Ken Chan: Embracing Imperfections

Ken Chan is getting all the good roles. After making his on-screen debut when he was 18 years of age, He has bagged significant roles in some of the most challenging and risky drama series on Philippine TV. Ken Chan first drew the viewers' interest when he starred in the series Meant to Be as one of the love interests of Billie (Barbie Forteza). However, it wasn't until 2015 when he captured the critics' attention when he played a transgender person in the afternoon drama series Destiny Rose.

Ken Chan's Destiny

Ken Chan considers Destiny Rose as his biggest break. Not a lot of actors will be willing to take a role as risky as this. There's a chance that the conservatives will not accept it. As we all know, 90% of Filipinos are Christian, and the church still frowned upon the idea of same-sex marriage. However, enough of that, this is an article that showcases the ingenuity and the acting prowess of Ken Chan. Watching Chan's performance is quite liberating, especially when Destiny confesses to her mother about her sexual orientation. Chan's performance is brave, empathic, authentic, and energizing. You will feel that your heart is pounding, racing, skipping. From his movement to his breath, he commands respect not only for his craft but also for the people he represents. It was natural; it showed his more profound understanding of the role. He wasn't acting; it was a superb portrayal of human characteristics.

Ken Chan: The Special Tatay

After Destiny Rose, Ken Chan took an equally challenging role; Boyet, a father with an intellectual disability. My Special Tatay brought tears and laughter to the Pinoy televiewers for months. It was heart-warming, touching, and gut-wrenching at the same time.  It successfully showcased the person's boundless capacity to love despite his limitations in his cognitive functions and skills. It left a powerful impact not only on the people who are going through the same situation but on everyone. It gave us new perspectives on people with mental disabilities; there will be problems in their disability, but not their capability to love and understand. It's a bitter pill that we all willingly took. Chan dug deep into the character of Boyet; it is not just a set of mannerisms and twitches. You will understand how deeply committed he is to his craft by looking at Boyet's eyes. He allowed us to peek into the beautiful world of autism.  

One of the Baes

After a series of challenging roles, Chan tried to explore his comedic side. Unfortunately, he failed to deliver this time. It was boring, a Richard Yap kind of acting. I just felt that there are too many things that he could've done with his character. It just shows that Chan still has a lot to learn, especially when taking comedic roles. One of the Baes is probably an answer to the clamor of the Rit-Ken fans to see them in a romantic comedy series. It was charming but not funny. It offers good moral values, but not in a powerful manner.

Ang Dalawang Ikaw

Known for taking challenging and risky roles, Chan is once again ready to showcase his acting prowess by assuming the role of a person suffering from DID (dissociative identity disorder). The dual characterization would be a perfect opportunity for Chan to showcase his flexibility and resourcefulness as an actor. Chan was successful in breathing life into his two characters, giving them unique nuances and tones. It was effortless. Nonetheless,  we are still uncertain how deep GMA is willing to dive to explore the characters of Nelson and Tyler.

Ken Chan reminds me of Jay Ilagan. His versatility and passion in his craft are something rare, especially for young stars. Without a doubt, Ken Chan is on his way to becoming one of the prime actors in the Philippine entertainment industry.