Drinks with Joem Bascon

You’re probably familiar with his works on TV since he’s been one of the most bankable versatile actors in the country but personally, Joem Bascon has been constantly entertaining me via his girlfriend and online darling Crisha Uy’s YouTube channel. He’s been a mainstay in her videos as himself doing boyfriend-ly things like allowing Crisha to apply makeup on him, showing their workout routines, executing fun challenges, and unboxing gifts. It’s basically a series of videos on their daily life. It’s obvious that Joem is enjoying being part of these videos because he can be his crazy, candid self with the woman whom he claims “saved” him; nothing is pretentious.

Joem is one of those character actors that you know would stand the test of the business. His laid-back demeanor and amiable personality making him a joy to work with…I guess hahaha because hey, he’s never not in a project. And not to mention his acting prowess, he’s also not the type to allow himself to be left behind. Joem will be around, for sure, we’ll see more of him on screen and if not, he can start his own YouTube channel.

I met up with Joem at Kermit Manila, a newly opened Italian restaurant situated in the busy area of Poblacion. When I went to Siargao for the first time a few years back, I stayed at Kermit Surf and Dive Resort, as per suggested by my good friend and pro-surfer Luke Landrigan. I had a lovely stay at the resort and was satisfied with the accommodation and especially the food, which majority would be Italian since the resort is owned by Swiss-Italian Gianni Grifoni and his wife Rosemarie. You can see Gianni very hands-on not only in manning the resort but the kitchen as well. It’s such a good thing that they brought their pizza and pasta closer to home through Kermit Manila. As Joem and I enjoyed our shots of whiskey on the rocks, his drink of choice, he shared with me the worst thing that was said about him, his morning routine, and what he should do to attain world peace.

 

HOW DID WE MEET?

Joem’s version:

Nagmeet tayo sa isang blocked screening ng Histographika Errata by Direk Richard Somes. Nagkain tayo after sa isang Japanese restaurant tapos dun na nagkaroon ng conversations about mga movies sa Pilipinas, kung sinong okay na artista, kung sinong hindi okay na artista.

D: Sinabi ko ba na kamuka ka ni Piolo?

Joem: Hindi. Sinabi mo na ako yung pulis na nagiisang merong pakak sa kilay.

My version: 

Correct! We met at Direk Richard Somes’ screening in Glorietta of his movie Histographika Errata last year. And we had an after movie kainan within the area, wherein Joem was introduced to me. I remember posting a photo of us on Facebook and my sister who’s in Essex, and an avid teleserye viewer, recognized him and called Joem by his character’s name Caloy from his then TV series Pusong Ligaw. Hindi ko alam yun hehehe.

HOW DO YOU USUALLY START YOUR DAY?

Joem: Maaga ako laging gumigising. Minsan gumigising ako ng 6AM or 7AM, basta maaga akong gumigising kay Crisha. 6AM gumigising na ako tapos umiinom na ako ng mga vitamins ko or yung mga supplements ko for workout. Maglalaba ako. Ang init kasi ng araw mga 10AM onwards e, dapat before 10AM, masampay ko na sa veranda namin dun sa condo para matuyo na sha sa hapon. Pagsampay ko sa kanya, takbo muna ako sandali sa treadmill or takbo ako papunta sa gym. Pagbalik ko, gagawa na ako ng coffee for Crisha, that’s a daily routine for me, kahit na magtataping ako.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR WORK?

Joem: I get to change characters. I get to change my personality depende dun sa role na gagawin ko. Minsan makikilala ka nila as Joem, minsan makikilala ka nila as Caloy, minsan makikilala ka nila as yung police na may pakak sa mata, alam mo yun, yun yung mas nakakataba ng puso para sa akin, yung mas nakikilala nila yung character more than the actor na gumaganap sa kanila.

“It is a process for you to be the character, hindi sha yung basta basta na lang na in one scene, basta ka na lang nandito, naghuhurumintado ka. Ibuild-up mo sha na papunta dun.”

IF YOU CAN HAVE TWO SUPER POWERS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?

Joem: Yung pwedeng bumalik in time. Siguro I want to change some of my past, yung mga sobrang pinagsisisihan ko.

D: Ay may regret in life?

Joem: Meron. Lahat naman yata tayo may regret in life. Wala ka ba?

