"The best place to be is ground zero, ’pag blank slate ka, kasi ang dami mo pang pwedeng matutunan."
Behind every successful transformation on "Your Face Sounds Familiar" is a village working precisely to knit the elements together–from the makeup to the voice and choreography. For Jarlo Base, that means learning to trust the process.
Throughout his "YFSF" journey, trust has been twofold—belief in his own growth and faith in the people working behind the scenes. Perhaps the clearest example of this was his winning portrayal of Jericho Rosales in Round 3 of the competition last October.
WATCH: Jarlo Base impresses with his heart-fluttering take on Jericho Rosales
When asked back then whether he had any say in the transformation, he replays the routine in his head for a second and then shares what he had learned from co-performer Jason Dy—that in this industry, he must learn to trust the team.
"Sabi ni Kuya Jason, dito lahat professional. You just have to trust the process kasi sa ending n'yan, alam nila ginagawa nila,” he says in exclusive sit-down with ABS-CBN Studios. But that doesn’t mean he refrains from giving small adjustments or ideas, specifically with the look.
Because collaboration is as much a part of the craft as the performance itself, Jarlo also makes sure to soak in every pointer from the mentors. In portraying Jericho, for instance, he listened closely as movement coach Nyoy Volante advised him to loosen up, to find joy instead of overanalyzing the precision. "Siguro, doon po kami may difference ni Jericho. Parang chill siya, 'di ba? Chill ako, pero I can be very intense po eh," he ponders. "Isang pinaka-challenge ko lang was to move. Even no'ng nag-run kami ng performance medyo napagsabihan pa ako kasi parang nag-iisip ako masyado, parang binibilang ko 'yung galaw."
As our conversation goes on, the clearer it becomes just how Jarlo values the process of learning. In fact, he loves asking questions and constantly seeking whatever advice he can get even from his co-performers. “Tinatanong ko sila palagi, paano ba?” he smiles. “These are the best of the best, champions ’to. This is the best place to learn.”
Asked what he’s learned from performing alongside them, Jarlo shares that being around seasoned artists taught him that professionalism means being consistent. “Ang galing na nila pero they come in everyday as if gutom sila to do something, to succeed."
His co-stars make sure to get the job done and do it well. And he wants to live by that same example. "No matter the situation, the circumstance, 'yung excellence talaga abutin natin," he stresses, determined to take that same drive into his next transformations.
With each new challenge, Jarlo is learning more about himself too; what he can do, who he can become, and what it really means to show up. "The best place to be is ground zero, ’pag blank slate ka, kasi ang dami mo pang pwedeng matutunan,” he says, echoing a lesson he picked up from a podcast. “Feeling ko ’yung strength ko lang is dahil bago ako, ang dami ko pang pwedeng i-build na pwedeng maging ako," reflects Jarlo, with the wide-eyed perspective of an artist who's still early in his showbiz career.
When told he’s starting to give off that dark-horse energy (from ranking near the bottom to now holding a spot in the Top 4 of the leaderboard), a work in progress who's learned how to gallop at his own pace, he reacts, “Sana po, kasi maangas ’yun,” half-joking, half-hoping. But still he reins that confidence just as fast. “I don’t wanna get ahead of myself, kasi they all want to win, eh. Paano kung kinulang ako sa preparation next week tapos biglang mag-on din lahat ng switch nila? So tingnan natin... pero sana.”
What he's certain about is that his "YFSF" journey is a manifestation of exactly where he’s supposed to be. “Ang galing talaga kung sinuman ang naglagay sa akin sa show na ’to,” he muses. “No’ng una, akala ko this is the worst kasi magki-quit na sana ako no’ng first week, ayoko na talaga, pero no’ng nalagpasan ko lahat [ng self-doubt], biglang…” he trails off, as if words can’t quite capture the relief of it all.
For Jarlo, his “YFSF” stint is also a path to self-discovery as an artist, “Kahit hindi ako manalo dito pero pagdating ko sa dulo, gusto ko ibang performer na ako.” And judging by how he’s slowly learned to outgrow his fears and turn them into fuel, it’s safe to say he already is. Even the jury has started to notice—after his transformation as Ariel Rivera just last December, juror Sharon Cuneta told him, “You’re comfortable na and I’m happy that you are.”
There’s something magnetic about watching a performer surprise even himself, and that’s exactly what Jarlo does on "YFSF," week after week.
Up next? The Breakout Crooner is set to turn up the heat as he brings Enrique Iglesias to the stage! Catch his transformation on “Your Face Sounds Familiar,” airing weeknights, 7:15PM on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Channel sa ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL) and iWant.
*Photo credit to Jarlo Base IG