Actor Teejay Marquez is playing the role of a formidable antagonist in GMA’s new series, Makiling. With Kristoffer Martin, Myrtle Sarrosa, Royce Cabrera, and Claire Castro, Teejay’s character serves as one of the tormentors to the character played by Elle Villanueva, the lead star in the series along with Derrick Monasterio.
In a recent interview, Teejay shared his excitement as he takes on a challenging role on the small screen. He expressed his satisfaction with portraying a character distinct from his previous roles, particularly those of gay characters.
Known for his versatility, Teejay sees this as an opportunity to break away from the stereotype and showcase his range as an actor.
“As much as possible, I would like to limit accepting offers where I’ll play a gay role. At this point, I’m happy with being a ‘contravida.’ I don’t want to get typecast in just one role. I want to show my versatility, and I’m glad that my supporters are happy with this development in my career,” he stated.
When asked if this marks a shift away from accepting gay roles in the future, Teejay clarified, “No, I’m not turning my back from it. I don’t want to close doors. I’m an actor, so whatever comes my way, I will accept. It’s just that at this point, I’m glad that I have a breather.”
Speaking of gay roles, the last one he portrayed was in the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival entry, Broken Hearts Trip, opposite Christian Bables.
Unfortunately, the film is a tail-ender in the box-office race among the ten participating movies.
“Well, that’s admittedly sad, but since I learned that we are one of the official entries in the 49th MMFF, I told myself to enjoy the experience, and I did! The parade of stars, promo stints, and awards night—it was a wonderful experience that I had only dreamt of before. You know that feeling? That when you are part of the MMFF, you are already a legitimate star.”
“I still hope, though, that the public will get to watch the movie through other platforms. We did our best to make it as enjoyable as possible,” ended Teejay.
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Pops Fernandez admits that even up to now she and her estranged husband Martin Nievera still experience little tiffs.
“We just had one recently but I don’t want to delve into it. I don’t want to pretend that we are a hundred percent okay. We still go through little misunderstandings but what’s good is we know how to deal with it,” she says.
What’s their secret?
“Well, as the adage goes, time heals all wounds, right? And perhaps, it’s because we always choose to be okay so things get ironed out. We settle everything privately and deal through all those misunderstandings privately.”
The original Concert Queen also sheds light on how she was able to accept her failed marriage with Martin.
“It’s been 29 years since we parted ways. To be honest, I went through a lot of mind conditioning. Of course, that’s very painful so acceptance is imperative. You have to get to a level in which you are strong enough to accept it.
“It’s not easy but it’s possible. It’s totally up to you. I didn’t want to always fight with him for the sake of our children who were still young then. It’s much better if we’re okay, right?” Pops states.