Though unsuspecting that his introduction to the showbiz world four years ago would bring him to the level of popularity that he enjoys right now, Marvin's journey in the entertainment industry has been coupled with hard work, discipline, and the desire to succeed.
His team up with Jolina Magdangal resulted in the movies, Kung Ayaw Mo Huwag Mo, also with former generation comedy loveteam Maricel Soriano and William Martinez, and Labs Kita Okay Ka Lang? The popularity of the ongoing series of labs Ko Si Babe, is proof of the wide acceptance of the Marvin-Jolina loveteam. Also, to the pleasure of Marvin-Jolina fans, marvin shares that they might do a movie together this year.
Despite such popularity, both Marvin and Jolina have been paired with other actors as well. Jolina recently starred in a movie opposite Robin padilla. Marvin is occasionally paired off with ABS-CBN talent, Kristine Hermosa. "They're just establishing yung bawat career namin. Kristine is my drama partner. We've been paired in Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako. Maganda naman 'yung naging response ng tao sa amin. I don't know if they have some projects pa for us." They were also together in Minsan Minahal Kita in a cameo role.
Kristine Hermosa just happens to be one of Marvin's closest friends in the industry. "It's hard to trust kasi. In showbiz, hindi ganon kadali makapag-trust ng tao. Si Kristine siguro yung isa sa mga mapapagkatiwalaan ko." Jolina Magdangal, Judy Ann Santos, Dominic Ochoa and Rico Yan also comprise Marvin's barkada in showbiz.
As if his tight schedule of shootings and tapings weren't hectic enough, the 21-year-old is presently venturing into the food business as he opens his 3rd branch of Mister Donut. Last year, he opened a Fairview branch, in December, he opened his Makati branch. This summer, he'll be opening a Quezon Avenue branch. "After becoming the endorser, of course I believe in the product, I believe in our product."
"Before pa, plan na ng family na gumawa ng restaurant. We're trying to learn from Mister Donut business." Marvin's Mister Donut venture may already be called a family business since his two sisters manage his outlets.
Success notwithstanding, Marvin plans to go back to school three years from now. He wants to study film and aspires to be a director someday. "Right now, what I'm into is photography. I'm also attending TV direction workshop classes under Johnny Manahan. After set naman, if I'm shooting, nagtatanong ako sa mga cinematographers ko, how to shoot a scene. I'm also into scriptwriting." "Director ko si Jerry Sineneng, we always talk kung anong magandang storya, nagbabatuhan kami ng concept, nagbubuo kami ng stories, read our lines. Nagha-hands on ako kasi yun nga yung direction na gusto kong puntahan. Ayokong i-waste 'yung time ko sa I'm just working. Sayang naman 'yung free time."
Marvin was also very open in talking about his dad. In the absence of the family head, Marvin, early on in his teens, took on the responsibility of being a provider for his mother and siblings. "I'm so proud of him right now," says Marvin. I visited him recently and I was able to talk to him heart to heart. There are a lot of changes, physically ang laki, how he thinks now, how he sees things, how he projects life. Iba yung nakikilala ko sa kanya. Ang sarap niyang kausap. He has a lot of plans, not for himself but for other inmates. They're running a rehab inside Muntinlupa. They're planning, if they get out, to put a rehab outside so that they'll have a place to adjust, a place to stay until they find a regular job, or could work. Nagprepre-judge sila. So that's what they're trying to do. That's what they're trying to change."
Marvin also has his own foundation wherein a great number of his fans are involved. It is through KAMAI or Kaibigan ni Marvin Agustin Incorporated foundation that he practices social involvement. In January, Marvin celebrated his birthday by treating 40 orphans to fun and games in Dreamscape. Prior to that, he went to Golden Acres and held a children's party for the elderly. "They were so happy. May nakapagsabi na taga doon na yun lang yung hinahanap nila -- somebody na magbibisita, magpapasaya sa kanila."
