Mang Jose star Janno Gibbs explained on Wednesday, November 10, that he wanted to be known not as Ronaldo Valdez’s son since the start of his acting career.
“From the start, I think I wanted to get away from being Ronaldo’s son. Malalaman mo naman sa apelyido pa lang, hindi ko ginamit yung Valdez,” pointed Gibbs during the media conference for his action-comedy film.
Ronaldo Valdez was a veteran drama actor whose career lasted for five decades. Valdez won Best Supporting Actor during the 1997 Metro Manila Film Festival for his Nasaan ang Puso and earned the Helen Vela Lifetime Achievement Award for Drama in the 2015 Golden Screen TV Awards.
When asked if he deliberately changed his image away from his father’s legacy, Gibbs said it was pure coincidence.
“Nagkataon lang. I started—alam mo naman nag-umpisa ako loveteam-loveteam with Manilyn (Reynes). Naging komedyante lang ako nung Ober Da Bakod na eh. Doon ako naging komedyante sa Ober Da Bakod.”
Gibbs then added that he was happy becoming an actor-comedian, pointing that it was hard living in his father’s shadow.
“Pero happy rin ako na naging magkaiba kami nang daddy ko kasi mahirap, mahirap kung magiging dramatic actor din ako eh mahirap tumira sa anino ni Ronaldo Valdez.”
Janno Gibbs stars in Mang Jose, a superhero who can absorb energy and redirect it. But here’s the catch: those who turn for his help need to pay for his “service.”
Mang Jose is directed by Rayn F. Brizuela and was featured at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in South Korea last July.
Catch it on December 24 via Vivamax. It will also be available for advance screening through pay-per-view on November 17.
