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Teejay Marquez: Crossover Wonder

In this exclusive interview with Inside Showbiz Weekly, young actor and Dubsmash wonder Teejay Marquez sizes up his career as he prepares to conquer more goals.

It’s not the first time this has happened. A performer from the Philippines makes it big abroad. This time, it’s Teejay Marquez. He of the angelic, dimpled face adored by fans in Manila would cross borders and end up making waves overseas.

On top of his acting gigs in the local scene, it would be the millennial’s playful presence on social media, which has earned him the moniker Dubsmash King, that would serendipitously take his showbiz career to Indonesia. Now back in the country, Teejay finds himself firming up his current and future career goals. It is a new move for the easygoing, happy-go-lucky chap who didn’t exactly seek to be in the limelight.

“To be honest, I never planned to be in showbiz,” declares the young heartthrob.

Teejay, who just turned 23 last September 29, would grow up to be the independent young man he is today. “I am an only child. My parents are from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, but I grew up here. My parents are separated. I grew up with my grandma. I’m a lola’s boy. I used to stay with my father but he passed away recently.

Sa mother’s side ko naman, ‘di ako masyado close. Pero my mom and I talk naman. But I only met her when I was 18 years old. She has her own family already na din kasi. I was born nasa 3rd year high school ‘yung parents ko. It was a young love, puppy love. Now, I live talaga with my lola. Before inaalagaan niya ako. But now it’s my turn to take care of her.”

STARTING OUT

Showbiz would come to Teejay unplanned and unexpected. “It just started because of my friends. They were the ones who were in showbiz, into modeling. They would go to VTRs tapos kasama nila ako. I was 19 nung na-discover ko na gusto ko pala ‘to. Nung nakuha ako, it was fulfilling for mekasi for the first time I earned my own money. Then, ganun pala ‘yung feeling na makuha for a commercial.”

Teejay would soon realize there was more to what he thought was a pastime. “To be honest, as a first-timer, it really gave a boost to my confidence. Tumatak sa‘kin na if I want something, and if you just focus and try, baka pwede talaga. So after nun, I started seeing it as a job. Hindi ko naman tinitignan as business ‘yung showbiz.”

With his newfound perspective, Teejay would eventually transition from commercials to television and movies. “When I was doing commercials, ‘yung mga kasama ko na models started entering showbiz.” Luckily, Teejay’s initial reluctance to get into acting would yield something positive for him. “I auditioned. I went to the networks and fortunately, after ko mag-audition sa GMA, nakuha ako.”

Teejay recounts, “My first teleserye was Tween Hearts. Dun nagsimula. Dati inisip ko lang na trabaho. But I was having fun. Hanggang sa minahal ko siya and na-feel ko na kaya ko. So wala talaga siya sa plano nung umpisa.”

For three years, Teejay would earn his showbiz stripes. Teejay muses that his most memorable stint so far has been the Kapuso TV series Tween Hearts. “Alam mo naman sa Pilipinas, when you are part of a barkada show, everybody goes crazy over you. So talagang from zero tapos ngayon, eto na.”

 

THE TEEJAY TWERK

Things would take a different turn for the young actor on social media via the popular lip-sync app Dubsmash. “Last year, talaga namang trending ‘yung Dubsmash. Everyone was doing it and ‘yung Twerk It Like Miley was a really cool song. Nagulat ako na after I posted my Dubsmash video of the song—hindi ko naisip that it will go viral—madaming nag-view, madaming natuwa. Tapos nung kinabukasan, iba na. From ten thousand views, naging one million na agad.”

Teejay confesses, “Hindi siya planned, na gagawin ko ‘to para makilala ako. Marami nang gumawa nun—mga celebrities and models. It was more of having fun and nakikiuso para sa mga followers ko sa Instagram and Facebook. Para makita nila na kalog din ako, yung funny side ko. So, it was like that until naging viral na and umabot siya sa Indonesia.”

Little would the guy know his videos would find an unexpected but appreciative audience beyond the local scene. “After maging viral sa Pilipinas, nagulat ako na my following was increasing very fast. ‘Yung four hundred thousand naging seven hundred thousand na. Nagtataka ako. ‘Is this a joke?’ Sabi ko ‘baka may nagbibiro sa ‘kin.’ But looking at their comments—hindi ko maintindihan ‘yung language because it’s different. But based sa mga emojis they use, happy naman. Parang natutuwa naman sila pero hindi ko pa sila kilala.”

Tracing how he would subsequently earn an Indonesian fanbase, Teejay declares, “Dun siya nagsimula hanggang sa may nag-message sa ‘kin from Indonesia na they want to try me out for a commercial kasi looking at my Instagram account daw, I have Indonesian fans, may market sa Indonesia. Akala ko talaga joke lang kaya hindi ko masyado pinapansin. Syempre, takot din ako mag-risk kasi hindi siya dito sa Manila lang. So talagang umabot sa point na hindi ko sila pinansin for three months.”

A friend of Teejay, who owns a talent agency, would push him to pursue the offer from Indonesia after he was messaged by Indonesian producers who wanted to get Teejay as a talent.

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