Juan Carlos Cuenca (; born December 30, 1987), popularly known as Jake Cuenca, is a Filipino actor. He also played for United Football League Division 2 sides Team Socceroo FC.

Career

At the age of nine, Cuenca was discovered by talent scout juan for Cosmo Modeling Agency. Soon after, Cuenca appeared in several television and print advertisements including those for Safeguard, Coke and Globe Telecom. At eleven, he had cameo roles in movies such as ''Takbo Barbara Takbo'' and ''Panday'' in 1998. It was followed by another cameo in the 1999 film adaptation of the fantasy anthology, '' Wansapanataym''. In 2003, he returned to show business under GMA Network and appeared in the youth-oriented drama series, '' Click'', where he was welcomed as a member of its third batch. Cuenca played a number of supporting roles in '' Hanggang Kailan'', '' Forever in My Heart'' and the fifth season of '' Love to Love''. In 2005, he starred as Kahlil in the hit fantasy series '' Encantadia''. He also appeared in the ninth season of ''Love to Love'' titled “Miss Match”. In 2006, he starred as one of the wizards in the fantasy-themed television series, '' Majika'', which became his last ''teleserye'' with GMA. Jakejf1504

After transferring to ABS-CBN in 2006, he appeared in an episode of '' Love Spell'', "Home Switch Home". In 2007, he became part of the cast of the network's soap opera '' Sana Maulit Muli'', his first primetime drama series on the network. Also, he starred as his first leading role in '' Sineserye Presents: Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?''. He portrayed Andrew - a rich, spoiled and irresponsible teen guy secretly in love with leading actress Roxanne Guinoo. Later, he was cast in the fantasy series '' Lastikman''. He appeared in total 14 shows of ABS-CBN from late 2006 to 2007. In 2008, he landed the lead role in ABS-CBN's remake of the action series '' Palos'' with Cesar Montano. He also played the main role of Kiko with Shaina Magdayao in Your song Presents: A million miles away. In the mini-series, he played Kiko -an assistant of Lizzie's father who asks him become a "babysitter" for Lizzie and her mean boyfriend, under the instruction of Lizzie's father. It is revealed that Kiko has been secretly in love with her for a long time. In 2009, he starred in '' Tayong Dalawa'' alongside Kim Chiu, where he gained recognition and criticism. He portrayed David “Dave” Garcia, Jr, a jack-a-dandy soldier in the Philippine Army caught in a love triangle with Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu. The hit show was broadcast in neighbouring Singapore,

