MANILA, Philippines - So far, 2010 has been a year of firsts for up-and-coming young actor Martin del Rosario. He starred in two movies and was nominated for an acting award.
Del Rosario’s first television appearance for ABS-CBN was in the youth-oriented show “Abt Ur Luv.” After that, he played Boy Ramirez, the younger brother of Roxanne Guinoo’s character Gillian in “Sineserye Presents: Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos.” He has also appeared in “Iisa Pa Lamang,” “Your Song Presents: Boystown,” “May Bukas Pa,” “Katorse,” “Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal?” and “Rosalka.”
Del Rosario performed well in all of those shows, but it was his appearances on the long-running drama series “Maalaala Mo Kaya” that made critics and fans alike sit up and take notice of him.
In an MMK episode titled “Headband,” he played a gay teenager named Solomon, who changed his name to Samantha upon coming out of the closet. He did it so well that the Philippine Movie Press Club saw fit to add him to their list of nominees for the Best Single Performance by an Actor plum.
Actually, that isn’t the only award Del Rosario is up for this year. His movie “Dagim” is an entry to the Cinema One Originals film festival, so he’s also eligible for an acting award there.
He has some pretty heavy-hitting competition for both awards.
In the PMPC Star Awards for TV, his competition includes Dominic Ochoa, Gerald Anderson, Jolo Revilla and Ronaldo Valdez, to name a few. In the Cinema One Originals film festival, Del Rosario’s fellow nominees include Mark Gil and Pen Medina.
When asked how he feels about his chances of winning, he said he feels blessed to be in such good company—and for now, that’s enough for him.
Aside from “Dagim,” he is also in Star Cinema’s “Till My Heartaches End” with Kim Chiu and Anderson. Del Rosario and Anderson are being co-managed by Star Magic and Jun Reyes.
“Idol ko si Gerald, pero not to the point na gusto ko siyang gayahin. Inspiration ko lang siya. Mabait siya. Simple person, walang yabang,” he said.
Del Rosario added that while he wants to be a leading man someday, he’s in no rush and is willing to do what it takes for the next few years to make it happen.