Three More New GMA Heartthrobs: Rafa Siguion Reyna, Gab De Leon, Vince Velasco

HERE’S THE continuation of our report on the new heartthrobs of GMA-7. After Lance Serrano, the other newcomers are Gab de Leon, Vince Velasco and Rafa Siguion Reyna. They’re now all taking acting workshops to hone their acting skills.

Rafa has appeared in a bit role in “Rhodora X”. He also won in the Wild Card edition of Celebrity Dance Battle so he is still competing this Saturday in the TV5 dance show.

He plays his first full length role as Rick, the henchman of Jay Manalo in “Nino”. He’s also doing his first movie, the Cinemalaya entry “Hari ng Tondo”, written by his own mom, Bibeth Orteza, and directed by his dad, Carlitos Siguion Reyna. Robert Arevalo plays the title role and he co-stars with his first cousin, Cris Villonco, along with Eric Quizon, Aiza Seguerra, Audie Gemora, Ali Sotto, Ciara Sotto, Gian Magdangal, Lui Manansala and Menggie Cobarrubias.


Born on July 25, 1991, Rafa says he and his family live with their grandma, actress-singer-producer Armida Siguion Reyna, who’s now 84 years old. “I was surprised when someone wrote na sinabi ko raw na she has Alzheimer’s Disease at wala nang nakikilala. That’s not true at all. May nagsulat din, Rafa ready na for M2M (man to man) love scenes when I said it will depend on the role, the project and the director. Hindi ko naman basta gagawin yun.”

Gab has tried acting before in “Teen Gen”. When the show ended, he finished his photography course at the College of St. Benilde then went into theatre acting. Doesn’t he feel pressured having Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong, both accomplished thespians, as his parents? “No, I don’t feel any pressure,” he says. “They’re both very supportive of me. I think it’s even an advantage to have accomplished parents like them. But I want to be recognized as my own person. I’m very serious about the craft of acting.”

While he’s with GMA, he says his sister Mariel is now taking acting workshops with ABS-CBN. Born on Sept. 8, 1992, he says he has a non-showbiz girlfriend. “She’s a blogger and two and a half years na kami.”

Vince Velasco is the son of ANC Sportscaster Bill Velasco. He tried going into basketball but he says his real love is to be an ‘artista’. Born on January 23, 1991, he has finished communications psychology at the Ateneo and did small roles in “Genesis” and “Akin Pa Rin ang Bukas”. But he was first noticed as the gay lover of Victor Basa in “My Husband’s Lover”. How did his family react to his playing a gay role?

“Okay naman sa kanila, basta sabi nila, kung saan ka masaya, doon ka,” he says.

He’s now in the cast of “Cain at Abel” with Aljur Abrenica and Alden Richards, directed by Adolph Alix Jr. Given the chance, he wants to be paired with Aljur’s ex, Kylie Padilla.