TERRACE affords panoramic view of the city.
Guests will surely do a double take as they are greeted by the sight of a vintage Bultaco motorcycle parked oh-so-casually in the living room of a condo unit on the top floor of a high-rise somewhere in the bustling heart of the metropolis.
Just as nonchalantly, ABS-CBN actor and Regal baby Jake Cuenca would tell the stunned guests: “There are two motorbikes in my pad. The other one is in the bedroom.”
He’s very proud of these motorbikes which he lovingly restored with the help of dad Juan Tomas.
“They’re just for display. The bike I ride is in the garage of my dad’s house,” he noted.
He recalled that he and his father started working on the bikes, which date from the 1960s and 1970s (a Frontera in the living room and a Sherpa in the bedroom), when he was barely 10 years old.
“The motorcycle parts, from the chassis to the wheels, were shipped piece by piece in six boxes from Spain,” he recounted. “Bultaco is the first bike to reach Mount Everest.”
(Jake lived in the United States and Spain before joining the biz as a teener.)
THIS motorbike came in six boxes from Spain.
Jake, who models for Vespa, related that motorbike restoration afforded him and his dad precious “bonding moments.”
The Frontera bike, which stands by a bay window that offers a breathtaking view of the city, is the centerpiece in this bachelor’s pad.
“Nothing beats the sense of freedom I get from riding a motorbike,” he said, relishing the memory of the speed, the wind and the open road.
When he transported the bikes up to his condo unit, he related, “my dad and I had to raise the bikes vertically, to fit in the elevator.”
The sporty guy also lined up four helmets in his bedroom, along with a baseball cap. “I don’t wear the helmets displayed in my room. When I go biking, I borrow my dad’s. He also races.”
The screen stud has always been into sports, mainly soccer, even before show biz beckoned, he looked back.
Apart from actual field games, he plays sporty videos on the Playstation (in the living room) and the Xbox (in the den) as well.
DEN, which he painted red, is where he plays Xbox games.
“I like boxing, wrestling and football video games on Xbox,” he said.
The big kid also has other toys in his treasure box.
The newly built den, or play room as he fondly calls it, showcases some of his prized collections of Japanese vinyl toys and Mighty Muggs.
“These are rare items,” he said of the vinyl collectibles. “I have more … but I left most of the pieces in my parents’ house.”
Mighty Muggs, a Hasbro vinyl-plastic toy series, features characters from the Marvel and Star Wars franchise: From Spiderman to Bobba Fett, he said.
Also displayed in the den is an action figure of mixed martial artist Tito Ortiz. “It’s a gift from (“My Neighbor’s Wife”) costar Dennis Trillo. He gave it to me on our last day of shoot.”
Another celebrity gift in the den is an abstract painting, done by actor Cesar Montano.
“He gave it to me when we were doing [the ABS-CBN series] ‘Palos,’” he volunteered.
The den, which is painted red, is a favorite nook.
JAKE Cuenca changes sheets from white to black to make the bedroom more relaxing at night.
“I used to stay in the living room all the time, but now I prefer to hang out in the play room,” he said.
He’s turning into a certified home body, he confessed, equally and exclusively splitting his time between work and home.
“I only go out on gimiks (to bar-hop) once in a while,” he remarked. “I’d rather stay home. Sometimes I invite my friends over.”
The place is party central for Jake and his pals.
He made sure that his home would have a laid-back ambience. “So when friends come over, they’d feel comfortable,” he clarified. “I also wanted it to look interesting enough so I won’t get bored even if I stay here often.”
When he’s at home, the real Jake can take off the mask of show biz and simply chill out. “Here, I don’t have to prove anything. I can be myself. There’s no need to put up a façade.”
He encourages his guests to be just as relaxed. “We can kick back, chill and laugh out loud.”
The black-and-white sofa, for example, boasts wide arm rests. “You can write on it or sit on it.”
TV AREA is designed like a jukebox—a vibrant and lively nook.
After the Living Stars visit, Jake clearly planned to enjoy his day off, especially after an all-night dubbing session for the Regal movie “My Neighbor’s Wife” (which opened September 14).
As late afternoon dissolved to dusk, he remained slumped in the couch, taking in “Coming to America,” an old Eddie Murphy comedy, on HBO.
For state-of-the-art TV viewing, he acquired a 55-inch Samsung set for the living room, and two 42-inch Panasonic sets in the den and bedroom.
But make no mistake about it, Jake’s also working while resting.
