Klarisse de Guzman is back to her first love
“Sa mga nangyayari ngayon, medyo nakalimutan kong singer ako!” While obviously said in jest, that sentiment pretty much sums up the unexpected shift in Klarisse de Guzman’s career after her stint in “Pinoy Big Brother (PBB).” The last few months, in particular, saw her finally step out of her singing lane and dip her toes into acting.
And not just any projects, mind you, but two entries in the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Although she portrayed supporting roles, she made the most of her limited screen time, appearing remarkably at ease on camera while showcasing traits that were practically extensions of her “Ate Klang” and “Pambansang Mowm” personas, which endeared her to the public.
Natural screen presence
In “Call Me Mother,” De Guzman—as Mayet, the younger sister of Twinkle (Vice Ganda)—lets her charm and instinctive feel for comedy shine in her brief but hilarious repartees with the lead star. As Mae, a doting elder sister in “Bar Boys: After School,” she maintains those same qualities but is given more room to show her warm and nurturing side.
For someone like her, who tends to err on the side of caution “for fear of failing or looking foolish” outside her comfort zone, the positive response from audiences has been gratifying and relieving.
“Natatawa ako kapag naririnig ko ‘yong mga comments kasi ‘di ko ini-expect. Habang pinanonood ko ‘yong mga pelikula sa premiere nights, para akong lumulubog sa upuan ko,” she tells Lifestyle Inquirer. “Nahihiya ako! ‘Oh my God, nagawa ko ‘yan?’ But I’m happy that people liked my acting.”
The singer’s natural screen presence may be a big surprise to many, but not so much to those who have been following her career, especially her title-winning run in “Your Face Sounds Familiar.” Tasked with embodying iconic artists and mimicking their mannerisms and vocal tics, she might as well be acting.
But perhaps the more surprising thing was the chemistry De Guzman unwittingly built as an infatuated fan girl of Kean Cipriano’s humbled former star in “Bar Boys.” Supporters have affectionately dubbed the pairing “Klean.”
“Sa mga love teams diyan huwag kayong kabahan. Nagsisimula pa lang kami, but we’re getting there!” she jokes.
Sustaining the momentum
More than validation, what really drew her into acting were the experiences and lessons she wouldn’t have gained had she not taken the risk. For instance, she now knows the meaning of “cha cha” or “tuhog”—terms that didn’t make sense to her as a singer. And with just those little details, the world of acting is beginning to feel a little less foreign.
“Noong una lagi kong tinatanong ang sarili ko kung kaya ko. Ibang-iba kasi ang mundo nila. But now I enjoy it,” she says. “Ang dami kong natutunan sa set, sa workshops, at sa mga co-actors ko… Co-actors?!”
And with another project already in the works—the upcoming primetime series “The Secrets of Hotel 88,” starring her fellow “PBB” housemates—De Guzman hopes to sustain the momentum she has built over the past few months. Who knows, she says, acting may just become a more serious career path.
“Puwede na po talaga ngayon. Discovering a new talent—or something you didn’t know about yourself—is a blessing,” she says. “At pagbubutuhin na natin ‘yan. Malay mo, sa Oscars na tayo next year!”
But as exciting as the opportunities acting has opened up for her are, singing will always be her first love. And sharing the stage with artists who have the same passion will always feel like home. So, when she was offered a spot in the lineup of the Valentine’s concert “Champions of the Heart”—Martin Nievera, Jona, Jed Madela, and Sofronio Vazquez—she signed up right away, no questions asked.
“Singer po ulit muna tayo!” De Guzman, dubbed the “Soul Diva,” quips.
Happening on Feb. 14 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Newport World Resorts, the show will feature solo performances and group numbers celebrating classic love songs. “I’m excited to work with such amazing artists and perform songs that people can relate to and sing along to,” De Guzman says. “I know it’s going to be a breeze because they’re all my good friends.”
Veteran kontesera
As its title suggests, “Champions of the Heart” is a gathering of acclaimed music artists whose careers were forged and inevitably launched by singing competitions.
De Guzman, a veteran “kontesera,” has been a staple of talent searches since she was a kid—from “Batang Kampeon” and “Star for a Night” to her career-turning first-runner-up finish on “The Voice PH” in 2013. Her music has since undergone various shifts in styles and genres. She once auditioned with alternative rock songs, became a power vocalist, and later dabbled in soul and R&B.
Now, she has been expanding her palette with more contemporary pop midtempos—an influence of her stay in “PBB.”
“I fell in love with all those genres I have discovered, but I feel like I’m starting to gravitate toward more modern sounds. The power diva image people have of me will always be there, but I also want younger audiences to relate to my music the way they related to me in “PBB,” she points out.
But regardless of genre—and whether singing or acting—De Guzman says it’s the challenges she has faced that continue to fuel her. And she hopes to bring that fire to the stage. “It’s all about honoring the entire process of how I got here,” she says. “It’s about the rejections that motivate me and the friends I have made along the way that make the journey worthwhile.”
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