“No, hindi naman ako naghintay na maging bida ako,” he says. “Kasi hindi pa rin naman ako handa, so mas okay sabihing hinintay ko ang sarili ko na maging ready muna. Nag-acting workshop ako at nag-work out para maging preparado ko about my craft as an actor and also, maging preparado rin ako physically. So ngayon, kapag binibigyan nila ako ng mahihirap na eksena, hindi ako nahihirapan. And when they ask me to take off my shirt, hindi rin ako nagdadalawang-isip kasi alam kong naihanda ko na sa gym ang katawan ko.”
He’s really thankful to GMA for giving this biggest break in his career as the leading man of Louise de los Reyes. “Noong unang sabihin sa’kin, hindi ako makapaniwala, akala ko, nananaginip ako. Kasi before this, I was doing a supporting role in ‘Little Nanay’. Then, nag-audition ako for ‘Encantadia’ remake at hindi ako nag-qualify. Yun pala, may ibang show na naghihintay para sa akin. At very challenging ang role ko as Elfino, isang duwende na naging kaibigan ng api-apihang si Louise in the story. Binago hitsura ko rito, pinahaba ang mga tainga ko. At kapag nagta-transform ako from being a dwarf at nagiging normal sized na tao, nakahubad ako sa eksena, so kailangan talagang maganda ang katawan ko para hindi nakakahiya.”
So how is it working with Louise? “Masaya kami sa set. First time namin to work together but naging comfortable kami agad sa isa’t isa. Generous siya. Marami siyang baong food sa taping at binibigyan niya ako.”
He admits he doesn’t have a girlfriend now, so is it possible for him to fall for Louise? “Hindi imposible kasi madalas kaming magkasama ngayon and we’re getting to know each other better. But it’s too early at ayoko rin namang sabihing I’m taking advantage. Matagal pa naman ang itatakbo ng aming show, so tingnan na lang natin.”
Both he and Alden Richards are from Sta. Rosa, Laguna. He spoofs Alden in “Bubble Gang” every now and then. Is it true he’s sore at Alden because they went to school together in Canlubang then and it's said he used to bully Alden who, in turn, used to snub him? “Ay, ewan kunsaan galing yan pero hindi po totoo yan. Walang ganun. Nagbabatian kami. When we see each other, nag-uusap kami, nagkukumustahan kasi may common friends kami. In school then, we have a different group of friends. Ako, magugulo mga barkada ko. Sila, mababait, seryosong mag-aral, pero magkakilala naman kami. Magkaibang mundo lang nga kami noon sa school.”
