MARTIN DEL ROSARIO is happy to be a part of the cast of “Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa” that starts airing today, Monday, to replace “Sa Piling ni Nanay”. “Ang tagal na rin ng last soap ko, ‘Buena Familia’ pa, so I’m glad to be busy again,” he says. “Maganda yung role ko rito as Kiko, kasi it’s not the usual goody-good role kundi may pagka-bad boy. Ex-convict ako rito na ka-love triangle ni Benjamin Alves kay Julie Anne San Jose.”
His role is a new addition to the story and there was no Kiko in the original 1987 movie on which the soap is based. “Basagulero si Kiko, may pagkamayabang ang dating. Very complex ang character kasi kahit mainitin ang ulo niya, basically, mabait siya, so very challenging gampanan and I gave it my best para hindi ako mapahiya sa director namin, si Tita Gina Alajar. Ang sarap ng feeling kapag sinasabi niyang okay ang trabaho ko.”
Off cam, he’s insinuated to have had a one-night stand with gay radio-TV host Mr. Fu and he was paid P30,000. “Wala akong alam tungkol diyan. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit kung kani-kanino nila ako nili-link.”
So he wasn’t paid P30,000? “Grabe naman. Wala pong katotohanan yan. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko na lang pinapansin yung ganyang mga tsismis kasi I will just dignify them. Ilang beses na kong napabalitang may karelasyong lalaki, so hindi na ako nagpapa-apekto sa ganyang mga tsismis. Basta I just focus on my career, na so far, okay ang takbo at tuloy-tuloy naman. Okay rin ang takbo ng business that I put up, a bar in Quezon City called Bunker at the Armory. Kung minsan, ako mismo ang tumatao roon to be the personal bartender of our customers.”
In fairness to Martin, Mr. Fu himself has denied the malicious story. Martin was part of the "Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa" delegation who attended the recent Sinulog in Cebu and it's a dream come true for him. "Matagal ko na kasing pangarap na makadalo roon pero ngayon lang nagkatotoo. Napaka-warm ng mga Cebuano. From Gaisano to Ayala Mall, sobrang dami talaga ng tao who welcomed us ng co-stars ko. I really want to thank GMA-7 for sending me there. Enjoy ako sa food nila, like lechon Cebu and their delicacies na pasalubong sa amin ng fans. Sana panoorin nila ang 'Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa' araw-araw simula this Monday."