Your favorite Kapamilya heartthrobs are not only awesome actors, captivating turners having well-chiseled bodies we all adore. They are also impeccable star athletes who also have impressive skills in their chosen field of sports, as we see in this episode of Stellar’s the HQ.
First on the list is Marco Gumabao, who is actually a passionate enthusiast of muay thai, the national sport of Thailand. Marco had already been a sports buff even at a very young age because his father, Dennis Roldan,was a former professional basketball player. Marco first used to love and play basketball. He would practice and play with his dad everyday in their house. But as he grew up, he realized he wanted to try out another sport which was muay thai. He thought of trying muay thai because of his flexible body and long legs, which make him extend his reach and kick high and fast. Marco got to share and explain the basics of muay thai, such as how to jab, to do a straight punch, and to kick.
Another athletic young Kapamilya actor is Grae Fernandez, the son of the former matinee idol Mark Anthony Fernandez. The 18-year old actor who's actually a varsity player in his school, said that basketball for him is really an effective stress-reliever. He added that when he’s playing the game, he’s like in a vacuum and he forgets all other things and just focuses on the game. His competitive side also comes out naturally. Grae also gave helpful advice to fellow ballers. He suggested shooting short-range shots first so you can practice your stroke before shooting from the outside. Another tip was to be unpredictable by constantly changing your moves on the court. Watch how Grae showed his skills in doing side steps and crossovers in his drills.
Next on the list is Enchong Dee, a three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player in swimming. Not only did he prove that he is a great swimmer, but he also showed that he’s one of the best as he won seven gold medals in a single UAAP season. Moreover, he brought home several recognitions from international swimming competitions. During Enchong’s interview, he said that the most difficult stroke in swimming but also his most favorite is the butterfly stroke. His tip in perfecting the butterfly stroke is always close your hands and keep your fingers together. He urged those interested in swimming to simply enjoy and love the sport no matter how difficult it is or how busy they can get. By loving the sport, you will get to train and work hard for it. Watch how Enchong taught UP volleyball player Roselyn Rosier different skills and techniques in doing the butterfly stroke.
Last on the list is Gerald Anderson who, aside from playing basketball, also plays parkour, a sport which requires you to traverse from one place to another and overcome obstacles using the body. He was introduced to the sport when he became part of the 2009 teleserye Tiagong Akyat where he did stunts he first thought were difficult. But during the first day of his training, Gerald believed that he could do it and realized it was actually fun. However, he also got scared and nervous at first because he knew it was a sport that’s prone to injuries. His tip was to just always take care but also be confident. There was even this one time in Tiagong Akyat where Gerald was supposed to have a stunt double in doing the scene where he had to jump from a tall building. But he told the director to roll the camera because he really wanted to do it himself since he made sure it was safe, and he nailed the stunt. Aside from having physical strength, doing parkour also helped the A Soldier’s Heart star become more disciplined especially in terms of training and getting fit.
