Khalil Ramos Has A Wholesome Image But Goes Over The Edge In His Dark Role As A Teenager Searching For His Sexual Identity In '2 Cool 2 B 4Gotten'

KHALIL RAMOS started as a singer in “Pilipinas Got Talent” six years ago, but he’s now more into acting than singing. He has done a lot of soaps like “Princess and I”, “Anna Liza” and now, “A Love to Last”. He has also appeared in a lot of movies: “She’s Dating The Gangster,” “Shake, Rattle & Roll XV,” “Kid Kulafu,” “A Second Chance,” “Honor Thy Father,” “Everything About Her,” “The Achy Breaky Hearts,” “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2” and now, his Cinema One Originals Festival entry “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten” will be shown in theaters on March 15.

“I fell in love with acting kasi,” he says. “But it doesn’t mean I’m neglecting my singing career. I will soon come up with a new album na alternative rock, kasi dati, balladeer ako, and I’m putting up my own rock band.”

He plays an off beat role in “2 Cool 2 B 4Gotten” as a lonely teenager growing up in the 90s in Angeles, Pampanga, who’s searching for his own sexual identity. He then meets in school two Fil-Am Brothers, played by PBB discovery Jameson Blake and balikbayan actor Ethan Salvador. The film is about friendship, coming of age and accepting your sexual preference, with a very dark edge. Didn’t he have any reluctance in playing his role?

“I did, I ask my parents, my handlers about it. But when I read the script pa lang, I like the material na. So I didn’t have to think hard about it. I can’t forever do naman just safe teenybopper roles. So this is a step towards doing more mature and serious roles and I’m glad I got nominated as best actor in Cinema One. It’s an honor. It made me realize that I really want to be recognized as a good actor kahit na playing the character is hard kasi I cannot disengage myself from it, so I have to do meditation and travel.”

The path he seems to be taking is really different since, unlike other young actors, he’s not connected with any permanent ka-love team. “I’m open to be part of a love team, kaya lang, mas puro solo roles ang natatanggap ko, so okay lang. The important thing is I love my craft and I want to keep on learning about doing a lot of other stuff kasi napakalawak ng industry."