From winning the approval of fans in his first-ever series "Ghosting" with his natural and grounded acting, to now leading a Cinemalaya entry with "Child No. 82," JM Ibarra has been proving that he’s one of the most exciting new actors to watch. Talk about a strong debut—his very first movie role is already a lead part, and he’s only going to wow us more from here.
But before he hits the big screen, JM first brought the results of his acting workshops to Kapamilya Chat, where he took on a fun yet nerve-wracking acting challenge. He had to pick a random dialogue from a bowl (featuring lines from iconic movies and teleseryes), then pick another slip from a second bowl that revealed the genre or emotion, so he must deliver that line based on whatever vibe he drew.
We all remember Bea Alonzo’s gut-wrenching delivery of, “Kasi ang totoo, umaasa pa rin ako na sana ako pa rin, sana ako na lang, ako na lang ulit,” in "One More Chance" in that scene where Basha begs Popoy (John Lloyd Cruz) for another shot at their relationship. But hearing the same words spoken by a man hits differently. Game-changer. JM didn’t overplay it. His subtle delivery, paired with the heartbreak in his eyes, was enough to hit right where it hurts.
When asked if he’s ever had a moment in his own life where he had to beg the way Basha did, JM shyly admitted yes. He didn’t go into detail, but he confessed that he knew what that experience felt like, and was quick to add that his heart is in a much happier place now.
The game got trickier for JM when he picked a Julia Barretto line from "Un/Happy For You" which he must perform in the horror genre. The dialogue—“Ang bigat na ako lang ’yung bumubuhat sa atin. Ang bigat na ako ’yung lumaban kaya pati ako bumagsak na, naubos na”—sounds like the perfect breakup scene, but JM’s take made it feel like he was a frightened lead in a thriller, and his delivery totally worked.
“Mahal mo ba ako dahil kailangan mo ako o kailangan mo ako kaya mahal mo ako?” Who could forget Claudine Barretto’s heart-shattering take on that line in "Milan" with Piolo Pascual? Twenty years later, the image of her beautiful tears still live rent-free in our heads. But JM had to put his own spin on it, and paint it under the lens of anger.
In the span of a few minutes, JM transformed iconic lines into fresh, unforgettable moments, showing just how much range he truly has.