Cedrick Juan on His Journey, Historical Injustices, and More

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Coat by Max Mara. PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

Cedrick Juan confidently stands before the camera, his demeanor exuding poise and charisma. With each click of the shutter, he seamlessly transitions between poses under the direction of photographer Borgy Angeles. His movements are fluid, his expressions dynamic, as he skillfully showcases threads from Bode, Acne Studios, Max Mara, and Burberry. Whether striking a commanding gaze or adopting a relaxed stance, he leaves a lasting impression with every frame.

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I momentarily forget he was the actor celebrated for his portrayal of the Filipino priest Padre Jose Burgos in the critically acclaimed movie GomBurZa, which won second Best Picture at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival. Just a few months back, it took me some time to move past the hauntingly portrayed prison cell and garrote scenes that resonated deeply from the silver screen.

But on the day of our photo shoot, Juan is serving us a different side to his persona. The five-foot-nine actor easily adapts his body to diverse postures and swiftly establishes his rhythm. Which is not surprising, after finding out that he has tried ramp modeling and has done several commercials in the past.

Shirt and trousers by Bode, available at Univers; shoes and rings (worn throughout), Cedrick's own.

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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The MMFF Best Actor shares another interesting piece of trivia about himself: before discovering his flair for modeling and acting, he was on the chess varsity team and a dancer.

"Growing up, chess and dancing were the main activities that occupied my time," he reveals.

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As a young chess player, he would wake up as early as 5 a.m. for training sessions with his coach, Carlo Sayawan. "You really have to take note of all the notations because practicing and writing down all the moves in chess allows you to review them later," he says.

In high school, he joined the chess varsity team and competed in various tournaments. He also tried out for Far Eastern University's chess varsity team, although he didn't make it to the final roster.

Reflecting on his journey, Juan feels that the sport played a role in shaping his skills as an actor by sharpening his intuition and readiness for a role. "Kasi sa chess, although naisip mo na yung mga variations na pwedeng gawin ng kalaban mo, puwede pa ring magkaroon ng mga unexpected tactics," he says. Similarly, in acting, this openness to surprises enhances how he responds to the vulnerability and emotions his co-actors bring to the scene.

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PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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The Guy Can Dance

Inspired by the Street Boys, the '90s kid is also a dance aficionado. "In high school, I was part of a dance group called the Sweet City Boppers. Actually, on February 16, my alma mater, the Sacred Heart Academy, invited me to its 61st founding anniversary, coinciding with the town fiesta. So, I'll get to perform with my friends once more," he says with obvious excitement.

In the dance group, Juan remembers being called upon frequently for the emotive dance moves. "I think yun ang edge ko sa mga co-dancers ko. So, parang feeling ko, tumawid yung skill na yun sa pag-arte," he reflects.

His journey into acting began during his college years at FEU. In his freshman year of Mass Communication, he discovered that some junior students needed to stage a play for their theater arts class. "Having a background in dance, I auditioned to be the dance partner for one of the Can Can Girls in Moulin Rouge. That was my very first stint in theater," he recalls.

Then in his third through fourth years, Juan became a member of the FEU Art Theater Clinic upon the encouragement of his first mentor, Joey Ting. "At first talaga, hindi ko naisip na I will love acting. It's the community spirit, the camaraderie, it's being a collaborative work that lured me to the craft. Doon ko na-discover ang love ko for theater," he says.

Suit by Acne Studios, available at Univers.

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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At the height of the popularity of John Lloyd Cruz, Luis Manzano, Billy Crawford, and Vhong Navarro's "Kanto Boys," FEU had the so-called Morayta Boys. "It was Joey Ting's idea to use the name Morayta Boys," he says with a laugh. The heartthrobs became the most-requested group to perform in university events. "Hindi kami skillful dancers but we were entertaining. We even performed in the FEU concert in 2010."

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In fact, the group's popularity extended beyond the campus, as the Morayta Boys were invited by SM to do ramp modeling gigs.

Diving Deeper Into Theater

After completing his Mass Communication degree, the actor set his sights on the theater world. Heeding Ting's recommendation, he enrolled in a summer theater workshop. With Dulaang UP being the nearest choice to their Bulacan home, it became his gateway to the professional theater scene.

"My very first play was Adarna, directed by Jose Estrella. That was the first time na nakasama ko si JC Santos," he says, referring to a fellow theater thespian-turned-film and television actor. Juan also had stints in Teatro Porvenir, Shakespeare's Measure by Measure, and Bilanggo ng Pag-Ibig.

