Friday, February 16, 2007

Asian HeatWave: Jake Cuenca


Juan Carlos Cuenca popularly known as Jake Cuenca (born December 30, 1987, San Jose, California) is a Filipino print and commercial model and a television and film actor who rose to prominence via his stint as one of the young stars in the youth-oriented show Click. He was a contract star of GMA Network but jumped to ABS-CBN after his contract with GMA-7 expired. Cuenca is currently a member of ABS CBN's elite circle of homegrown talents properly named Star Magic. Jake was also a student/alumni of PAREF Southridge a school for boys.




Cuenca grew up in California and was the middle child in a brood of three. His career in the Philippines began when he was discovered by a talent scout for Cosmo Modeling Agency at the age of nine. Soonafter, he made several television and print commercials including endorsements for Safeguard, Coke and Globe Telecom.




"allow me do that for you, sweetie..."


By the time he was fourteen, Cuenca was taken under the wing of star makers Neil de Guia and Douglas Quijano. In 2003, he auditioned for GMA Network’s highly successful youth program, Click where he was included as one of the cast. His stint in the show contributed much to his growing popularity. When the show was defunct, Cuenca began portraying varied roles and was cast in several television outings including Hanggang Kailan, Forever In My Heart and Love to Love.

Alongside his growing television career, Cuenca also attended workshops with directors Peque Gallaga and Joel Lamangan where he developed the technique and motivation needed for television acting, a far cry from the broad-gestured and exaggerated manner of billing in commercials.

His career heightened in 2005 when he became part of the fantasy show Encantadia, playing Dingdong Dantes and Karylle’s invincible heir, Kahlil. He also appeared in the ninth season of Love to Love entitled Miss Match where he was paired with reality show winner and young actress Jennylyn Mercado.

He starred as one of the wizards in the fantasy-themed television series Majika. Cuenca, along with fellow male stars from hailing from successful telefantasya's, was featured in the second issue of X-ray Magazine where he sheds off his boy-next door charm for a much more provocative and mature take on his image[1].

Jake Cuenca is now in the Kapamilya Network ABS-CBN after his contract with GMA-7 expired. Jake Cuenca is now featured in top-rated TV shows in ABS-CBN. In fact, Jake Cuenca is certified a true Kapamilya when he appeared in the ABS-CBN 2006 Christmas Station ID entitled" Angat ang Ligaya ng Pasko" & currently he is a cast of the upcoming ABS-CBN soap opera entitled "Sana Maulit Muli" with Kim Chiu & Gerald Anderson which aired on January 8, 2007.

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