How JM Ibarra fell in love with acting
JM Ibarra had no clear plan or idea of what he would do after his stint in “Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Gen 11.” For all he knew, he would just return to his hometown in Quezon province and continue living a normal life. But at the urging of his screen partner, “PBB” season’s winner, Fyang Smith, and those around him, he decided to explore showbiz and give acting a shot. Who knows—he may well discover a talent yet untapped.
Much to his surprise, after taking a crash course on the Meisner acting technique last year, Ibarra immediately fell in love with the craft. It was challenging—“magulo sa utak, masakit sa damdamin”—but nonetheless fulfilling and eye-opening.
“I enjoy stepping into a different world through my characters, and leaving JM behind for a while,” he says at a recent press conference. “It makes me realize that the world is so much bigger and doesn’t just revolve around my own outlook.”
First film lead role
From reality television to fan meetings and online content, Ibarra is now embarking on full-fledged acting projects. These include the fantasy romance digital series “Ghosting,” opposite Smith, and his first movie lead role in “Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana,” which is an entry to the ongoing Cinemalaya Film Festival—a surprise, he admits, since he didn’t expect to be doing indie films this early in his career.
“It’s nerve-wracking seeing my face on the screen, reading the script, and hearing ‘3, 2, 1… action!’” the 25-year-old shares. “Pressure!”
Directed by Tim Rone Villanueva, “Child No. 82” is a fantasy dramedy that explores themes of social issues and family identity. The film follows Max (Ibarra), a 16-year-old high school student rumored to be the 82nd illegitimate child of the recently deceased Maximo “Boy Kana” Maniego Jr. (Vhong Navarro)—the biggest action star in Philippine cinema.
With his pregnant teenage girlfriend and their baby’s future on the line, Max embarks on an adventure to prove he is Boy Kana’s son and secure an inheritance. But first, he must reach Boy Kana’s casket before the public viewing ends at midnight. However, hundreds of fans and not a few villains stand in his way.
A timely concept
The premise effectively makes his character a nepo baby—a concept that feels especially relevant today.
“It’s a social issue, so marami talagang makaka-relate dito na Pilipino,” Ibarra says of the film. “It touches on a very current issue, because Max, the character I portray, is the illegitimate child of a famous figure. So technically, he’s an unacknowledged nepo baby.”
In his desperate quest for identity and inheritance, Max inevitably faces a daunting choice: Will the glittery promise of his father’s celebrity status blind him, or will he find the clarity he needs in the complicated legacy of the man who was ‘Boy Kana’?
“Mabubulag ba siya sa luxury? O malinawan ba siya sa katotohanang sasambulat sa kanya habang nilalakbay niya ang pagkakakilanlan ng ama niya?” Ibarra says.
Amid the ongoing flood control corruption scandals and the public outrage over the lavish lifestyles of “nepo babies,” Ibarra couldn’t help but reflect on the issue. Truth be told, the subject of taxes rarely crossed his mind, and it never really occurred to him that buying the things he enjoyed already meant he was actively contributing to the government.
“Now that I’m earning my own money, you start to understand better what people are fighting for,” Ibarra relates. “Where do our taxes really go?”
Lessons from the veterans
Ibarra admits that he’s still not fully confident in his acting skills. But thanks to his more seasoned co-stars—Navarro, one of his favorite actors growing up, and Rochelle Pangilinan, who plays Max’s mother—Ibarra has grown more confident in his role and more comfortable on set.
“More than technique, I also learned about socializing. Since I’m shy and reserved, they made an effort to approach and encourage me on set,” Ibarra shares. “They guided me from start to finish, so I was really touched by their kindness.”
Beyond acting, he also learned that while talent is important, it’s not the be-all and end-all of the entertainment industry. Attitude is just as important—a reality Navarro reminded him of. “You have to be good at taking care of relationships. You have to be respectful to everyone—the director, co-stars, the staff, ” he says. “That’s something I won’t forget.”
From Pangilinan, Ibarra realized that new coworkers bring new opportunities to learn. “The more jobs I take on, the more people I meet—and I can learn from all of them if I stay open,” he says. “Now, every time I start a new project, I try to be like a sponge, soaking it all in.”
And soak it in, he will, as he continues to expand his career beyond the love team. While Ibarra enjoys working with Smith—and fans are hoping that they do more projects together—he points out that growth wouldn’t be possible if they box themselves in.
“We’re happy, and our friendship grows every time we work,” Ibarra says. “But we also want to explore as much as we can. That’s part of our vision as actors.”
