Marvin Ong focused on career

Manila, Philippines – CAREER FIRST – Marvin Ong’s second album is billed “Sigaw ng Puso Ko.”

Asked who’s making his heart shout for joy, he replied, “Wala.” His ever supportive parents, Wilbert and Mary Ong, advised him to focus on career and think of love later.

Well, parents know best. The Ongs earlier advised their son to finish college first before going full time as entertainer. “That was their condition,” Marvin said.

He graduated from Ateneo in 2010 with a degree in comarts. Marvin finished grade school and high school in another Jesuit institution, Xavier, where he studied Mandarin for 13 years.

And so at 22, the Tsinoy is all set to conquer showbiz – singer, actor, songwriter. Marvin is a Viva talent, with colleague Ernie Pecho as PR.

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IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF – Marvin wants to follow in the musical footsteps of Ogie Alcasid and fellow Tsinoy Jose Mari Chan, gifted singers, concert artists, and songwriters.

His second album’s title track, “Sigaw ng Puso Ko” is his composition. Another one is “You Can Never Be Mine.”

In time, Marvin hopes to write songs for other singers, especially Sarah Geronimo, a Viva artist like him.

The four other cuts in the album: “Labis Kitang Mahal” (written by Vehnee Saturno), “Pakisabi Na Lang” (revival of the song written by Moy Ortiz and Edith Gallardo), “Sa Iyo,” and the carrier single “Ayoko Na.”

All six songs have minus-one versions.

“Ayoko” also has an acoustic piano version and a music video directed by Carlo Alvarez, with Miss Philippines-Australia Stephanie Rose as guest model.

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ACTING ONSCREEN – While Marvin Ong is an acclaimed stage actor, he has yet to appear onscreen, be it big or small. He says Viva promised to cast him in a telenovela, most probably for TV5.

Marvin sang the theme of TV5’s “Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak,” the passion-filled “Init sa Magdamag.”

Perhaps the role on the big screen would follow.

Marvin says singing, acting, and writing songs are his ways of expressing his creative and artistic feelings.

His last concert was mounted at the Music Museum.

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MEMORABLE – To date, Marvin has done three memorable stage roles: “Sweeney Todd,” “Juan de la Cruz,” and “The Sound of Music.”

In all three he won acclaim, including an award for “Juan de la Cruz,” where he played the title role and mounted by PETA.

But people remember Marvin best as Rolf in Resorts World’s “The Sound of Music,” which ran for even months. He recalls that director Roxanne Lapus bumped into him at the office of Baby Gil in Viva. Ms. Lapus asked him to audition. He did and passed it with flying colors.

What’s his next stage role?

Marvin dreams of sharing the stage with Lea Salonga in, why not, the revival of “Evita.” He’d make the perfect Che, played by Ricky Martin on Broadway.

Bigger things are in store for Marvin Ong.

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