The Former Vince Saldana Is Now Known As Benjamin Alves

BENJAMIN ALVES has just signed up with GMA-7. Born in Guam, he first came to Manila in 2006 when he was 17 and was signed up by Viva. He did some bit roles with them but nothing much happened to his career. “I was then known as Vince Saldana, a screen name given to me,” he says. “My last movie with them was ‘Cute ng Ina Mo’ in 2009. Then my contract expired and I decided to finish college at the University of Guam. I came here for a vacation last Christmas and Jonas Gaffud of Mercator Agency got me and took me to GMA who signed me up to a three-year contract. But I’ll go back muna to Guam to graduate in May, hopefully with honors, majoring in English lit. Then in June, I return here to do a soap with GMA.”

His dad and Piolo Pascual are first cousins so Piolo is his uncle. “He’s happy that I signed up with GMA. He said he’s willing to support me. But I’d rather be known on my own and not just as Piolo’s nephew.”