Aspiring artists should get their head in the game when entering showbusiness. It’s because most celebrities who were starting may have experienced the harsh environment of showbiz during the early stages of their careers.
Since GMA Network’s Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit is nearing its finale, LionhearTV wanted to know more about one of its cast members, Yasser Marta.
During the early years of his stardom pursuit, Yasser felt that he is just chasing nothing. He said that he had thoughts of whether to pursue acting or not. But somehow, as if fate wanted him to continue, there were instances that he get offers to do a role.
“Andaming pagkakataon na gusto ko na lang mag-negosyo, gusto ko na lang mag-change ng career, gusto ko na lang mag-aral,” Yasser said. “Pero parang gumagawa pa rin ng way eh. Kahit anong gawin ko, dun at dun pa rin ako pinupunta.
“Naging freelance ako. Walang humahawak sakin, wala akong manager, pero biglang may tatawag sakin na may ganitong role. So, kahit anong gawin ko, parang dun pa rin talaga ako dinadadala sa path na yun eh,” he shared.
Marta recalled that even before being discovered, he spent many years as an extra on shows, earning 500 pesos for a day’s worth of taping.
“Nung 2016 nga nakailang taon na ako nun eh. Bago pa ako makapag-Spogify. So medyo nag-start talaga ako 2012-2013. So ganun katagal. From pag-eextra, pagtatalent na kumikita ng 500 pesos sa 24 oras na pagtetaping.”
Nevertheless, he felt that acting is his calling despite the numerous setbacks he experienced when he’s still a nobody in the industry.
“Ilang beses ko pinag-isipan, ilang beses akong sumuko, sinasaktan. Pero ang galing lang din kasi kahit sa dami ng disappointment, sa dami ng sakit sa industriya na ‘to, parang dun pa rin ako dinadala ng destiny siguro.”
The young actor then revealed that he experienced being ignored since he is just an extra for the show. However, the ever-optimistic Yasser said that he got used to it since he is determined to be an actor.
“Ang dami din. Siguro na-immune na rin ako at nasanay. Kasi pag extra ka, parang wala ka din namang boses eh. Walang pakialam yung tao sayo, walang pakialam yung production sa’yo. Tapos pag may mali ka pang ginawa, sisigawan at katakot-takot na kung ano man yung sasabihin sa’yo.
“So habang yung process na yun na nangyari sakin, nasanay na lang talaga ako. Nasanay na lang ako sa kalakaran kung paano nangyayari dito sa workplace natin. Andami! Andaming rejection, disappointment, mga galit, mga pampapahiya sa set, so na-experience ko din naman yun.”
He also shared that the reason why he kept pushing on his goal despite being humiliated and hurt by directors and production teams is that it’s his nature to not dwell on the past. Additionally, he considers every humiliation and pain as a lesson in life.
“Nasa personality ko na rin. As a person, hindi talaga ako marunong magtanim ng galit. At kahit mapahiya man ako, kahit ano man ang sabihin nila sakin, parang umuuwi pa rin talaga ako na kinakalimutan ko lahat eh,” said Yasser.
“Kinakalimutan ko yung mga problema at iniisip ko na lang ano talaga yung purpose ko. Kaya kung ano man yung na-experience ko nun, siguro tinitreat ko na lang yun as a lesson sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko. Tsaka hindi talaga ako nagdadamdam. At parang bukas wala na yun sakin, at ginagawa ko na lang kung ano yung mahal ko.”
Recently, the actor has been flaunting his body on his Instagram account. LionHearTV got curious about ehat makes him tick whenever he sees some negative comments about him on social media.
“Siguro pag sobrang bastos na. Pero andami nang bastos na nagko-comment sakin,” admitted the actor.
However, he does not see those comments as degrading nor negative. Yasser revealed that he takes those comments as compliments.
“Pero hindi ko na rin bina-block. Kasi nate-take ko pa rin as a compliment eh. Yung ‘ang sarap mo’, ‘tirahin mo ako’ mga ganong klase ng comments. Pero parang uy gusto mo ng ganun? Edi sige okay lang sakin,.”
Yasser said that he does not mind such comments for the reason that it’s what makes people happy.
“Para sakin parang okay naman siya. Kasi hindi naman talaga ako masyadong conservative na tao. And for me, kung ano yung basta nakakapag-pasaya ako at nakikita ko naman sa mga comments nila, happy na rin ako na na-appreciate nila yung mga ganung klaseng mga pinagpo-post ko,” he explained.
Furthermore, since he is a master of ignoring problems, as long as those reactions and comments stay in the social media world, he will consider them as good comments.
“Kung sa social media world lang naman nagrerevolve yung mga ganung klaseng reactions, parang ako, matetake ko naman talaga eh. Kasi yun nga, magaling ako mandedma ng problema at hindi ko na lang binibitbit,” he said.
Nevertheless, there is one thing that for Yasser that would really cross the line. And that is once his haters pry on his personal and family life.
“Wag lang talaga madadamay yung personal life, family ko,” he said.
Currently, Yasser plays alongside Nora Aunor in Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit. Catch him every weekdays in GMA Afternoon Prime as he plays Anselmo “Jun” Santos Jr., the carefree son of Anselmo “Ansel” Santos played by Zoren Legaspi.
At the same time, he is also part of the coming fantasy rom-com series My Fantastic Pag-Ibig offered by GMA Public Affairs. He will be in the episode “Fairy Tail Romance” where he will be playing Nep, a mortal who falls in love with Lantis, a merman played by Alex Diaz.
