Perfect Timing
Maja Salvador bides for the big time.
Maja Salvador finally arrives at the studio. Work has run later than expected. It’s been a busy day, to say the least.
It began with the end of the previous day’s work: Taping for a show wrapped up at three in the morning in Laguna. From there, Maja was whisked off to the airport where she had to be by 5:30AM to make it to her Cebu flight at 7AM.
The flight was delayed and they landed at 9AM, an hour later than planned. The schedule is tight. The event was at 11:30AM — preparations needed to be made. Lunch had to be squeezed in, as well as a bit of rest. After the event, it’s back to the airport by 2:30PM and back in Manila by 5:30PM. The traffic is horrendous, but there’s still a meeting and rehearsals.
“Tapos, ito. Finally!” Maja says, catching her breath as work on makeup, hair and nails begin. I thrust my recorder in her face.
“Do you want anything? Food? Coffee?” the editors ask her.
“Sleep?” she counters. She’s half-serious. The girl has barely had any time to herself. She issues a series of apologies and warnings of possible incoherence, punctuated by polite po’s and opo’s.
It’s not like this everyday. Not really. “Minsan, kelangan talaga pagsamasamahin in one day. Syempre, bawal magreklamo.”
Maja Salvador is not one to complain about anything. And she knows it. Since her last time on Metro’s cover, her life has gone on an encouraging trajectory. Between TV projects, endorsements, and movies, there’s a lot to be thankful for.
“And then there was this big intriga,” Maja nonchalantly adds. She’s referring to, of course, the controversial conflict between her teleserye co-star Coco Martin and her boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli last year at the Star Magic Ball. She throws it out for me to nibble on, like scraps from a stale issue.
I take the bait and ask how they’re doing after such a public dispute. Maja doesn’t pull any punches. “‘Pag mahal n’yo talaga ang isa’t isa, diba, pagka hindi kakawala ‘yung isa, hindi masisira ang relationship. ‘Pag relationship kasi, dapat kampihan talaga. Walang iwanan sa era. Diba? Kasi ‘pag ‘yung isa nang-iwan sa ere, wala, talo kayo. Kasi nagpatalo kayo sa isa.”
Throughout our conversation, Matteo’s name and anecdotes about him roll off Maja’s tongue easily. She mentions him so matter-of-factly, without the cloying gushiness that many young couples exhibit. He’s just there, a significant part of her life.
For one thing, dating an athlete (or a health nut, as Maja referred to Matteo once) means engaging in more physical activities.
Are you sporty? I ask her. “Actually, hindi,” she admits. “Ini-influence n’ya ako sa gym. Tapos sinasabayan ko syang mag-TRX. Tapos sasabayan ko s’yang mag jogging. S’ya 5k, ako 3k. Minsan, ‘pag walang time, tapos training n’ya, ‘yun na ang bonding namin.”
She’s sheepish as she recounts this, but there’s a flash of excitement in her eyes. She admits that challenges get her high. We should have known. Her foray into independent film, for instance, had her training for the role of a marathon runner and from which she went on to provide an excellent portrayal of a champion athlete.
Her attitude is charmingly brazen. “Wala akong takot. Kasi gusto ko nacha-challenge talaga ko. At least masabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘At least na-try ko ang ganitong role. At least na-experience kong gawin ito.’ Para sa huli, hindi ako magsisisi. At least na-try ko ang mga dapat kong subukan.”
The film, Thelma, and her performance debuted with modest box office success but has lately been gathering notable accolades here and abroad. Besides nominations at local award-giving festivals, Thelma has been selected to show in the 36th Cleveland International Festival, the 31st Hawaii International Festival, and will be at the 3rd New York City International Film Festival in August. This month, Thelma is nominated for Best Feature Film and Best Cinematography at the 2012 Madrid International Festival.
Maja shares the good news with a wistful thought. She doesn’t know yet if she’ll be able to attend. “‘Pag kaya ng schedule,” she states. There’s no trace of spite or regret. All this busy-ness, after all, means that Maja’s work is in demand. She has her teleserye (Lumayo Ka Man Sak Akin), ASAP 2012, and “new projects. Marami! Thank you, Lord,” she says. “Since 20th anniversary ng Star Magic, may Star Magic movie na gagawin.”
One would think that at this point in her life, Maja should be more demanding. Even greedier. It may be surprising for some to realize that this is already Maja’s tenth year in show business.
“Hindi ko naman kasi naramdaman na pinabayaan ako ng ABS-CBN. Every year, lagi akong nagagawang magandang teleserye. Kung wala akong teleserye, may movie naman. At kahit papaano, nagmamark naman yung nagagawa ko.”
It is at this point I realize something about Maja. She is contradictory in many ways, and I admit I say this with reluctant admiration.
For one thing, while she knows her place in the industry, she’s not exactly the compliant kind. The girl is beyond driven. Her attack is stealthy: She’s getting to know herself, honing her skills, unearthing hidden talents.
Maja reveals that she’s taking English lessons from no less than Johnny Manahan. “Syempre bilang artista, kelangan ko din na maraming natututunan.”
And then there are plans for voice lessons. “Napatunayan ko na kaya ko namang umarte. Tapos sa dancing din,” she explains. “Gusto ko lang mag-explore ng bagong talent.”
She’s also looking at those who’ve gone ahead of her and takes note of their success. Culinary school has piqued her interest, perhaps a restaurant after that, just like “Ate Juday. Gusto kong i-peg sya.” Their lives, she notes, have similar humble beginnings. “Yung mga natutunan ko sa mga ginagawa ko, ‘pag nakuha mo na ‘yung isa mong goal, ‘wag kang huminto. Dream bigger. Palakihin mo ng palakihin mo.”
Maja’s fearless words belie her default cautionary stance.
Ambition may be her driving force, but learning is her mantra. Observation is her tactic. Resilience, her gift. Preparation is her weapon.
“Hindi mo naman pwede nararating ang isang bagay na ganun-ganun lang. Talagang pag-aaralan mo ng paunti-unti. At ‘yan, ‘pag may dumating na, kunwari international na projects, may mag-offer, at least ready ka. Kasi sayang ‘yung opportunity.”
Perhaps it’d be fairer to think of Maja as the pragmatic dreamer. Her spontaneity is tempered with restraint — she knows better than to leap before she’s ready.
She’s more interested in taking sure, steady steps.
“Kung darating ‘yung right time, kung kelan talagang magboo-boom, ‘yung boom talaga ‘yung career, ‘yung bonggang-bongga talaga, sobrang, diba, thankful, ‘yung iba talaga yung mafee-feel mo. Kasi, at least, hindi ka nagmadali. Ang tagal mong hinintay, tapos, naniniwala naman kasi ako na kahit anong gawin mo, ma-aachieve at ma-aachieve mo ‘yung gusto mong marating talaga.”
So now we see that Maja’s not just building a foundation, but she’s gearing up for an inevitable takeoff. One day, surely, just like a slow burn. Her confidence is infectious.
But in the meantime, there are more dreams to cross out of the bucket list and more plans to put into action. She rattles them off: Movies with the giants in the industry. A concert where she can let out her inner Beyonce and J.Lo. A business, like a nail spa, where she can indulge her “maarte” self.
If only there was more time. As it is, Maja is anticipating another sleepless night. There’s a 6AM calltime the next day and we’re approaching midnight.
When will she do everything she wants to do?
Maja laughs. “Pag lumuwag-luwag. Luluwag yon! I believe!”
