It’s a rather hot and humid afternoon. An offer to ride an ATV up the dusty hill was politely declined even if the hike would be a few hundred meters. As we trek up the rough trail to get to our shooting location, there are no complaints heard. In fact, just behind me, I even hear him make jokes. “Sa araw po na ito, pupuntahan po natin ang ilang endangered species,” he quips in a documentary-style voice-over.
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But such humor and positivity in the middle of a rough road is quite reflective of the life journey so far of award-winning actor Jose Ezekiel "Ruru" Madrid.
“Minsan, kailangan mong dumaan talaga sa ganoong klaseng hirap para mas masarap ang tagumpay,” he says later in the evening when we sat down for a chat.
Madrid was clearly destined to be an actor. His mother would tell him that, as a child, he would face the mirror and pretend to cry. And he himself knew that what he really wanted to be was an action star.
PHOTO: Paul Sugano
“Mayroon akong core memory,” he shares, “na noong bata ako, mayroong ‘owner’ (-type jeepney) ang tatay ko. Sa ‘owner’ na iyun, sumasakay ako. Kunwari nakikipagbarilan ako. Nakikipaglaro ako sa dalawa kong kapatid na babae, si Rara at si Rere, na kunwari sila ang nililigtas ko. Mula bata pa lang ako, malinaw na sa akin na balang araw, magiging action star ako. ‘Yun talaga ang nasa isip ko. Hindi ko iniisip na magiging dramatic actor ako.”
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He lists Fernando Poe, Jr., Cesar Montano, and especially Robin Padilla as some of his idols. “Lahat ng mga pelikula (ni Robin) noon, pinapanood ko.”
Action star dreams
The road to stardom came when he joined the reality TV talent show Protégé at the age of 14; mentoring him was veteran action star Philip Salvador, who is another one of his inspirations. For Madrid who always wanted to be an action star, this was a dream come true.
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As he gained a foothold in the industry, his views and perspectives widened beyond just the action field. “(Entering the industry), doon ko na-realize na iba pa rin pala ‘yung drama. ‘Yun talaga ang puso ng istorya ng isang pelikula o teleserye.”
He describes his 13 years in the business as a roller coaster ride. “At first, when I was 14, para akong naglalaro lang. Hindi ko nakikita kung ano ba talaga ang ibig sabihin ng isang ‘aktor.’” He was mainly doing it to earn money to help his family as a breadwinner.
As time went by, he realized it wasn’t just about the money or fame. “Kailangan mong mahalin ang craft para magtagal sa ganitong industry,” he says. “It’s not easy na ipaglaban lagi or patunayan ang sarili. Napakaraming gustong pumasok sa industriyang ito, kaya kailangan marami ka laging bagong naipapakita. ‘Yun ang naging mantra ko in life: I always want to push myself to my limits and to be the best person of myself.”
Paul Sugano
Having come from a reality show, Madrid never felt he had to compete with his colleagues. He only needed to compete with himself; to be able to show something different every day that he was on the show.
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However, once that was finished, life outside the “reality competition” turned out to be the true reality of show business: that it was much more difficult than he expected. He thought that exposure from the competition would mean an instant barrage of projects, but he was hit with a dose of reality that it was not quite so. “Kailangan mo laging patunayan ang sarili mo. Not to prove myself sa mga taong hindi naniniwala, kundi patunayan sa sarili ko na deserving ako sa lahat ng meron ako.”
Madrid always had the lingering feeling of being an underdog. “Simula nung pagkabata ko, lagi akong naa-underestimate. Tingin lagi sa akin ng mga tao, hindi ko kaya.” This was underscored by the fact that, when he was starting, he was very skinny and lanky. No one believed he could do action projects. “Tawag sa akin nun, ‘Tingting.’ Lagi akong inaasar.”
He acknowledges that it hasn’t always been a happy journey. Often, it was an uphill battle, particularly around the time of the pandemic.
PHOTO: Paul Sugano
It was around his 10th year in the industry, and he hadn’t been given any projects for almost two years. As the family’s breadwinner, he had a growing concern about their overall welfare and future. He started doubting himself, thinking that perhaps he wasn’t worthy or talented enough to be in the business.
It was the lowest point of his life, thinking that, at a time when he needed friends, he felt he didn’t have any. He was also always being compared to other artists, causing his confidence to further erode. He started to lose his passion and drive.
It was then that a major turning point in his career happened: he was offered the lead role in the teleserye Lolong.
