“Tapos po noon, nagkasunod-sunod na,” he says. “Nasama ako doing supporting roles sa ‘Time of My Life’, ‘Biritera’, ‘Yesterday’s Bride’, ‘Home Sweet Home’ and ‘Genesis’. And now, heto, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala, I play the title role in ‘Destiny Rose’. I took the audition, mga 12 kaming kumuha. When I was told akong napili, umiyak ako sa tuwa, pati Mommy ko. Both my parents are so happy.”
What does he think is the reason why he was the one chosen? “Ang requirement kasi sa role, pogi siya as lalake nung siya si Joey. Pero after maging transwoman siyang nagpa-sex change na, kailangan magandang babae talaga ang dating niya as Destiny Rose. I think nakatulong yung slim build ko. Kasi yung ibang nag-audition, hunky types kaya di magiging credible as a woman.”
Didn’t he feel reluctant doing a gay role? “Hindi siya gay, transwoman siya. In other words, magiging babae talaga siya. Ang ganda ng concept and when I read the story, sabi ko, napakasuwerte ng sinumang mapipili rito. Sa audition, ang peg ko, hindi gay kundi babae talaga like Jennylyn Mercado and Heart Evangelista.”
Isn’t he scared people will tease him as “bakla”? “I guess you can’t avoid that. Pero kung pagdudahan man ang gender ko, wala naman akong dapat ikatakot kasi kilala ko ang sarili ko.”
He has a commercial model girlfriend for five months now and she’s very supportive. “Yung feminine movements nga niya ang tinitingnan ko at ginagaya ko. She’s very happy for me I got this big break.”
Supporting him in “Destiny Rose” that starts airing on September 14 in GMA's Afternoon Prime are Joko Diaz and Manilyn Reynes as his parents, Fabio Ide as his love interest, Sheena Halili as his sister, Katrina Halli as the chief villain, JC Tiuseco as Katrina’s BF,Jackielou Blanco as Katrina’s mom and Michael de Mesa as a Mamasan who helps him in his journey into being a transwoman.
