“I’ve been the breadwinner for five years now and I’m happy to serve my family,” he says. “My dad got sick five years ago and had kidney transplant at di na nakapagtrabaho, so I had to stop my studies at sumabak na ko sa work. Buti na lang nabigyan ako ng magagandang opportunities sa GMA-7, lalo na yung ‘Destiny Rose’ na first lead role ko. Lahat ng earnings ko, I give to my parents and they just give me an allowance for my own needs. I also send my two younger siblings to school. Every week, may accounting sa’kin ang parents ko to show kunsaan napupunta ang kinikita ko. I told them they need not do that, pero okay na raw yun para malinaw ang lahat.”

Would he fall for Barbie in real life? “Matagal ko nang friend si Barbie at hindi siya mahirap mahalin. She’ll be a great partner, on and off screen. Kung magiging kami talaga, hindi ko na siya pakakawalan. Pero kung iba ang magugustuhan niya, hindi ko rin siya pipigilan. Ang importante sa’kin, kung kanino o saan siya magiging masaya.”