“Kung aabutin kami ng birthday namin while taping ‘Anna Karenina’, siguro doon na kami magkakaroon ng joint celebration sa set namin in Tanauan, Batangas, para makasama namin lahat ng cast members ng show,” says Barbie. “But on my own, just like last year, I would like to host a merienda at mamimigay ako ng gifts sa patients ng National Children’s Hospital sa Quezon Ave. Marami akong blessings and I want to share it with the less fortunate.”
“Ako naman, debut ko na, kaya may cotillion,” Derrick jokes. “Most probably, I’d just have a quiet dinner or lunch with my family. Kung may time, sana, makapag-outing kami. But as of now, talagang busy ako kasi we tape for ‘Anna Karenina’ ng three times a week, tapos I also tape for ‘Vampire ang Daddy Ko’ and I perform pa for ‘Sunday All Stars’. Bale Thursday lang ako walang taping or show and I spend it doing my assignments sa school.”
Is he now courting Barbie? “No, wala pong ligawang nagaganap. But we’re becoming closer kasi nga kaming magkapareha sa ‘Anna Karenina’. Barbie is a nice person, inside and out, but wala sa isip namin na magiging kami.”
Since he’s now 18, will he be ready to be more daring, like joining Cosmo bash where celebrity guys parade shirtless or in their undies? “I don’t think I’m ready. Mga two years pa siguro, kailangan ko munang mag-workout nang husto.”
In “Anna Karenina”, he plays Aldrin, the son of Valerie Concepcion as Ruth and Neil Ryan Sese as Abel. His peaceful life changes when he meets the carefree and “babaeng bakla” girl, Karen, played by Barbie. His mom Ruth notices he’s being so close to Karen so she gives him more jobs to do in their company. Karen tells him to relax and takes him to a carnival to unwind, not knowing this will put his life in danger. Karen’s gap with Joyce Ching as Nina widens because Joanna Marie Tan as Carla claims it’s Karen who’s spreading the rumor that Nina is in love with Hiro Peralta as Brian. Karen is also put into hot water when her stepdad, Yul Servo as Kadyo, sneaks into the Monteclaro mansion and steals the jewelry of Sandy Andolong as Donya Carmela.