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

, Brunei, Cambodia, as well as several African countries. That same year, he appeared in '' Precious Hearts Romances Presents: My Cheating Heart'' alongside Cristine Reyes. In 2010, he portrayed the role of Alejandro in the Filipino remake of '' Rubi'' alongside Angelica Panganiban and Shaina Magdayao. He also starred as Elias Paniki in the fourth story of the ''Agimat'' series '' Elias Paniki'' alongside Sam Pinto and Xian Lim. In 2011, he joined the main cast as Edward in the Filipino remake of the Korean drama '' Green Rose'' alongside Jericho Rosales, Anne Curtis and Alessandra De Rossi. After that, he portrayed Darmo Adarna, the well-known superhero of Filipino cartoon in ''Wansapanataym: Darmo Adarna'', opposite Yen Santos. Different from a super-powered boy with a giant bird in the comic, Darmo Adarna in the show grows up as an overweight loser who is magically transformed into a muscular hero. In 2012, he played the role of Paul Raymundo in '' Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo'' alongside two female stars Shaina Magdayao and Bangs Garcia, The triangle love and OFW story in the film attracted the interest of audience. The series reached top rating in 2012 although it was aired in the afternoon. Also that same year, he was part of the primetime series Kahit Puso'y Masugatan as Rafael - a young and charming photographer with a tragic life. It is really the challenging role for him because of his inner struggles in the film. In 2013, he portrayed the role of Luis Sancuevas in the Filipino remake of '' Maria Mercedes'' with leading lady Jessy Mendiola and Jason Abalos. In 2014, he starred as the main antagonist Franco in the epic drama series '' Ikaw Lamang'' with an ensemble cast. In 2015–2016, he portrayed the role of Juan, one of the Samonte Brothers in the romantic drama series '' Pasión de amor'', a Philippine adaptation of Telemundo-produced '' Pasión de Gavilanes'', one of the most famous TV series in the year with top rating. In the field of cinema, Cuenca was seen in mainstream films: In the Name of Love, Status: It's complicated, My Neighbor's Wife, Villa Estrella, Tuhog.... and featured in indie films such as: H.I.V.: Si Heidi, Si Ivy at si V (2010) - a film about AIDS, Nuwebe (2013), a film about child sexual abuse which gained local and international awards, Lihis (2013), Mulat (2014). Jake won his first best actor award at the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) in New York in 2014 for his performance in Diane Ventura's'' Mulat ''(Awaken), the same movie that won for him his second best actor at the 2016 World Cinema Festival in Copacabana, Brazil. In 2022, he appears in '' The Iron Heart'' as Eros del Rio, the main antagonist in season 2 of the series who works as a CIB Agent but he is actually a secret leader of a crime organization called Altare. In 2025, he stars in '' FPJ's Batang Quiapo'' as Cong. Miguelito Guerrero, a politician and a candidate for the mayoralty of Manila, where he is reunited with Coco Martin, his co-star in ''Tayong Dalawa'', ''Ikaw Lamang'' & '' Ang Panday'', as well as Albert Martinez, his co-star in ''The Iron Heart''.

Other ventures

Sports career

Cuenca is a sports enthusiast, even during his younger days. Due to a weight problem he encountered as a child, he was determined to play sports more when he grew up. Although he has done

boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...

and mixed martial arts, he is mainly a football player, playing twice a week. As an elementary and high school student, Cuenca played as a football varsity player for PAREF Southridge School. In October 2011, he signed up for Team Socceroo F.C., which at that time played as a guest club in the 2011–12 United Football Cup, and later entered in the United Football League Division 2. He is yet to play for the first team as showbiz commitments have not permitted him to do so. Cuenca has also shown interest to try out for the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

in international competitions.

Personal life

In April 2024, Kylie Verzosa told Karen Davila that she is dating and on a new romantic but private relationship with a non-showbiz foreigner partner, whom she met by a common friend after her breakup with Cuenca in April, 2022. After dating since 2019, Jake moved out of the condominium unit having shared with Verzosa and unto a new house. Earlier the sweethearts loved their pets: Nugget, a bulldog and Leo, a poodle. He is dating actress Chie Filomeno since 2023.

Legal issues

On the night of October 9, 2021, the actor's black Jeep Wrangler hit a Mandaluyong police car stationed a checkpoint along Shaw Boulevard as part of a buy-bust operation. A plainclothes officer reported that Cuenca had not stopped for routine inspection and instead rammed through the checkpoint barriers, prompting police to chase him until his tires were shot and he was cornered along West Capitol Road in Pasig. A stray bullet hit a Grab deliveryman, who came out in stable condition. Cuenca claimed he was afraid to stop for inspection at the checkpoint as the police were plainclothes. He was allowed to leave the police precinct at 5:00 am the next day for medical attention. He initially faced charges of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property.

Filmography

Television

Film

Digital

Accolades

References

External links

Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cuenca, Jake 1987 births Living people ABS-CBN people American emigrants to the Philippines Filipino male child actors Filipino male film actors Filipino male models Filipino male television actors Filipino men's footballers GMA Network (company) people Male actors from Metro Manila Male actors from San Jose, California Men's association football forwards People from Ilocos Norte Star Magic Team Socceroo F.C. players TV5 Network people 21st-century Filipino sportsmen