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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The actor says he was barely earning in those years, but he considers it his most enriching years in theater.

"My first talent fee per show at that time was P400. A regular run would have 21 shows. Then you have to rehearse for two months, then three weeks of shows. So wala talagang kita," he shares.

"Pero yung mga natutunan ko sa theater, yun ang priceless. Yun yung feeling ko, humubog talaga ng pagiging actor ko at sa pagiging tao ko rin," he says thoughtfully. "Feeling ko mas na-develop yung empathy ko. I learned how to work as an ensemble…na kailangan namin ang bawat isa para matapos namin yung bawat dulang ginagawa namin."

In 2017, Juan reunited with his FEU mentor, Ting, who had founded Art Theater Manila. Together, they produced an adaptation of an Indian epic titled Sakuntala (Ang Singsing ng Kapalaran). For his compelling performance in this play, the emerging thespian won Best Actor for a Non-Musical Role at the Aliw Awards.

T-shirt by Burberry; trousers by Séfr.

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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From Stage to Screen

Year 2016 was a milestone year for Juan as he started to venture into TV and movies. For his portrayal in the movie Oro, alongside Joem Bascon, Irma Adlawan, and Mercedes Cabral, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the MMFF. The film drew its inspiration from a tragic incident in 2014 involving the killing of four miners in Sitio Lahuy, Barangay Gata, Caramoan, Camarines Sur, reportedly carried out by armed men from the Sagip Kalikasan Task Force.

During the latter part of 2016, Juan had his first regular TV stint through Dreamscape and ABS-CBN's romance series Till I Met You. He played the role of Otap, the assistant of Basti (James Reid) and love interest of Kelly (Kim Molina).

Coat by Max Mara; boots, stylist's own.

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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That same year, he was also invited to audition for the role of Barbs in the comedy-drama film Die Beautiful.

"There was a drag scene in the play Bilanggo ng Pag-Ibig. I believe that's why I was initially considered for the role," he explains. However, due to a prior commitment with CCP's Virgin Labfest at the time, he was unable to take on the role, which eventually went to Christian Bables. Instead, Juan was cast as Erika, another one of Trisha's (Paolo Ballesteros) friends in the film.

"Somehow nagamit ko yung characterization ko sa Bilanggo na medyo effeminate pero brusko yung katawan, sa Die Beautiful. That's what set my character apart from those played by Paolo Ballesteros, Christian Bables, and IC Mendoza," he reflects.

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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When asked about the challenges of portraying a gay character, Juan said he focused on ensuring the nuances and subtext were rooted in the character's individuality and story. "Challenging siya in a way dahil medyo masisikip yung mga damit," he says, laughing. "[I have to be ladylike] in the way I carry myself whenever I sit, stand. Kailangan one notch down yung boses."

But given the chance to revisit a role, the actor says he would have loved to portray Barbs. "With all the knowledge and experiences na meron ako ngayon, feeling ko mas mae-enjoy ko din siya. And feeling ko, magiging iba rin yung interpretation ko to what Christian Bables did. For sure, may totally different tone din na mangyayari," he says.

Playing Padre Burgos

The pandemic was a distressing time for many, including Juan. "We couldn't work as we normally would. We couldn't meet and spend time with our friends and loved ones. So, during that period, I found myself questioning my purpose and my craft. It felt like an existential crisis," he recalls. "I wondered about our significance in society. In the field of entertainment and the arts, we were unable to work."

But he soon recognized the importance of arts and entertainment as a means to articulate one's thoughts, expressions, and emotions. "Whenever we listen to music, it somehow gives voice to our feelings and thoughts. It mirrors our experiences," he shares. "That's when I realized the work we do still holds significance. We were just immobilized by the pandemic. Then gradually, we began to thrive again, creating performances over Zoom."

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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In 2022, he had the chance to join the musical Mula Sa Buwan. Around the same time, the film GomBurZa opened its online auditions. Although excited about it, his commitment to the play, subject to a lock-in arrangement amid the ongoing high COVID-19 cases, prevented him from auditioning.

When the run of Mula sa Buwan concluded, he received a message from Danna Simbre, the casting director of GomBurZa, inviting him to audition for the role of Sergeant Fernando La Madrid, the leader of the Cavite mutiny.