When I asked Marvin how he became involved in these activities, he humbly answered, "Everybody knows that I didn't come from a financially stable family. I just realized na I needed to help people there. Pag nandoon ako sa mga lugar na yon I tell them kung saan ako nanggaling, kung paano ako nagsikap. Doon sa little ways na yon nakakatulong ako sa mga tao. Nararamdaman nila na I'm also part ng paghihirap nila that I've been through those things." Such words, uncharacteristic of any typical 21-year-old actor, truly proves that Marvin has come a long way in life.
Marvin admits that year 2000 has been a very good year for him. "Magandang maganda yung pasok sa akin ng year of the dragon. Business wise, maganda. Career, in terms of bookings and projects, tuloy tuloy pa rin naman. Napaka-ganda. It's a successful year for me."
But success also takes its toll on the actor. "I miss but I don't regret... I wish I had more time for myself, my family and friends. Now, it's really work, work, work everyday. Di ko alam minsan kahit wala akong work nagpapahanap ako ng trabaho. So halos wala rin akong bakasyon sa loob ng isang linggo. If I have, punta naman ako sa tindahan, check files, monthly meetings in every store, work on promos. Basically wala talagang free days. So that's what I really miss. Pero I don't have any regrets kasi ang daming natututunan."
With such a work ethic, there is no doubt that much more success awaits Marvin in the years to come. "Masarap din, once nandoon ka na. Sanay ka na at gusto mo yung ginagawa mo. I love what I'm doing kaya hindi ako naiinis. Hindi ako napapagod. Siyempre my family, parang yun yung nagpapa-inspire sa akin." For now it's really work, work, work for Marvin Agustin.
"Gusto ko rin magpahinga ng mas maaga eventually. I work now, kasi I started working when I was 16, so sabi ko, sinimulan ko na rin lang, imbes na itigil pa, ituloy tuloy ko na until puwede na ako totally magpahinga. I just choose whatever I want, what's convenient for my time, for my family."
Despite his wholesome imgae, Marvin is not spared from bad publicity once in awhile. Marvin says that he doesn't know where these items come from. "Minsan nakakainis pa rin, but I just treat it as part of the game. You can't really please everybody. I know naman what's the truth din, my friends and my family do so I don't have to be affected. Natatawa na lang ako."
Marvin strives to stay focused in his career and in his goals. Though he admits that love exists in his life right now, it doesn't take centerstage. "Isa lang dapat 'yung priority in life. You cannot really have everything sabay sabay." Referring to his lovelife, "hindi naman last, or hindi naman top, basta nandiyan lagi to inspire."
What keeps Marvin going right now are his family, future plans, goals and his friends. His nephew in particular, is a source of inspiration for the actor.
"When I see my nephew, kasi natutulog siya sa tabi ko. I don't want him to experience what I experienced before na kulang kulang sa ganito. I just love my nephew and my family so much."
Twenty one years on this earth has give Marvin a lifetime of experience -- experience that will come in handy in all his future endeavors.
The saying "first impression last" does not necessarily apply to this young lady. The showbiz mestiza coming to the photo shoot in the company of friends and family almost made this writer approach the actress with caution, much less hesitate asking potentially agitating questions. But the ice was definitely broken at the beginning of the interview, with the actress entertaining all questions posed on her with sincerity and heart, and while addressing everyone in the room with respect. There is definitely more to this young woman up close than what is seen on screen.
A line up of past projects includes Munting Paraiso with Jericho Rosales, Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako with Marvin Agustin, and a cameo role with Marvin Agustin in Minsan Minahal Kita.
Most of Krisitne's projects are in the line of comedy. She's currently shoting Pera o Bayong The Movie. She's also a regular in Richard Loves Lucy. She will also appear in one episode of Star Studio opposite her good friend Vanessa del Bianco, Marissa Sanchez, Paolo Contis, Carlos Agassi, and Diether Ocampo. She is also currently busy shooting Flames the Movie with Jericho Rosales.
For the actress, year 2000 has been good. "OK naman so far. Sana magtuluy-tuloy. Sana wala nang hassle, wala nang ganong kaintriga talaga." This year she's wishing to really concentrate on her career, to be successful, and to have more projects.
