This month’s MEGA Man cover star Gino Roque shares how his road to success is all rooted from being adaptable. Read an excerpt of his cover story below.
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He credits his parents for his tenacity and for being strangely good at trying new things—traits that he’s learned early on. “My parents taught me to always be a sponge and always be curious. In the entertainment industry. I am learning every day and there’s still so many things I’ve yet to learn.
“They also taught me that, at the end of the day, whether it’s viewers or customers, they are kings. You work for them, not the other way around.”
Gino Roque
It’s by this family mantra that Gino navigates being an entrepreneur and producer, and so far, it’s been working well.
Recognizing the advantages he’s had growing up, he shares that it’s partly why he wanted to join PBB. “They take out all the advantages and disadvantages of the outside world and put people in a bubble. I wanted to prove to myself that I would still do well,” he says. However, he clarifies that he grew up knowing the value of money and hard work.
“My main advantage was growing up with parents who are very driven. I’m lucky they are successful, because they’re able to teach me so many things. They teach me their mistakes, the things that they did well. But in terms of money, none. When I was still in school, they would check how much the liempo and rice was, because water was free, and they would give me just eksakto. I always had the cheapest computers growing up. If they gave me any money, I always had to give it back.”
It’s unbelievable that Gino is only 25. Without his boyish looks to betray his age, one might mistake him for an entrepreneur, or even an actor who is wise beyond his years. “I actually want to tell my younger self to take more risks and enjoy life. When I was in college, I was already working. But if I was to go back, I’d tell younger me to enjoy high school and college because those things only happen once. I’d tell him to take some time off sometimes and take it easy. ‘Everything will happen, no problem.’”
And everything is happening. From creating apparel, to events, and now producing teleseryes, both Gino and Forza have come a long way. Things may not be as he visualized on his white board years ago, but to him it’s still a good thing. “I see it as expanding what we have. I love that. It pays to be f exible and open to change because that’s the only constant thing in life.” Watch out, the forza is strong in this one.
Read more about how Gino Roque is the man to watch in MEGA Man’s October 2021 issue now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio
Photography KIERAN PUNAY of STUDIO100
Creative direction NICOLE ALMERO
Grooming CATS DEL ROSARIO
Styling FRANCIS CHEE of STYLEITPH assisted by JEREMIAH ORIBE
Shoot Coordination MAE TALAID and MJ ALMERO
