Maalaala Mo Kaya July 1: Arjo Atayde Stars In MMK Rocky Gathercole

Image via official MMK Twitter page (screenshot)

#MMKRockyGathercole

Maalaala Mo Kaya July 1 stars Arjo Atayde in the success story of International Avant Garde fashion designer, Rocky Gathercole. His humble beginnings and his inclination to visual art has ushered him to the success he is today. Even if he had a difficult life growing up in poverty and being left by his mother, Rocky was adamant in fulfilling his dream for a better life for him, his father and his son.

Zaijian Jaranilla stars as Rocky in his early teens while Arjo Atayde portrays Rocky from the moment he has come of age. Other cast members in the episode include Nonie Buencamino as Ike, Shy Carlos as Rocky’s love interest, Josephine, Fanny Serrano as Mama Vicente and Pooh as Ricky.

MMK Rocky Gathercole: A Dream chaser’s Success Story

When Rocky was only a week old, his mother, Aging, left him and his father. It was his father, Ike, who raised him and it was not easy. Ike was an alcoholic and struggled to keep a job. This made their life a difficult one. This was also the reason why Rocky began to dream big for himself and his father. He always longed for his family to be whole again and would express this through his drawings and sketches of his ideal home.

Despite living in poverty, Rocky and his father made the most of what they had. A time came, however, when Rocky felt more inclined to his feminine side. This caused him to look for his mother. He then set off, ran away from home, to look for Aging. When he finds her, he was given the coldest shoulder. Instead of Aging being happy to see him, he told him to leave her and her new family alone. Rocky left, devastated. He chose to roam the streets of Manila until he met Ricky who helped him get up from the lowest state of his life. This was also the time he met Josephine, the only woman he has loved.

Rocky Gathercole’s art gets him a chance of a lifetime. While Rocky was doing his usual run-in-the-mill in his job, he unexpectedly meets Mama Vicente who was his old nanny. Mama Vicente had to leave when Rocky was two years old because of his work in fashion and design in Saudi Arabia. Instantly, they began catching up with each other. Somewhere in that conversation, Rocky talked about his father and how he wants to be successful in life. He also shared his love for drawing and visual arts, so, Mama Vicente gave him a little test. Mama Vicente asked Rocky to draw the patterns he sees in everyday items such as glasses and dinner ware. Right then and there, Rocky did just that. He sketched the patterns he saw and liked. Mama Vicente was so impressed and told Rocky that he can get a job in fashion design in Saudi Arabia. The only thing that Mama Vicente asked Rocky to do is to go back to his father and get restored before they leave.

Just when Rocky’s life starts to turn around, he loses what he cares for the most. The relationship of Rocky and Josephine did not last long. While Rocky was stable in his job at fashion design in Dubai, Rocky and Josephine had a civil wedding. After their wedding and giving birth to their son, however, Josephine suddenly decides to end their relationship. She wanted to go abroad and live the way she wants to. She said that she wanted to do so many things in life and not be tied to the life she has with Rocky. It was painful for Rocky to accept this because they already have a son together. He wanted nothing more than to be a family. When he knew that he could not do anything to keep his family together, he vowed to give his son a good life, no matter what. Rocky then decided to bring their son home to Ike who took care of him while Rocky was working.

A father’s love keeps Rocky going on. Now that Rocky had to raise his son by himself, all the more did he need to strive and he was not alone in this. His father, Ike, was so willing to help because he loved him that much. Ike took care of his grandson while Rocky was working abroad. In the midst of Rocky’s budding success, however, Ike becomes ill and did not live for much longer. Rocky once again faces so much distraught, but the encouragement of his father kept him going. Ike reassured Rocky that the dream he has already fulfilled his dream for his son, Rocky.

Hollywood Stars began giving Rocky a nod. Rocky was doing so well in his career as a fashion designer. It reached the point when Hollywood stars like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, and many others, chose to wear his designs. His Avant Garde designs were well sought out for. There was no where but up for him and in the middle of all this, he remained grounded. His life and the memory of his father always kept him true to himself. The fame and wealth did not change who he is. In time, he decided to go back home to the Philippines and continue his passions.

Rocky Gathercole gives back through his “Rock the Runway” Fashion Show. Rocky’s designs not only made stars famous, but these have also been significant in helping those in need. With everything he has gone through, Rocky gave back through the “Rock the Runway” charity fashion show. Its beneficiaries are the children from Bantay Bata. The episode entitled, “Sketch Pad” explicitly shows that the true measure of success is not just having wealth, influence or power. Success lies in how one uses these for the benefit of others.