Benjamin grew up in Guam but he speaks Tagalog without any twang. He first tried local showbiz 6 years ago when he was 17 when he joined a Close Up to Fame. He didn’t win but Viva signed him up. Nothing happened, though, and he returned to Guam, finished college majoring in English lit and graduating summa cum laude.
Last Christmas, he came to Manila for a vacation and, by chance, talent manager Jonas Gaffud saw him on Facebook and they met. He said he wants to do modelling work but Jonas introduced him instead to GMA exec Anette Gozon Abrogar who immediately signed him up to a contract, co-managed with GMA Artist Center.
“Everything happened so fast,” he says. “It’s a blessing. Siguro before, it’s not the right time for me yet. E, ito, sunod-sunod ang work ko so I really thank the Lord for all these good opportunities.”
A big blessing is having Lovi Poe as his partner in his first movie, “Guni-Guni”. “I’m really thankful tinanggap niya ko kahit newcomer ako. I'm awed by her kindness to me. I admire her love for her craft. Nakakahawa kaya seseryosohin mo rin ang trabaho. She’s very supportive, lalo na sa kissing scene namin. First time ko to do it on camera and I’m glad it’s with her kasi she’s so relaxed na kasama.”