Kristine is also hoping to do an action movie this year. Although she forsees that the preparation for such a film entails much hard work, she's willing to learn and prepare. "OK lang magasgasan," she adds.
And the possibility for love? "Ewan," she says. "Career ang priority ko as much as possible, pero hindi maiiwasan ang mga suitors na nagco-court sa iyo."
Kristine's sister Kathleen is also in showbiz. A member of Star Circle Batch 5, Kathleen is a semi-regular in Tabing Ilog.
"Napaka-supportive ng ate ko sa akin," Kristine says. "Walang rivalry."
Her bestfriends in showbiz are Vanessa del Bianco, Marissa Sanchez, Diane dela Fuente and Marvin Agustin. But it is with Vanessa that she shares on much in common. "Pareho kami ng personality eh. Ayaw niya ng plastikan talaga, eh ganoon din ako." She also shares with Vanessa much advice when intrigues strike the Canadian-raised noontime show host. "Ako ang apektado. Sinasabi ko na 'OK lang yan' pero siyempre minsan, nakaka-depress."
Marvin Agustin, another one of Kristine's closest friends, describes her as his "drama partner". Such connection between the two may also be evident in real life. "Siya yung laging pinupuntahan ko pag may problema ako. Lahat ng advice niya the best. Wala akong nakitang nonsense na advice. Lahat may sense. Lahat totoo. Sinasabi nga niya sa akin, 'hang in there, kaya mo yan, sasamahan kita." She also adds, "Kaya nga 'Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako."
Despite her showbiz connections Kristine doesn't describe herself as a "gimikera." She goes out when invited by Talent Center, but if she had her way, the homebody would rather stay at home with her family.
How does she see herself ten years from now? "I don't know. Ganon pa rin ang career kung hindi pa pinagsasawaan ng tao. Kung pinagsawaan, that's the time na iibahin naman." If she isn't in showbiz anymore, Kristine confesses that she would be living a normal life.
Being seen on TV and the movies, Kristine cannot escape from some social responsibility. "hindi ako nagdu-drugs. I don't smoke. i don't drink. Siguro enough na yon para malaman nila nakarapat dapat akong maging role model." She also tries to convince people to stay on the good side of deeds.
She admits that being om showbiz has its disadvantages. "Hindi ako nakakalabas ngayon ng ganon ganon nalang. Kailangan bantayan lahat ng kilos mo. Bantayan lahat ng taong kasama, pati sa friends. Pag Sunday, family day, wala na rin." But she also admits that the life she leads now has its advantages. "The advantage is I'm earning, yun lang (hehehehe). Nakaka-meet ako ng madami at iba-ibang tao. Magma-mature ka dahil sa work mo ng mas maaga dahil aware sa mga bagay."
Showbiz also taught her big lessons on life. "Alamin kung sino yun mga tao na dapat i-trust. Huwag magpapabola. Huwag magpapaikot sa showbiz."
Despite learning lessons the hard way, Kristine feels that she still has much to be thankful for. "Nakakaraos," is how she describes herself. Showbiz has taught her to mature, and to be aware. She is also thankful that her family continues to guide and give her the full support that she needs to hurdle all the challenges that come her way.
Thinking of the future keeps her inspired. She feels that she may be having difficulty now but because she's earning and saving early, she'll also be able to reap the benefits of her labor early.
Is she happy? "I am, pero minsan nakakapagod lang." She feels that she has achieved so much is so short a time. "Sa career, masasabi ko namang kahit papano, contented na ako sa binigay sa akin ng Lord. Happy rin ako kasi maraming taong naniniwala at nagmamahal at nagtitiwala sa akin."
In passing, Kristine admitted that she is sometimes misinterpreted by people as being "mataray." She shares that "pag nakakakuwentuhan na nila kami, sinasabi nila sa akin, 'ay mabait ka pala.'" Then she humorously answers them, "Kasi kayo eh, ang bilis mag-judge." Inside and out, I was laughing at her reply. She got me there - guilty as charged.