NCAA Beach volleyball champ, National Team starter, College of Saint Benilde Blazers team captain, and now John Vic De Guzman can add actor to his résumé.
De Guzman is set to cross out actor off his bucket list as he stars in a movie entitled Seklusyon, a film part of the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival. Directed by Erik Matti, Seklusyon is a horror thriller that involves deacons going into isolation to have their faith tested to see if they are worthy of being ordained.
De Guzman plays Marco, one of the deacons who has his faith tested.
“Ako si Marco doon, isa sa mga deacons, na ganoon din. Mate-test ‘yung faith namin kay God, kung makukuha kami ng temptation sa loob,” the 23-year-old explained.
“It gives the watchers a background sa mga ginagawa ng Christian churches dati. Abangan niyo matatakot kayo, kakabahan kayo, at pagpapawisan kayo.”
Getting into his first role was admittedly difficult for the 6-foot-2 spiker.
“Okay naman. Kasi lahat ng katrabaho ko, especially si Direk, sobrang tiyaga niya. Kaya kaming mga actors, nagkakaroon kami ng bonding,” the opposite hitter said about the experience.
Just like how he got a spot on the Saint Benilde volleyball team, De Guzman had to work and tryout for the role. He also went through a rigorous workshop to prepare himself for the role.
“Pinapunta ako one day sa QC ng agency namin which is Virtual Playground. Pina-try ako kung gusto ko umarte. Then nakuha ako. Nagworkshop ako mga one week after ako makuha,” he recalled.
“It’s (acting) a matter of bonding and dedicating yourself to every workshop, everything na tinuturo sayo, matututo ka na. Sunod-sunod na ‘yun until nasa harap ka na ng camera.”
Between volleyball and acting, De Guzman couldn’t choose which he enjoys more although he was unprepared for the mental toll of being in front of the camera.
“Ako, sobrang saya ko kahit talagang nakakapagod. Same lang ang pag-enjoy ko sa acting and volleyball.
“Sa volleyball kasi more on physical ‘yung exhaustion – sa kaka-exert mo sa sarili sa kakagalaw. Sa acting kasi, iba ‘yung mental toll. Kailangan talaga mataas ‘yung mental capacity mo, ‘yung patience mo. Halos parehas lang siguro ‘yung pagod pero sa acting kasi nasa isip ko lagi na ipapalabas ‘yan sa public,” he admitted.
The filming did, however, affect his training with Saint Benilde. For this, De Guzman is grateful for his team’s support with his new venture.
“Noong una talaga. Mabaet naman ‘yung coach ko kasi pinayagan niya ako mag-shoot. Sobrang pagod ako minsan sa shooting namin na one day lang, ‘di ako nakakapag-ensayo. Kaya thankful ako sa coaches and sa team na naintindihan nila ako,” he said.
The Blazers are currently entrenched in the NCAA Season 92 Men’s Volleyball Tournament in which they are currently atop the standings. Playing in his final year, De Guzman wants nothing more than to give Saint Benilde its first NCAA Men’s Volleyball title.
“Wala na akong ibang goal kung hindi ‘yung championship. Pero siyempre, step-by-step lang. Malaki tiwala ko sa team ko pero alam kong kailangan pa rin namin magtrabaho. Kung maganda igagalaw namin lahat and consistent kami, kayang-kaya namin manalo,” the team captain expressed.
“Hindi na ako nagfo-focus sa individual awards. Since last year ko ‘to, championship na lang talaga. Mabubura lang ‘yung individual awards kung hindi ka naman magcha-champion.”
Just like his brash on-court persona, De Guzman needed all the confidence he could muster to get through his first acting role.
After “Seklusyon” and his collegiate career, De Guzman hopes he gets more opportunities to do what he loves.
“I love doing both, honestly, kaya whatever ang dumating sa akin, pagta-trabahuhan ko. Hopefully, ‘Seklusyon’ leads to more roles and siyempre gustong-gusto ko pa ‘rin mag-volleyball,” he closed.
No matter where he gets his opportunity, De Guzman is sure to attack them with the determination and ferocity he made his signature on the volleyball court.