“When I’m at home, I watch TV or movies on DVD,” he said. “For us actors, watching films is like our home work.”
It allows him to study different acting styles and techniques, he said.
Some of his fave films are “Vanilla Sky,” “The Wrestler” and “The Breakfast Club.”
After “My Neighbor’s Wife,” he wants to focus on television, he pointed out. There’s a new soap in the works and he’s part of the 20th anniversary specials of the ABS-CBN drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” scheduled next month.
“It’ll be my first gay role,” he said with more than a tinge of pride. “I wanted to challenge myself and play a part that’s totally out of the box.”
SPIC and span kitchen and counter which doubles as dining area-----------jake cuenca
As bonus, he’ll share the screen with acting veterans Ricky Davao, Vivian Velez and Malou de Guzman.
“It’s about family and acceptance. I want to play roles that would permit me to stretch myself and create characters from scratch. That’s why I want to do more indie movies like Neal Tan’s ‘HIV (Si Heidi, si Ivi at si V).’ Gerald (Anderson), Coco (Martin) and I are talking about producing our own movies.”
He also got to practice his creativity in designing the flat. “The interiors were done by the firm owned by my grandfather, Rodolfo Leveriza, who’s an architect.”
Jake gave lots of input regarding the interiors. “I wanted clean, sharp lines, for the place to look modern, minimalist and yet masculine,” he said.
He had definite décor ideas. “I wanted the TV area to look like a jukebox: Vibrant and lively.”
In keeping with the sporty, youthful theme, he propped up a colorful indo board in the living room beside the Bultaco bike.
Also in the living room is a Rizal Borg bust by JP Cuison, alongside his glass “Fashionista” award from last year’s Star Magic Ball.
The overall design aesthetic combined form and function.
The kitchen counter, with its modish black bar stools and sleek pin lights, doubles as dining area as well.
If the kitchen is spic and span it’s because Jake hardly uses it, explained makeup artist Jay Herrera. “His family lives nearby, so he usually eats with them.”
“Or my family sends over food to my place.” Jake confirmed.
Not that this hunk is totally clueless in the kitchen. “I know how to cook pasta, steaks and other dishes.”
To add a burst of energy in that corner, he placed various stickers on the silver refrigerator. “Most of the stickers are gifts from friends. They know that I want to fill the entire refrigerator with skater, mixed martial arts and (US clothing store) Obey stickers.”
Another fave haunt is the bedroom, of course.
Apart from the gray La-Z-Boy chair and matching rug, the bedroom is sparsely decorated, too.
Zen and serene, he said. “I used to have white beddings, but I did a show [‘Your Song’] where I had to put on tan body makeup.”
Needless to say, the linens looked messy, the morning after the taping.
“I decided to turn the bedroom’s motif from white to black. It was more soothing because when I turn off the lights, it’s completely dark here. I can really sleep soundly.”
If the closet reflects the home owner’s state of mind, then Jake can be quite organized, bordering on the obsessive-compulsive.
Leather jackets, blazers, hats, suits, jeans and casuals are neatly arranged in separate cabinets. His wide-ranging shoe closet looks like a store’s display counter, too.
The home, like the hunk, is a work in progress.
“I’m taking my time in choosing the paintings I’ll hang on the walls,” he owned up.
He’s just as prudent about sharing his pad with a future partner.
He insisted that he and Star Magic Ball date (and “My Neighbor’s Wife” costar) Lovi Poe are just “friends.”
“We’re having fun,” he said. “I was able to show and share with Lovi an event that she would not otherwise experience because she’s from GMA 7.”
In the same light, he’s glad because “My Neighbor’s Wife” gave him the chance to work with GMA 7 artists: from director Jun Lana to costars Lovi, Dennis and Carla Abellana.
“Even though I was the only Kapamilya among the leads, the Kapuso stars didn’t make me feel like an outsider. They welcomed me and made me feel at home.”
He’s far from settling down, he asserted.
“I still have so many things I want to do, so many dreams I want to fulfill,” he said. “That’s the message of our movie. You can’t rush into marriage if you’re not ready. Starting your own family is a big responsibility. If you’re not prepared, your partner and children would only suffer in the end.”
In the meantime, he’s basking in single-blessedness.
Asked about his love life, Jake declared unequivocally, as if shouting from the rooftop of this high-rise condo, “I am perfectly, happily single.”
E-mail bayanisandiego@hotmail.com.