STARDOM IS HARD WORK!

These familiar faces show up on our TV screens, movie houses, and thousands of magazine covers. In the pantheon of modern-day gods, they’ve been idolized, immortalized, and become sources of inspiration to thousands of devoted fans.

But celebrity status did not come overnight. A life that sparkles with the glitz and glam was frequently earned by blood, sweat, and tears. Like the non-showbiz career people, the stars have paid their dues and keep on sharpening their skills. That’s how they can burn even brighter.

Once in a while, JobsDB.com will chat up-close and personal with these celebrities. Though not all of us have been bitten by the acting and concert bug, the values and lessons in their success stories are pretty universal and can prove to be inspirational.

Joey de Leon:  “My Mind Never Stops Working”
Interview by Tinna Bonifacio

As part of the iconic trio TVJ—aka Tito, Vic and Joey—Joey de Leon is one of the most recognized faces on television and, one might say, in practically all forms of media. He is seen daily in Eat Bulaga and several other programs like Mel and Joey, Startalk, Takeshi’s Castle and the gag show Nuts Entertainment. He writes a column, De Leon’s Den, for the Manila Bulletin. He is also a recording artist who just launched his latest album, Kagat-Labi, under EMI Music Philippines . On top of that, he’s a songwriter (he composed a number of hits, including Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko, Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy, Iskul Bukol and Ipagpatawad Mo), visual artist and photographer.

 At the press conference for Kagat Labi, Joey shared some little-known facts about his career: first, that his first show was in 1968, on ABS-CBN. Second, that he has been in a total of 55 shows in those 40 years; third, that his current show, Eat Bulaga, has been aired on three television stations (Channels 2, 7 and 9), and has been running for 29 years. And if you want to talk about his career as a radio personality, well, he has worked for 12 radio stations in five years.

And yet, he shows no signs of slowing down. In Joey de Leon’s case, age is only a state of mind. Like they say, you’re only as young as you feel. If that’s the case (and judging by his prolific output), Joey is just getting started.  

Here, straight from—pardon the pun—de Leon’s den, is Joey de Leon talking about what makes him tick.

How long have you been in the entertainment industry?

Eat Bulaga has been on the air for 29 years. But I’ve been in the business for much longer than that. I was supposed to do my first movie in 1956, when I was still a boy. I was supposed to play the role of the little boy in Anak Dalita [Anak Dalita, a black and white Lamberto Avellana movie starring Tony Santos, Rosa Rosal, Vic Bacani and Vic Silayan, took Best Picture honors at the Asian Film Festival that year]. I even did a screen test for it. There were two of us being considered for the role, but the other kid got it. So if you count that, I’ve been in showbiz much longer than 40 years.  

You’re into a lot of things. To what do you attribute your being so prolific?

It’s a gift. I say that because I never went to school to learn any of this. I do it largely by instinct. Whatever comes to mind, that’s it. And my mind never stops working. Malikot talaga ang isip ko. Ganyan ako, eh.

And the rest?

It’s a result of hard work. If anyone asked me the secret of my success, this would be it. I would say that 90 percent of my success, I owe to my gift as a writer. ‘Yung 10 percent, pawis na ‘yon.

Of all the things you do, which do you enjoy the most?

Definitely, yung pagiging writer ko, kasi lahat, doon nagmumula. I’m a writer first before anything else. At saka ang pagsusulat kasi, parang ‘yan na ang bisyo ko. Wala akong ibang outlet. Ang routine ko lang sa araw-araw, bahay, studio, bahay, sulat. Ngayon pa nga lang, ang dami ko nang naiisip sulatin. I’d like to go back to writing songs for VST and Company, if they ever decide to revive the group. Ang problema, walang oras sina Tito at Vic, eh. Pero ako, laban ako diyan. Love ko kasi talaga ang magsulat. Hindi nga ako nanonood ng TV, eh. Kahit nag-ta-travel ako, hindi din ako nakakatulog sa eroplano. Pero nakakatulog ako sa pagod sa pagsusulat. Kapag writer ka kasi, ang dami mong magagawa. Puwede kang gumawa ng kanta, puwede kang sumulat ng script, puwede kang gumawa ng istorya. Ang daming puwedeng puntahan.

What is your primary consideration for getting into a project?

Sa akin, basta nag-e-enjoy ako, okay na ‘yon. I don’t want to get into something that feels forced, or which I don’t enjoy. Kailangan, masaya din ako sa ginagawa ko. Minsan nga, sa Startalk, tinatanong ko muna kung sino ang guest namin. Kapag ayaw ko, hindi ako pumapasok. (Laughs).

Speaking of being happy about what you do, we note that you haven’t made a movie in a while. Does this mean you’re no longer happy with movies?

Mas masarap kasi sa TV, eh. Marami namang offers, pero ang gusto ko, yung talagang special project. Yung mga once-in-a-lifetime, yung hindi nauulit. Gaya sila Vic, may ginagawa siya ngayon with Dolphy. ‘Yon ang ibig kong sabihin. Mga projects na talagang may sipa. Dapat ganoon na ang ibinibigay natin sa tao, hindi yung usual na nakikita at napapanood na nila dati pa. Dapat laging may bago.