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COVER STORY
It’s nerve-
wracking to go
on stage. I try
to direct that
energy in a
way that I can
use it for my
performance
and take my
voice to where
it needs to go.
Anything Goes.
“Not that it ever gets easy,” Marcus
says.
“It’s nerve-wracking to go on stage.
“I try to direct that energy in a way
that I can use it for my performance
and take my voice to where it needs
to go.”
Next year, Marcus will make his
directorial debut as assistant director
of ‘Noli Me Tangere’, a new musical
based on the famous novel of the
Philippines’ national hero Jose Rizal.
The production will run for a limited
season at the Parramatta Riverside
Theatre in April 2019, making
history as the first-ever Filipino-
themed musical to be staged at a
mainstream musical theatre.
As an ‘arts and culture ambassador’
of a Filipino community association,
Marcus has helped in various
fundraisers and community projects
as a performer, host and actor.
In April this year, he took the
lead role of ‘Tom Girl’, a short film
celebrating Filipino gay culture in
western Sydney.
“When I was searching for an
actor to play the role his name kept
popping up, and when I met him I
knew he would be right for the part,”
said the film’s director Vonne Patiag
at a post-screening interview.
From playing a Filipino cross-
dresser to the love interest in
a Chinese indie film ‘The Wild
Orchards’, Marcus is not afraid to
play extremes.
“I had to play the role of Jin Ju
www.kalatas.com.au
MARCUS RIVERA:He's no stereotype Filipino who 'hates' pop music and has no taste for 'lechon' .
which I really enjoyed as it was
like the character equivalent of
Jon Snow in a Chinese ‘Game of
Thrones’ storyline,” he said.
The movie went on to get award
nominations at an indie LA film
festival.
“But again, I got both of those roles
because they were made for Asian
characters,” Marcus says.
“It is still an uphill battle to get
any acting roles in mainstream
Australian TV and film projects.
“That’s why I love ‘Crazy Rich
Asians’. It shows the world that
Asians can be at the forefront of
storytelling.”
Marcus is working on an album
that infuses operatic elements to
‘kundiman’, a type of traditional
Filipino music.
“I feel emotionally connected to
‘kundiman’ because it is such a
beautiful collection of songs that
reflect the Filipino heritage,” he
says.
Marcus competed at a global
opera festival held in Italy, the
2017 Ibla Festival, with a repertoire
that comprised three Italian opera
songs including ‘O Mio’ and eight
‘kundiman’ songs such as ‘Mutya
Ng Pasig’, ‘Madaling Araw’ and
‘Pakiusap’.
It was the first time that a classical
opera jury ~ in Italy, no less ~ were
exposed to traditional folk songs in
that setting.
It was a bold move that paid off.
Despite being struck down by
a bout of cold and flu during the
competition, Marcus walked away
with a ‘Most Distinguished Award’
for his performances.
“I like his musicality and his voice,”
one judge remarked.
Another judge added: “He has a
beautiful sense for phrasing and an
emotional gradation of the song that
makes his performance exciting.”
Meantime, Marcus works at
“that other job that pays the bills”
as a restaurant supervisor ~ and
television appearances.
“I like to binge-watch horror TV
shows: The Strain, The Exorcist,
The Poltergeist, he says. “If it’s
scary, I’d watch it.”
In real life, there’s really nothing
that scares him, except the one
about ageing.
“Actors don’t reveal their age,” he
says. “I am in my mid-30s.” And
that’s as much as he can reveal.
Grand ambitions? “I just want
to live a simple life of fame and
fortune,” Marcus says.
“But seriously, all I want is to have
enough money in the bank so I can
help my family and my community.”
Not crazy-rich but rich enough.
Although being “crazy-talented” as
he is, and embraced by the Filipino
community as their