D: Minsan

Joem: O, tingnan mo. So yun, isa yun, kasi medyo marami talaga akong kalokohan talaga nun. The other one is siguro to regenerate yung body ko. Karamihan sa amin yun yung gusto nila kasi kapag tumatanda ka na tapos ganito parin yung lifestyle namin, yung trabaho namin, onti na lang parang mawawala na kami sa mundo. Yung puyat, yung pagod, hindi naman ako bumabata, tumatanda naman tayong lahat. Kapag sumakit ang likod, hindi na sha ganun kabilis..di tulad nung bata ka na kaya mong indahin. Hinahapo na ako sa mga eksena ko minsan. Yun lang yung narealize ko, tumatanda na ako.

WHERE DO YOU GO TO RELAX? 

Joem: Sa condo ko lang, sa bahay lang. Tulog, di kaya magbebeach or magtatravel, basta kapag kasama ko sa (Crisha), yun na yung normal day ko to relax. One week na magkasama kami sa bahay, ayun, tuwang tuwa na kami sa ganun. Tapos nagpaplan na kami ng mga susunod na naming pupuntahan.

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT’S BEEN SAID ABOUT YOU?

Joem: Mataba ako [laughs]. Ano ba ang pinaka worst na sinabi sa akin? Na reluctant actor ako. Na hindi ako full-fledged na nandun. Alam mo yung binibigay ko yun lahat, sa thinking ko ha? Yung hindi lang siguro nila gets na minsan na may character kasi na undertone. Ewan ko kung ganun yung style ko. It is a process for you to be the character, hindi sha yung basta basta na lang na in one scene, basta ka na lang nandito, naghuhurumintado ka. Ibuild-up mo sha na papunta dun.

WHO DO YOU CONSIDER AS YOUR MENTOR?

Joem: Most of what I know and what I tap sa emotion or sa personality, siguro yung mga natututunan ko sa parents ko. When it comes to acting talaga, yung mga workshops, tinuruan ako ng mga techniques, sila Ms. Beverly Vergel, si Direk Laurice Guillen, si Tito Pen (Medina), sila Wenn Deramas.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM THEM (PARENTS & CAREER MENTORS)?

Joem: Respect everyone. Respect na kaya mong ibigay sa lahat ng tao, despite of religion, despite their beliefs. Yung choices na binigay sa akin, yung nangyayari sa akin, iba yung choices na nangyayari sa kanila, kumbaga, di mo pwedeng icompare e. Until now, yung ang dala dala ko kasi once na rinespeto ko lahat, I think merong world peace tsaka chill lang tayo. Sa career ko, si Direk Jerry Lopez Sineneng, my manager.

D: Anung sabi nya?

Joem: Magintay ka lang. Pero totoo sha. Magintay ka lang when it comes to your break sa career, when it comes to your work, sa tapings, sa shootings. Totoo, nagiintay ka ng 24 hours a day bago ka makunan. Doon ka nagkakaroon ng patience habang nagiintay ka. Maghintay ka. Kung hindi pa naman talaga bida yung role mo, makikita naman nila if you’re capable of doing this kind of role na.

WHAT FOOD MAKES YOU HAPPY? 

Joem: Sinigang…ni Crisha Uy. Minsan nagluluto sha ng normal lang pero minsan linalagyan nya ng pakwan. Weird no? May alat, asim, tsaka tamis.

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE IN LIFE RIGHT NOW?

Joem: Rest. Peace of mind siguro, yun. Every character na pinoportray ko, medyo naaaning ako. Gusto ko shang i-let go kasi alam kong makakaapekto ito sa personal life ko. Alam mo yung minsan nagsasalita ako sa CR, gusto ko shang i-verbalize para mailabas ko sha.

IF YOU CAN BE PART OF ANY TV SERIES, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Joem: Prison Break. Kasi very intellectual tsaka true to life. Hindi sha yung basta preso preso lang. Parang may game sha na hindi lang basta barakohan or sobrang sino ang pinaka astig. Naguutakan parin pala sila sa loob. Kung sino yung mas makakakuha ng territory na’to, kung sino yung mas lalaki yung gang.

WHY IS WHISKEY YOUR FAVORITE DRINK?

Joem: Nalalasing kasi ako sa kanya.

D: Yun nga yung point, pero bakit?

Joem: Tumalon na ako sa point kaagad e [laughs]. Alam mo, wala talaga akong favorite alak. Mahilig lang akong uminom, kahit anung ibigay mo sa akin, iinumin ko lahat. Pero naghahard lang naman ako to lose weight, pero kapag natapos ko na’to, magbeebeer na ako, San Mig Light favorite ko. I’m a beer drinker. I drink beer with rice, I drink beer with anything on a normal Joem day.

Follow Joem on Instagram.