’kin si Bianca.”

How does he find Bianca in comedy? “Magaling siyang artista kasi marami siyang kamag-anak sa showbiz, like si Comedy King, si Action King, si Drama King.”