“Kailangan mong mahalin ang craft para magtagal sa ganitong industry,” he says. “It’s not easy na ipaglaban lagi or patunayan ang sarili. Napakaraming gustong pumasok sa industriyang ito, kaya kailangan marami ka laging bagong naipapakita."
A fortuitous opportunity
The timing was fortuitous, as he was already considering quitting and going back to school. Despite the new opportunity, it was initially not as smooth as what he would have hoped for, considering it was a gamble; he was not sure if it would be successful. The project experienced multiple delays due to pandemic restrictions. And when it finally started shooting, the self-doubt continued to linger.
PHOTO: Paul Sugano
PHOTO: Paul Sugano
PHOTO: Paul Sugano
“Ilang beses akong na-injure, andaming beses na napipilayan ako, pakiramdam ko ako ‘yung nagiging cause of delay sa mga tao,” he confides. “Pero nanghawak ako. Doon din tumibay ang pananampalataya ko, ang faith ko, na kahit na pakiramdam ko na noong mga panahong ‘yun, wala akong kakampi, naniniwala ako na nandyan Sya, na naka-guide lang Sya sa akin, at hindi nya ako ilalagay sa alanganin.”
When the time came for Lolong to be released, he was pleasantly surprised; he didn’t expect the show to be a hit. It was then he realized that going through the rough road that he did—to the point where he started questioning his capabilities—was really character-building.
“Para hindi mo i-take for granted ‘yung mga bagay na darating sa ‘yo,” he says. “Hindi lalaki ulo mo. Hindi ka makakampante. Kumbaga hindi mo sasabihin na, ‘Okay na ‘yan, nagawa ko na.’” He also believes now that, sometimes, you’re not given something you really want because there’s something much better coming.
Paul Sugano
The experience changed him profoundly. It was a difficult uphill climb he had to endure in order to appreciate and relish the triumph at the top. Now, he believes that no matter what new challenges come his way, he knows he can face them head on.
And, of course, something much more exciting was indeed on the horizon.
In 2024, he landed the major supporting role of Xavier Gonzaga in the film Green Bones which was slated to be an entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Although he had done some movies in the past, most had largely been small roles, and he had been known mainly for his work on television. Getting the role in Green Bones was a breakthrough for his career.
“To be honest, hindi ako ‘yung first choice,” he admits. “Dalawang artista yung dumaan para sa character ko. (At that time) ginagawa ko ‘yung Black Rider. Nung natapos ko sya, at hinihintay ko ang Lolong, (I was told), ‘Parang mayroon kaming naiisip na role for you. Nababagay. Ilalaban natin sya for MMFF.’” This got him excited as it was another dream come true. It was also the first time he would be working on an MMFF entry after over a decade working in show business.
When he received the script, he finished reading it in two hours. Immediately he knew in his heart that this role was meant to be his. The message of the film struck a chord. “Simula noong pagkabata ko, iyun na ang nakatatak sa akin. Na kahit ano pang sitwasyon mo, kahit napapaligiran ka man ng kasamaan o kung anumang klaseng mga problema, piliin mo lang na maging mabuting tao, alam mong magtatagumpay ka sa buhay.”
"I guess a part of me, hindi na mawawala talaga ‘yung pakiramdam ng pagiging isang underdog,” he muses. “Malayo na, pero malayo pa. Malayo pa ang gusto kong marating."
And when he finally got the role, he was determined to give it his all. He would attend eight-hour long workshops, which included understanding the differences between shooting a TV series and filming a movie. “Akala ko nung una, parehas lang… pero anlayo (pala) ng difference. Parehas namang umaarte ka, pero iba lang ‘yung klase ng atake na kailangan mong gawin,” he shares. “Sa TV, may mga commercial break tapos ilang minutes ka lang mapapanood. Everyday syang pinapalabas, so everyday pwede kang bumawi. Pero kapag pelikula, uupuan mo sya for two hours, walang commercial breaks, so kailangan mong pakapitin ang tao.”
PHOTO: Paul Sugano
He started watching a lot of movies—mostly Wong Kar-wai films—to help him further distinguish TV and film and to also help him prepare in general. Despite the challenge of parallel projects he was working on, he knew he had to exert extra effort in preparing. “Pero ang sarap. I enjoyed every single moment ng journey at buong proseso ng paggawa ng pelikula—from the preparation, to the characterization, hanggang sa nagsu-shoot na kami, hanggang sa matapos, sa mga voice-overs, sobrang na-enjoy ko talaga.”
