His name is Ronwaldo “Ron” Martin, a young actor who has starred in a couple of independently produced features including Captive, Laut, Tuos, Pamilya Ordinaryo, and the film in competition at the recently concluded Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival, Bhoy Intsik.
During the film festival’s official media launch, a few members of the press were asking if Ron was anyway related to FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano star Coco Martin, who first made a name for himself on indie scene before he crossed over to mainstream.
One senior scribe overheard the conversation and immediately butted in saying, “Yes he is, he’s the younger brother of Coco. They’re half-brothers.”
It’s clear that a lot of people still barely know his name. But unlike most upcoming showbiz wannabes, Ron wanted to be known for his own merit and not because he has a brother who is already popular in showbiz. It’s even rare that you would hear him mentioning his brother’s name unless asked by the press.
“I want to be recognized for my own talent and not as Coco’s brother. I wanted to have my own brand and I wanted to make a name in the field of acting,” the soft-spoken Ron said in vernacular.
In real life, Ron is a man of few words (literally). He rarely talks but when the camera starts rolling, the 19-year-old actor transforms into a character entirely different and larger than his humble personality.
In an interview with Joel Lamangan, the director of Bhoy Intsik, he said that Ron is a very professional actor and can even equal the popularity of his older brother.
“He’s good. Mahusay siyang umarte at napakalaki ng kanyang potensyal na mai-develop bilang isang mas mahusay pang artista dahil sa kanyang pagiging natural,” Lamangan shared.
Ron started his acting career via Ari: My Life With A King, a Metro Manila Film Festival 2015 new wave entry. Since then, he’s swamped with numerous projects including a movie that starred Nora Aunor (Kabisera). He plans to follow in the footsteps of his brother and make it big as well in the entertainment industry.
Perhaps, his most notable project was Pamilya Ordinaryo, a movie that tackles poverty porn. In the story, Ron plays a teenage father and a street dweller that makes a living out of stealing in the streets.
The film has been recognized here and abroad being the big winner at the 2016 Cinemalaya. It won the Audience Choice Award at the 2016 Venice Days competition, an independent event on the fringes of the Venice Film Festival, and just recently the Best Film in 27th Director’s Week section of 37th Fantasporto International Film Festival in Porto, Portugal.
With a positive disposition, a humble personality, a look that resembles his brother (of course), and a raw talent as a young blood, we might see him realize his dreams in no time.