“I really have so much to be thankful for,” he says at the solo presscon hosted for him at Limbaga77 by “Moonlight Over Baler” producer Rex Tiri of T Rex Productions. “Kasisimula pa lang ng bagong taon, ang daming trabaho. Very positive ang lahat and I enjoy being so busy. Maglalabas din ako ng first recording ko, yung single na ‘Cool Change’.”
He considers “Moonlight in Baler” as a milestone in his career. “First time ko kasi gumanap sa dual roles. When the story starts noong World War II, isa akong sundalo, si Nestor, na pinadala sa giyera. Nangako akong babalik sa girlfriend kong si Fidela, played by Sophie Albert, pero sa kasamaang palad, hindi na ako nakabalik pa. Tapos, several years later, nang tumanda na si Fidela and now played by Elizabeth Oropesa, nakita niya ang boyfriend niyang si Nestor na nabuhay sa akin. This time, isa naman akong Japanese photographer, si Kenji, na napadpad sa kanilang bayan sa Baler. Naging good friends kami at natsismis kami, but I was really more attracted to another local lass, si Ellen Adarna as Aurora, na nililigawan naman ng anak ng mayor, si Abel Estanislao, who beat me up dahil nagselos sa akin.”What’s the challenge of doing dual roles? “Mahirap. The biggest challenge is dapat, ma-distinguish ng viewers ang difference sa characters na pino-portray mo. As Nestor the soldier, mas matigas ako, hindi nagpapakita ng takot kahit nanganganib ang buhay niya. Si Kenji is more of a happy go lucky surfer and is more into arts. Magkaiba rin ang pagsasalita nila. Maraming magagandang eksena sa movie and I think nagawa ko naman nang maayos lahat ng ito with the help of Direk Gil.”
The movie’s screenwriter, Eric Ramos, says he delivered in his two roles in “Moonlight Over Baler”. “Magaling siya. Effortless ang acting niya at very credible.”No wonder some folks say he’s now more popular and a bigger star than his older brother, Aljur Abrenica, who has yet to recover after he rebelled against GMA-7 and whose acting continues to be criticized for lack of conviction. Aljur has long been wanting to get into ABS but Vin has since overtaken him and is now a bonafide Kapamilya. But Vin remains very humble. When asked who’s handsomer between him and his elder brother, he says: “Siya. Ever since naman, mas guwapo siya sa’kin. Pang-boy next door type siya, e. And while we’re growing up, siya talaga ang mahilig mag-showbiz, kumakanta, sumasayaw. Late bloomer ako. 16 years old na ako nang una kong kumanta at late na ko pumasok sa acting. But now, wala akong tigil sa pagkuha ng acting workshops sa ABS advanced acting classes under Direk Rahyan Carlos. After that, I’ll take the Master Class. Kailangan talagang mag-aral nang mag-aral para mas mag-improve ang nalalaman natin.”