Jak Roberto
JAK Roberto is no stranger to the spotlight.
He started off doing commercials and eventually fell in love with acting when he got to portray different characters in movies.
However, chances come rare for newbies such as Jak, in an industry where the brightest stars shine, and the strongest thrive.
Jak, however, is aware that nothing is impossible if one puts his heart into his job and work hard for something he really wants.
“May kasabihan nga tayo, pag para sa ‘yo, para sa ‘yo. So, naniniwala ako na may mga bagay talaga na nakatakda para sa ‘yo. Sabi nga nila ‘in God’s time,’” said Jak in a sit-down interview with the Cebu press.
Aside from appearing in episodes of GMA’s “Magpakailanman” and “Maynila” and being one of the hosts of the now defunct show “Master Showman’s Walang Tulugan,” Jak has been exploring the world of independent film productions as he gets to play diverse roles, from a bullied pandesal boy in the film “Potpot” to the leftist lead role he got in “Tibak” film where he played the role of Joma Sison.
As the new year opens, so have the doors for this hearthrob. Jak will be one of the four leading men of Barbie Forteza in the upcoming television series “Meant To Be,” that will debut tomorrow night in GMA Telebabad.
“Ito ‘yung first na isa ako sa mga leading man ni Barbie at naniniwala ako na para sa akin to,” he said.
Jak and Barbie Forteza during the presscon for “Meant to Be” in Cebu. (CDN PHOTO/EDD BUENAVIAJE)
Get to know more of what Jak as he talks about his foray into acting, beyond the shadow of his sister Sanya Lopez (Encantadia’s Sang’gre Danaya) and what more he can offer other than his six-pack abs that he gets to flaunts once in a while.
What is role in “Meant to Be?”
Apat po ‘yung ma-i-inlove kay Barbie dito. Ako po ‘yung Pinoy, kasi may isang British, Indian at Chinese na. So, ako ‘yung Pinoy.
Can you tell us more about your character, Andoy dela Cruz.
Ako po dito ang Pinoy. Sa apat na magkakaibigan, ako po ‘yung nasa middle lang, di ganoon ka yaman. Lola ko dito si Gloria Romero tapos may lihim akong pagtingin sa kanya (Barbie). May gusto ako sa kanya pero di ko masabi. Torpe ‘yung character ko dito, iyon ‘yung dapat abangan ng mga tao.
Kung paano ko ma-e-express sa kanya ‘yung feelings ko.
How did you prepare yourself for the role?
Since Pinoy ‘yung character ko, medyo advantage kasi di na ako kailangan mag-adjust sa language at tsaka sa kilos at sa kultura. Akong ako na po ito, kung paano nalang establish ‘yung character po as mahiyain at torpe.
How did your showbiz career start?
Nagsimula po ako sa “Walang Tulugan,” kay Kuya Germs. Ayun nga po, luckily nag sign up po ako with GMA Artist Center, na co-manage po kami tapos nabigyan na po kami ng chance sa mga soaps ng GMA.
JAk with “Meant to Be” co-stars, Barbie, Addy Raj and Ivan Dorschner. (CDN PHOTO/EDD BUENAVIAJE)
Have you always loved acting?
‘Yung una po, hindi po. Try lang po ako kasi gusto ko lang po talaga mag commercial lang. Then, nagkaroon po ako ng interest sa movies. Nag start po ako sa isang indie film, “Potpot.” Isa po siyang anti-bullying film directed by Ray An Dulay. Potpot po yung sa pandesal, nagtitinda po siya sa school tapos binu-bully po siya. Tapos po yung “Asintado” sa Cinemalaya, at ‘yung recent po namin na film “Laut,” nanalo ng Best Actress si Barbie dun. Ako po yung asawa niya dun, Badjao po ‘yung istorya at yung last ko po is “Tibak.” Storya po ng mga leftists o aktibista. Storya po ni Joma Sison.
Your sister, Sanya Lopez is also in showbiz. How’s it having another actor in the family?
Normal naman po. May trabaho lang po talaga pero nagkikita pa naman kami. Ganun pa rin, inuutusan ko pa rin siyang maghugas ng pinggan, at magwalis ng bahay kahit na si Danaya na siya. Wala namang nagbago po.
Were you offered a role in “Encantadia?”
Actually, nag audition po ako kasi lahat po kami pinadala to audition for a role in “Encantadia.” Eh kaso po, andun na po ang kapatid ko. At the same time, ang role that I auditioned for was Aquil, so loveteam ko kapatid ko kung ganun. Ang sagwa, di ba? (laughs). Tatlo po ‘yung nag audition ko, Ibarro, Aquil at tsaka Hitano.
What other kinds of roles would you like to try?
Ngayon po, nabigyan din po ako ng chance sa comedy, may “Bubble Gang” po ako. Ang gusto ko po talaga, kasi po ang hirap magpatawa, kailangan timing tapos ‘yung punchline, so kung meron po akong path na gustong i-pursue, gusto ko po ng drama.
Actors you look up to?
Syempre po ‘yung Primetime King natin, Dingdong Dantes. At tsaka Paulo Avelino na galing din sa GMA. Coco Martin din po.
The title of the teleserye is “Meant to Be.” Do you believe in destiny?
Yes, of course. May kasabihan nga tayo, pag para sa ‘yo, para sa ‘yo. So naniniwala ako na may mga bagay talaga na nakatakda para sayo. Sabi nga nila “In God’s time.” Parang ito ‘yung soap na ito, ito ‘yung first na isa ako sa mga leading man ni Barbie at naniniwala ako na para sa akin to. Pero hindi din dapat na hintayin mo nalang ‘yung destiny mo, dapat i-work mo din ‘yun to achieve it.