JORDAN HERERRA

OF all the members of The Powerboys, there's no denying that Jordan Herrera is the one loaded with potentials to truly make it big in show business. Apart from his boy-next-door looks, highlighted by his naughty grin that makes women and gender benders swoon, Jordan is just equipped with effective acting skills that if further sharpened, will be his instrument to etch a name in the industry he's part of. Being the most popular member, it is but inevitable for him to generate controversies that give him either good or bad publicities. As some people would say it, be it negative or positive, publicity is still publicity. Though Jordan knows that harsh comments and concocted stories are part of the price he's got to pay for being in the business that spells glamour, fame and scandals, he came to a point where he could no longer swallow the "unswallowable". "Noong una talaga, parang hindi ko kaya. Sa kalaunan, nasanay na rin ako. Basta ako, trabaho lang talaga. Pero lately lang, may isang reporter na nagsulat na sumayaw daw ako dati sa isang shower party...para ba'ng pinapalabas nyang call boy ako dati, di ba Vince? Nagdemanda talaga ako. Nag file na ako ng libel suit," Jordan exclaims. Looking back at the kind of life that he had prior to showbiz, Jordan can't help but thank God for all the blessings that he savors now. With the chips coming in from various shows and regular TV program that he has, Jordan's life has incredibly taken a turn to the positive. "Dati talaga, hirap kami sa buhay. Actually, noong hindi pa hiwalay ang parents ko, okay naman ang buhay namin, iyong financial...ang pag-aaral naming magkakapatid ay natutustusan naman. Pero nung magkahiwalay sila...toink! Kinakailangan ko pang mag varsity sa basketball noong first year college ako para maging libre ang tuition fee ko sa HRM. Pero ngayon, okay na. Nakakatulong na ako sa pamilya ko. Nakakatuwa lang kasi ngayon na marami na ako'ng kakilala at nakakakilala sa akin. Iyon nga lang, kadalasan puyat ako at hind na masyadong nakakapag-mall, at siyempre, ang dami ng intriga." It was in the mid of 2002 when ABS CBN forged a contract with then so-called Rexona Boys, the name associated with the group that appeared in that phenomenal TV commercial (clad only in towels) that ushered them to where they are now. From then on, the quintet (now only quartet upon the ejection of Jeff Rodriguez due to his manager's reported conflict with other Powerboys managers due to schedule) was re-baptized with the name "The Powerboys". But more than just a week after that launching, Jordan was faced by a buzz that challenged his honesty, an issue that posed as a threat to his image as a matinee idol. "At the very start pa lang, gusto ko na talagang aminin na dati akong may asawa at may anak na. Pero natakot ang manager ko na baka daw maka apekto sa image ko at ng grupo. Nung naglabasan na ang mga blind items at later on, pinangalanan na talaga ako, sinabi ko kay James ( Salas, former UMD Dancer and the group's main chief) na aaminin ko na talaga. Kung tatanggapin ako ng mga tao, tatanggapin nila ako, kahit ano pa man....Ang lagi ko kasing sinasabi, ang sakit naman sa part ng anak ko paglaki nya kung malaman nyang dini-deny ko sya dati. ...okay naman ang relationship namin ng ex-wife ko... Wala kaming communication except sa phone at tungkol pa sa anak namin. Technically, kasal pa rin kami kasi hindi pa rin kami annulled, pero talagang hiwalay na kami... Kung hindi kami naghiwalay, baka nasa Bulacan pa rin ako at wala ako sa showbiz." It can be said that Jordan's decision of coming out in the open about his being a father has elicited good karma. Not only his fans continue to patronize him, but producers go on believing in him. Apart from appearing regularly on the Tuesday and Saturday editions of MTB (along with other Powerboys) and guestings on various ABS-CBN sitcoms and series, Jordan is currently busy acting in front of the grinding camera for his second movie with Viva Films entitled "Lupe", Andrea del Rosario's launching flick as a bold actress and Elwood Perez's comebacking directorial job. "Idire-deretso ko lang 'to para sa pamilya ko. Ang lahat naman kasi ng ginagawa ko ay hindi para sa akin eh. Para lahat ng ito sa pamilya ko. Pinaka-okay na sa akin ang makita ang pamilya ko sa isang mabuting kalagayan. Sana magkasama pa rin ang mama at papa ko. Sa mga pangyayari ngayon sa buhay ko, kung magkasama lang sana ang mama at papa, siguro masayang masaya na ako." Jordan is pessimistic that his happiness will be at its fullest, not giving up hope that his parents will be back in each other's arms someday as both of them still don't have new families. Jordan thinks that his parents may still have fears that stop them to gather back, but he is sure that there is a big possibility. If this happens, Jordan says it will be his moment of fulfillment. "I'm a very loving INDIVIDUAL...sa sarili ko, sa anak ko at sa pamilya ko... at sa lahat ng taong nagmamahal sa akin," Jordan ends.