Romano "Jake" Macapagal
(born 1965/1966) is a Filipino actor known for his roles in the films ''
Aswang
Aswang is an umbrella term for various shape-shifting evil creatures in Filipino folklore, such as vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and transforming human-beast hybrids (usually dogs, cats, pigs). The aswang is the subject of a ...
'' (2011),
''
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila ( ), commonly shortened to Metro Manila and formally the National Capital Region (NCR; ), is the capital region and largest List of metropolitan areas in the Philippines, metropolitan area of the Philippines. Located ...
'' (2013),
''
Kid Kulafu'' (2015),
''Watch List'' (2019),
and ''
The Monsters Without'' (2021),
as well as the
HBO Asia
HBO Asia is the Asian division of HBO, headquartered in Singapore. Originally launched on 1 May 1992 as MovieVision, it was rebranded on 1 June 1995 to its current name upon Home Box Office, Inc. purchase. The Singapore-based broadcast networ ...
television series ''
Halfworlds
''Halfworlds'' is a dark fantasy thriller television series produced and created by HBO Asia and written by Collin Chang. Set in present-day Southeast Asia, the series reveals an underground society populated by demons from Asian folklore across ...
'' (2015–)
and the
Paramount+
Paramount+ (formerly known as CBS All Access in the United States and 10 All Access in Australia) is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, stream ...
television series ''
No Escape''.
Early life
Macapagal was born in
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
, Philippines.
At age 16, he booked his first professional acting credit in a live stage production of the classic musical Cats at the Metropolitan Theater of Manila, becoming the cast’s youngest member.
Career
Macapagal credits the 1989 documentary The Heat is On: The Making of ‘Miss Saigon’ as a major career inspiration. The film focused on the making of Miss Saigon, which premiered at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in the West End. In 1994, he auditioned for the musical himself and was cast in the ensemble.
Throughout the 1990s, Macapagal continued to undergo theater-based acting training.
Macapagal's first credited film role was as a “Party Guest” in the 1993 Filipino film ''
Sakay''. In the 2000s, he continued his film acting performances in a string of independent Filipino films.
In 2013, Macapagal landed his breakthrough film role as the desperate family man “Oscar” in the British-Filipino co-production Metro Manila, directed by Sean Ellis. Metro Manila was screened at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, receiving critical acclaim worldwide.
Since appearing in Metro Manila, Macapagal guest-appeared in the 2015 HBO series ''
Halfworlds
''Halfworlds'' is a dark fantasy thriller television series produced and created by HBO Asia and written by Collin Chang. Set in present-day Southeast Asia, the series reveals an underground society populated by demons from Asian folklore across ...
'', the 2019 Filipino crime drama Watch List, and the 2021 horror anthology film ''Rabid''.
In 2023, Macapagal began work for a new upcoming
Paramount+
Paramount+ (formerly known as CBS All Access in the United States and 10 All Access in Australia) is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, stream ...
thriller streaming series, ''No Escape''.
Macapagal was also responsible for the casting of his friend, Filipina actress Dolly De Leon, in the 2022 satirical black comedy film ''
Triangle of Sadness''.
Filmography
Television
Theatre
Awards and nominations
* 2007 Golden Screen Award – Nominee, Breakthrough Performance by an Actor
* 2013 British Independent Film Award – Nominee, Most Promising Newcomer
* 2014 Star Award – Nominee, Movie Actor of the Year
* 2021 FAMAS Award – Nominee, Best Supporting Actor
* 2021 Gawad Urian Awards – Nominee, Best Supporting Actor
* 2021 Pinoy Rebyu Award – Nominee, Best Ensemble Performance
Personal life
Macapagal is openly LGBTQ.
He spoke about his lifestyle and preferred decision to reside in
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
in a recent interview with digital LGBTQ magazine OutThere.
References
External links
*
*
Year of birth uncertain
Filipino male film actors
Filipino male television actors
Filipino gay actors
Living people
1960s births
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