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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As an actor, Juan says he has made it a practice to request for a copy of the script to fully grasp the specific emotions required for the scenes. However, upon delving into the script, he found himself irresistibly drawn to the character of Padre Burgos. "After reading the script for the very first time, sobrang naging emotional ako. Kasi yung pagkakasulat talaga ni Rody Vera at Pepe Diokno dun sa script, it will ignite your patriotism and nationalism. So, I just manifested and prayed. Sabi ko, 'I hope they'll give me the opportunity to at least read Padre Burgos' lines.'"

Some believe that when you manifest something, the universe listens, and that was what exactly happened. There was a technical glitch in the recording of his first audition so he had to redo it. "I think blessing in disguise siya kasi mas naging relaxed, comfortable and confident na ako nung inulit yung audition," he shares. "Then I also used my girlfriend's new iPad na nagpa-pan ang camera when you move. Siguro nakatulong siya kasi parang may DOP [Director of Photography] na ako."

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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In January 2023, Juan had the opportunity to meet with Diokno, acting coach Bombi Plata, and the Jesuit Communications producers at Ateneo for the final round of casting. He performed multiple readings, including the memorable prison cell scene. Perhaps sensing his deep passion for the role, Diokno inquired if he was interested in playing Burgos. His response was an emphatic 'Yes.'

We asked Juan to recount a moment during the filming that profoundly impacted and transformed him as an actor. He says it was their final moment inside the prison cell, when Padre Mariano Gomez helped him come to terms with their impending fate. "That scene left a lasting impression on me because it illuminated the fact that sometimes, life presents us with situations beyond our control, and sometimes, we must be willing to sacrifice our lives for a greater cause," he shares.

"When I found out that I was going to portray Burgos, I thought to myself, 'Cedrick, this is bigger than you.' It really dawned on me that I wanted to take on this role not just for myself, but as a meaningful contribution to our history," he says.

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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Purpose Over Fame

Starting his career in theater taught Juan not to strive for fame or awards. "If those become our goals, we lose sight of our roles' significance and our purpose in society, which are to tell stories and to inspire," he says. "Pag hindi ka nag-eexpect, it also minimizes disappointments and expectations."

"Sobrang rewarding na sa akin na nakuha ko yung role ni Burgos…Then the clamor for the film to be screened. We began from 39 cinemas, umabot kami ng 133 cinemas dahil sa mga reviews," he says. "[I told myself], kung makuha ko man ang [Best Actor] award, it would be a bonus. My co-nominees are all seasoned actors–Christopher de Luna, Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes, Derek Ramsay, Alden Richards. Parang, five Goliaths and one David ang nangyari."

So when his name was called onstage to accept the Best Actor trophy, it was a very emotional moment. "Talagang sobrang nagbe-break na yung boses ko. Nakahawak ako sa bibig ko kasi naiiyak na talaga ako… Pero, tinry kong i-compose ang sarili ko kasi gusto kong ialay [ang award na yun] sa mga injustices na nangyari hindi lang sa Pilipinas, kundi sa mundo. Kasi 152 years ago, ganoon na ang nangyari sa mga kapwa-Filipino natin, sa tatlong pari. By shining a light on the events of the past, I really want to use my platform to raise awareness about these historical injustices and advocate for change."

Sunglasses by Jacquemus.

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

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Juan's hope is to be part of more historical films in the future and to one day be given the opportunity to work with acclaimed directors like Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza, and Erik Matti, as well as seasoned actors like Joel Torre and Nonie Buencamino, who, like him, also began their careers in theater. He also aspires to tackle "cerebral" characters similar to James McAvoy's Kevin in Split and Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight.

Juan ultimately dreams of a more inclusive film industry in the Philippines. "Nandyan na naman yung inclusivity e," he observes. "Pero sana dumating sa point na madaling tumawid ang mga actors sa magkakaibang platform gaya ng theater, film, at TV. Nakikita ko kasi na meron kaming maituturo at matututunan sa isa't isa."

PHOTO: BORGY ANGELES

Story: Rhia Grana
Photos: Borgy Angeles
Styling: Paolo Chua
Grooming: Lilian Yeung
Editor-in-Chief: Paul John Caña
Production: Paolo Chua
Creative Direction: Igi Talao
Design Direction: Igi Talao
Location: Bolo Coffee Club

Cedrick Juan: 'I Want to Use my Platform to Raise Awareness About Historical Injustices'

The Guy Can Dance

Diving Deeper Into Theater

From Stage to Screen

Playing Padre Burgos

Purpose Over Fame