Of course, approaching a character as complex as Gonzaga on Green Bones was a challenge in itself. Gonzaga is a prison correctional officer who starts his journey in the film as someone who views the justice system in a very black and white manner, right versus wrong, driven by his own personal traumas. As the narrative progresses, his worldview is challenged by his encounters with prisoners merely seeking redemption and with police officers whose motives and actions are questionable.
An unexpected award
Such a layered character required Ruru to step back as an actor and mold Gonzaga into a living, breathing, and believable person.
“Every time na may gagawin kang proyekto, dapat wala kang bias,” he opines. “Hindi mo naman pwede sabihing ‘hind naman totoong black and white lang ‘yung tao’ o ‘hindi naman totoo na, ito ‘yung masama, ito ‘yung mabuti.’” He knew he had to understand the character very well and try to find what part of Gonzaga he could best relate to and at the same time find what part of the character the audience could identify with and find compelling.
“Most of the time, wala akong dialogue,” he continues. “So hindi ko sya pwedeng sabihin or idadaan sa salita. Kailangan, through my eyes, mapakita ko, maiparamdam ko, maipaintindi sa tao kung ano ang gusto kong sabihin.” He also had to hone his attention-focusing skills because he had to be “in the moment” of every scene he was doing.
PHOTO: Paul Sugano
The hard work and commitment to the character paid off. For his portrayal of Xavier Gonzaga, he eventually bagged the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 2024 MMFF awards, triumphing over more established names in the business like Sid Lucero and Jhong Hilario.
“To be honest, hindi ko ine-expect na mananalo ako,” he says. “Nung in-offer sa akin ang proyektong ito, sabi ko ibibigay koa ng lahat ng pwedeng ibigay para sa character ko…hindi ko iniisip na dapat manalo ako rito sa MMFF.”
Having the opportunity to work with the same group that made the critically acclaimed Firefly, which won Best Picture at MMFF 2023, was enough; he had dreamed of working with them ever since he saw that movie. Thus, even getting nominated was a surprise, and as a newcomer to the Festival, that was already an honor.
But when his name was announced as the winner and he walked up to the stage to receive the award, he says he felt a powerful sense of accomplishment. Standing on the stage and looking out at the audience full of big stars clapping for him, celebrities he had grown up watching and admiring, he was overwhelmed. At the same time, he finally felt like a true artist.
“Iba pa rin pala ang pakiramdam na mabigyan ka ng ganoong klaseng parangal. Kasi alam mo na nakita nila ‘yung pinaghirapan mo Napakasarap sa puso. Habambuhay kong iche-cherish ang moment na ‘yun.”
Despite such an accomplishment at a fairly young age, Marid doesn’t believe in complacency. “I guess a part of me, hindi na mawawala talaga ‘yung pakiramdam ng pagiging isang underdog,” he muses. “Malayo na, pero malayo pa. Malayo pa ang gusto kong marating.”
PHOTO: Paul Sugano
What drives him now is his desire to serve as inspiration for the people who watch his work. He also knows there is still more to prove, not to those who do not believe in him, but rather to himself, that he deserves all the blessings that come his way.
And so he still has many aspirations. He dreams of playing more challenging roles, one of which is to play a soldier, as one of his ultimate dreams other than being an actor is to be a soldier.
In the meantime, he has a big 2025 ahead of him. While he has a few projects lined up, he plans to focus his energies mainly on the second season of his hit series Lolong, which premiered recently. “Lolong talaga ang nagpabago sa buhay ko. Gusto kong ibuhos lahat ng pwede kong ibuhos para sa project na ito.”
“But at the same time,” he adds, “after Green Bones, gusto ko ulit makagawa ng ganoong klase ng pelikula, na alam kong macha-challenge ako bilang isang actor. ‘Yung makabuluhang istorya na sasalamin sa buhay ng mga Pilipino. ‘Yung may maiiwang marka sa kanilang mga puso.”
PHOTO: Paul Sugano
And that is the core of Ruru Madrid. The road that he has walked so far may have been rough, and he knows very well the journey ahead may continue to be rough. But as long as he has the passion and drive that will inspire and leave a mark on the hearts of his audience and his fans, the very same people who give him that passion and drive, he knows that the journey is worth the walk.
“Malayo pa, pero malayo na,” he repeats with a wide smile.
Story: Allan Carreon
Photography: Paul Sugano
Production: Paul John Caña
Grooming: Joemel Reyes
Hair: Dale Mallari
Styling: David Milan
Creative and Art Direction: Igi Talao
Special thanks to: Timberland Highlands Resort (Rizal), Sparkle GMA Artist Center, Jeep Philippines
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