Barely a month after he became the El Ultimo Participante of ABS-CBN's Pinoy Fear Factor, Jommy Teotico already had his first taste of intrigue.
Without doing anything, his name got dragged into the latest issue—involving John Lapus and Jobert Sucaldito—where one of the two reportedly made a big fuss out of Jommy's being a waiter.
At the time of our exclusive interview, he was brimming with enthusiasm. "Galing po kaming workshop," he told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
He added, "Wala pa nga po akong tulog."
But he wasn't complaining. In fact, he was highly optimistic because a showbiz career now looms over the horizon.
Jommy said, "Ngayon po, nagwo-workshop po kami ‘tapos may mga auditions, ‘tapos meron din pong kumukuha na mga endorsers. Mag-i-endorse daw ako sa kanila, so, yun po, sana tuluy-tuloy po yung mga projects."
JOINING PINOY FEAR FACTOR. It was October 2008 when his name was announced as one of the participantes.
His adventurous nature prompted him to audition for the reality show, plus the fact that he's a big fan of Fear Factor.
The 24-year-old model related, "Dati po nung napapanood ko siya sa AXN, sabi ko, ‘Kaya ko gawin 'to, eh.' Ganun yung nasa isip ko, so, kung meron dito niyan, sasali talaga ako.
"Kaya nung nagkaroon dito, talagang sumali ako, kasi, once in a lifetime experience yung gagawin mo run. Hindi mo siya gagawin nang wala lang, e, di ba? So parang, once ka lang kasi mabuhay, yun, gawin mo na lahat para ma-experience mo na rin."
He was literally jumping with joy when he found out he was in. The mere thought of the challenges gave him an adrenaline rush.
"Parang lahat po gusto kong subukan—mga mountain climbing, bungee jumping, parachute, ganun..."
And if you ask him his idea of a gimmick, his reply: "Yung rides. Meron daw po dito sa Philippines, yung sa building."
Jommy was referring to one of Cebu's fast-rising tourist spots, the Crowne Regency Hotel and Towers Edge Coaster, which offer an extraordinary experience that's close to flying and falling off the sky.
True enough, he faced the show's challenges fearlessly, but he admitted that he got really scared of the tarantula. The mere thought makes him cringe.
"Nung napanood ko nga po dito nun, kinikilabutan pa rin ako ‘tapos nandidiri pa rin ako. Parang ibang tao yung nasa TV, ganun yung feeling ko, ‘tapos...Basta parang nakakadiri talaga siya. Naaalala ko lahat yung nangyari, kung paano yung texture niya, yung lasa niya, so, talagang kinikilabutan po ako."
But for the other 32 challenges, "nahirapan din pero enjoy!"
The easiest for him was the one with tank and snakes. Each challenger had to get inside a tank with small and big snakes. Their mission was to collect the most number of yellow rubbers submerged in water. The catch: There were also black rubbers. Another catch: The water was so cold. Jommy managed to get 52 black rubbers and 7 yellow rubbers.
He said, "Nung bata pa po ako, nag-alaga po ako nung python. ‘Tapos nag-swimmer po ako nung college..."
How did he finish the 11 rounds? What was his game strategy?
"Focus," he said, was his best weapon. "Yun siguro yung naging edge ko kaya parang natalo ko rin sila. Kasi, talagang at first, inisip ko na competition yun, eh..."
Treating each challenge seriously earned him the tags Scorpion King (after wolfing down 20 scorpions) and Alaskador. The latter, he said, was actually one of his strategies.
Jommy explained, "Ang pag-aalaska ko ay para ma-distract sila, mawala and focus nila. Ako naman, pagdating sa game, dini-distract ko sila ‘tapos pag ako na, focused lang..."
But the Alaskador clarified that his "pang-aalaska" mode would automatically switch off after each stunt. "Sa labas, barka-barkada kami."
EUPHORIC WINNER. He was in a daze after he won the "El Ultimo Duelo."
Jommy recalled that moment when he was named the winner. "Para po akong nananaginip, sobra...Kaya thankful po ako sobra no'n...Sabi ko, ‘Lord, thank you, thank you. Sobra talaga yung blessings na binigay Niyo sa akin.'
"Hanggang ngayon, para akong nananaginip, parang di ako makapaniwala sa nangyari, parang biglang nag-twist yung buhay ko, eh. Ang bilis, eh, parang hindi yung nagdahan-dahan na kung pa'no ko naabot ‘to. Biglang ‘pak!' So sobrang blessing lang talaga..."
He won two million pesos in cash and a house and lot.
The street-smart guy plans to invest his cash prize in business. "Baka maubos, eh, mahirap mag-umpisa uli," he said, smiling.
He continued, "Ngayon po, nagba-buy-and-sell ako ng kotse at gusto ko pa pong dagdagan. Naghahanap pa po ako ng iba, yung mga franchise, kasi busy po kami sa oras. So kung franchise, may mag-aasikaso, walang hassle dun sa pagbili ng kung ano-ano, gano'n po."
SHOWBIZ DREAM. Girls found his being alaskador cute, while guys were hands down with the way he did the stunts and challenges. In short, he already has a fan base.
And given the chance, the Lyceum alumnus wants to try his hand at action or action-comedy.
It's his dream to star in a movie with Robin Padilla and Edu Manzano.
What about his dream leading ladies?
"Si Donita [Rose], maganda eh. Kanina nakita ko, eh. Cute, mahilig kasi ako sa mga cute. Si Marielle Rodriguez...Basta yung parang maamo yung mukha, yun yung mga gusto ko," was his very straightforward answer.
For now, he's preparing and waiting for that big break.
Looking back, he sometimes can't believe what life has recently brought him. He wasn't shy about owning up to his past mistakes. "May time po na bad boy po ako na basagulero na playboy..."
But the blessings he reaped ushered him to the good side of the road. "Talagang inaano ko na ma-straight yung buhay ko kasi ang ganda na, eh, so itutuloy ko na po." He's been a Black Nazarene devotee for a year now.
Is he ready to enter showbiz?
He said "yes" resolutely, even if some people would try to resurrect the dark episodes of his past or hurl tons of intrigue and controversy at him.
If there's one thing he fears: "Yung sexy [role], ‘tapos yung may kissing scene daw sa lalaki. Sobra pong mahirap para sa akin."
But for the rest, "Handa na po ako," he said fearlessly.