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This actor and entrepreneur talks about script writing, traveling, and modern sushi.
There's so much more to Marvin than a smile to win you over. And it's not his rock-hard bod, either. This new primetime bad boy reveals that when he's not underneath the glaring lights of an Asian Treasures taping, he's cooking up dreams and yearning for travel. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. To Do Traveling is not something new to this A-list star, for he's had his share of adventures in 2006, when he went to the Big Apple for I Luv NY. In fact, he loved the experience so much that he plans to visit more places this year! "Ako, I want to go around Europe with friends and family. (Kung) alone, okay lang ako, (kasi) I'm used to traveling alone, eh. Tapos India...I wanna go to India! I wanna explore India. 'Cos I went to Cambodia last year - it was great; it was fantastic." Unlike most people who prefer to make an annual New Year's Resolution, Marvin Agustin says that he'd rather write a "to-do" list than dwell on what he should avoid. "You don't wait for another year to (realize things) you shouldn't do," he imparts. As an alternative, he enumerates the stuff that he plans to do for the year ahead. Part of his "to do" list in 2007 is to write a script for a digital film. "(I want to) explore that side of the industry, preferably a movie, but if I want it a little easier, of course, TV. Kasi mas madaling magsulat sa TV (kasi) may gaps, eh. I wanna do a nice, sana well-budgeted, digital movie. Alam naman natin pag digital, it's a bit exploratory, it's a bit experimental." "I've talked to two groups already, sabi ko, nothing in particular - I just want to be excited as an actor. Pag nakiliti ako as an actor, I would do it." He's still undecided about the genre of the film, but just the concept of being involved in something that deviates from his normal routine already fills Marvin with enthusiasm. Ala Carte Marvin's "regular routine," however, is not that run-of-the-mill. It includes managing his food businesses, attending taping after taping, and looking after his twins Santiago and Sebastian. And he even has an investment abroad! Before Marvin was an artista, he was a mascot at Shakey's then a waiter at Tia Maria's. Early on, his exposure had already been with the food industry. "I started at 17 years old in showbiz, and I started in the restaurant business when I was 16. I was a mascot when I was 14, I was a family service representative when I was 15, in ACA Video. So actually, I started young in life. Tapos why restaurants? Dati noon, mga kaibigan ko, everyone was from the restaurant business eh. My sisters also both worked in fast food - one in Shakey's and another one in Dunkin' Donuts. So ayun, 'yung foundation ko towards work was service; serving people, cooking, bar tending." His first investment was actually a "payment" for endorsing a brand. "I started my Mister Donut (ad campaign) when I was 20 years old, seven years ago. I endorsed for them, and in return they gave me two outlets of Mister Donut." Branching Out Soon after, he and his sisters invested in a cart-type business called Ricecapades, which sells different varieties of flavored rice. "This can be found in malls, schools, and streets," says Marvin. "There are Filipino variants like adobo, bistek pilipino, Chinese shanghai rice, Indian curry rice, et cetera." He continues, "After that, a friend of mine invited me to invest in Oyster Boy, then talagang wala na, palala nang palala!" he shares with a laugh. "I made my own na with my other friends, which is an Americanized Japanese restaurant, Sumo Sam." "Then we built another concept, which is Cafe Tentitas. It's a Pinoy Bistro. We serve Filipino Cuisine whose items are being influenced by different titas who live abroad. For example, there's Tobleron Champorado, stuff like that. It's in Gateway Mall." Helping Hands He's quick to explain that he gets a lot of help from friends and family when it comes to managing the businesses. "With Oyster Boy, it's really my friend, my partner who manages all the Oyster Boy restaurants. Siya 'yung naghahanda. Investor lang talaga (ako). But in Cafe Tentitas and in Sumo Sam, I want to (be hands-on). It's just that I have a career in showbusiness na hindi pwedeng pabayaan din. So it's my partner din who's taking care of everyday managing (tasks) - he's the general manager of our business now." But Marvin prefers to be very hands-on in the creative side of his businesses, especially with menu changes, brand marketing, and promotions. He even studied Asian Culinary last year at the International School for Culinary Arts! "I took Asian Culinary. Tapos wala lang, I'm just amazed with serving people the perfect food, the most delicious food and ingredients, and not just the item, but how you will be serving it to them - the presentation, the ambience of the restaurant. It's an art!" Marvin's passion for people and food was evident in the way he talked about being an entrepreneur. "Masarap gawin, masarap to make people happy, especially on special days. On occasions na they really look forward to na pag dumating 'yung araw na 'yun and you make it extra special for them, and for other people na dining-in lang (din), you make it extra special for them because of the food, because of the service, because of the ambience. Because of the total package. 'Yun lang, amazed lang ako. I find it wonderful. It's a goal, it's an everyday goal to make people happy," he says. His specialty? Modern sushi! "In Sumo Sam, I developed the sushi. Kasi di ba California roll is ano na, 'yun 'yung nag-start ng modern na sushi. I started to make crunchy tuna rolls, it's a tuna sushi with my own flavor, then I wrapped it in tempura bits, so it's (playing with) texture - 'yung soft na texture ng tuna, and then the crunchiness of tempura bits. Ayun. Tapos medyo spicy nang konti!" The interview was cut short at this point, because Marvin had to shoot a scene for Asian Treasures (we interviewed him during their Olongapo taping), and he had to go and have a costume and makeup change. Because we didn't really expect him to return to continue the interrupted interview, it was a pleasant (and touching) surprise when he came back (with his handsome smile) and asked if we had any more questions for him. New Investments And so we happily obliged and asked this sweetie about his recent investment in San Francisco. As if managing five food businesses isn't enough, Marvin also invested in real estate! "(I bought it) last year. Dapat sa New York, eh. We shot I Luv NY, di ba? And I was supposed to buy this unit in 42nd and 3rd St., kaya lang hindi pa tapos 'yung building, natapos lang this year, sayang naman, why do I have to wait for another year? So I stopped by San Francisco, 'cos I saw my friends there, and sinabi ko nga na I wanted to buy property, eh isa doon, broker. May ipinakita siya sa aking property, and then maganda, and it will be done in a month's time." Marvin happily shared that he will get his payback on the investment pretty soon, because an American couple from Oregon will be renting it this year. A bad boy role, an upcoming digital film script, a trip to Europe, six investments, and his bundles of joy, Santiago and Sebastian - what more can Marvin ask for? For this outgoing and fun-loving actor-entrepreneur, your guess is as good as ours. While we're waiting for his next move, let's just go have some of his modern sushi. Ask Marvin about his businesses! Text MARVIN to 4627 to Feel the Fun! Catch Marvin as he travels in search of the missing anting-antings on Asian Treasures, weeknights on GMA. Also, check out Marvin's gallery!