Contrary to popular belief, we showbiz writers don’t want to intimidate the people we interview. Moreover, we don’t want to make them cry. Crying subjects unsettle me. One upcoming actress confessed that she felt so nervous that she cried after I simply asked her where she got the fabulous necklace she was wearing. In some interviews, when I feel the subject is intimidated, I tell them in jest they don’t have to cry.
That’s why it’s a breath of fresh air that upcoming personality Maru Delgado asked me to interview him. As in straightforward told me that he wants to me to do a feature on him. Maybe he didn’t have anything better to do that day, or he was acting on a dare, but this was only one of the few times that a young newbie requested for an interview.
For those who do not know, Maru Delgado is one of the new Hashtags of It’s Showtime on ABS-CBN. He is seen daily in the noontime show cavorting and gyrating the latest dance steps. Recently, he was asked to join the group veterans as one of the regular hosts of the online version of Tawag ng Tanghalan. As an interviewee, Maru was honest and courteous. He relayed to me how at such a young age, he’s always wanted to join showbiz. That’s why years ago, Maru immediately grabbed the chance when he was asked to audition for Protégé, a reality talent search on GMA.
He was at the mall at the time and didn’t have any plans, so he lined up, filled in some forms and made it to the semifinals. With that stint, Maru was introduced to a number of showbiz insiders and one thing led to another. He saw himself auditioning to the other side via Star Magic, where he made it and is now part of the active roster of the talent agency of ABS-CBN.
Nothing much was happening to his career at ABS-CBN in the beginning, so he dabbled in commercial and ramp modeling. Then he got a call inviting him to audition to make up the new batch of Hashtags. He danced, sang, acted and did all sorts of things, and after a number of grueling auditions, he made it to Batch 2 of the kilig ambassadors.
Right now, Maru is on cloud nine as he gets to be part of the world he once only dreamed of. But he’s not one to rest on his laurels. Maru thinks that being part of the Hashtags will only open more opportunities for him to realize his ultimate dream: to become a dramatic character actor in the mold of Christopher de Leon.
In fact, asked about his dream role, he said he would want to play a psychotic killer or some other dramatic and dark role he thinks he could sink his teeth into. While everything seems to be coming up rosy for Maru, he knows that he has to work hard to achieve everything he wants to. Personally, I think he would make it in the long run. You know why? He is dauntless, as evidenced by him wanting to have an interview with me. But after our chat, it’s now the other way around with me wanting to interview him again. Maru is like a drug—our interview gave me a taste, and now I want more.
****
THE worldwide search for the next big Original Pilipino Music love song is back with Himig Handog 2017. A total of 10 songs made it to this year’s competition out of almost 7,000 entries from Filipinos all over the world. In Himig Handog tradition, these compositions will be interpreted by some of today’s hottest local artists.
This year’s interpreters include Jake Zyrus for Agatha Morallos’ entry “Bagyo”, Migz Haleco for Eric de Leon’s “Bes”, Inigo Pascual featuring Aikee for Michael “Aikee” Aplacador’s “Extensyon”, Morissette for LJ Manzano and Joan Da’s “Naririnig Mo Ba?” and Jona for Raizo Chabeldin and Biv De Vera’s “Sampu”.
Also doing their unique renditions are Unit 406 for Gabriel Tagadtad’s “Tanghaling Tapat”, Kyla and Jason Dy for Soc Villanueva’s “Tayo na Lang Kasi”, Kaye Cal for Karl Gaurano and Teodoro Katigbak’s “The Labo Song”, Moira for Libertine Amistoso’s “Titibo-Tibo” and Janella Salvador for Karlo Zabala’s “Wow na Feelings”. The songwriter with the best composition gets the grand prize worth a whopping P1 million in cash. Runners-up also get exciting prizes: P500,000 cash prize (second place), P200,000 (third place), P150,000 (fourth place) and P100,000 (fifth place).
Digital copies of this year’s Himig Handog song finalists are now available for download and streaming online, and lyric videos may be viewed via the StarMusic channel on YouTube. The album is out in record stores nationwide.
Catch the Himig Handog 2017 grand finals on ASAP on November 26.