The rest, as they say, is history. Marvin was discovered by TV writer Enrico Santos, and be reluctantly plunged into showbiz waters.
"All I wanted was a simple life," he recalls. His only dream then was to finish school and find himself a deccent job. Nothing fancy, really.
Showbiz, to Marvin, then fresh from high school at Sta. Rita College, was a Pandora's box. He is familiar with stories about private lives laid bare and issues blown to gigantic proportions. And he thought he'd not be part of these.
But look where he is now. Marvin has starred in smash hits (Labs Kita, Okay Ka Lang; Kung Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo; Flames the Movie, among others). A little girl who saw him talking to a group of writers (including this one) at the mall calls him Danila, his character in Esperanza.
He has a New Male Actor of the Year trophy from the Star Awards for Movies tucked under his belt. Marvin was also nominated for Best Actor in a Single Performance for his role in Maalaala Mo Kaya's Karne episode, and as FAP Best Supporting Actor for Ipaglaban Mo, the Movie.
These days, Marvin has his hands full with TV soap Esperanza and Sunday hosting stints at ASAP and MTB with screen partner Jolina Magdangal.
Marvin was also part of the Channel 2 mini-series Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako.
His next movie is Hey Babe, which pairs him for the nth time with Jolina.
This guy who felt wary of showbiz many years back is taking to it like a fish in the water.
Why not? The job has given Marvin perks he never thought he'd ever have as the family breadwinner. Marvin was able to send his older siblings to school (he is the youngest in a brood of three).
He was also able to buy a house in Quezon City for his family and a car.
"Maybe god made me a strong person because he was preparing me for the intriguing world of showbiz," he muses.
Now, his career goal is focused on a different field, still showbiz related, but not as high profile as his present work is. Marvin would like to try his hand at writing TV scripts.
Egged on by TV writers Jerry Sineneng and Wally Ching, Marvin has started to write a script of his own. And, just like Jerry, he hopes to make this his stepping stone to fulfilling a lifelong dream: that of directing a full-length movie.
It's been a hard climb to success, and Marvin would like to share the story of his struggle with those who will benefit from it. He is talking to the Bantay Bata Foundation "so I can share my experience with children."
Marvin knows that like him, many of these poor, neglected children have their eyes set not on their present pitiful condition but on a better life for themselves and their family. So he hopes the project with Bantay Bata will push through.
He also sees himself getting involved in an anti-drug campaign, the better to use his celebrity status as a means to help others.