DEREK Ramsay is officially presented by GMA Network at a special solo presscon to announce that he is now a certified Kapuso. “I’m excited to work with GMA,” he says. “It’s been a secret I’ve been keeping for several months. I’m glad it’s now finally out in the open. This is actually where I started so I’m just coming back. I started as a co-host in ‘Eat Bulaga’. My experience there helped me gain confidence to be in front of the camera and face a lot of people. Since then, ang dami nang nangyari but I think I’m the same me, who prefers wearing chinelas, sando and board shorts. But I’ve also become more mature in that I’m more serious with my craft as an actor. I’m like a sponge ready to absorb everything.”
Derek came to the presscon with his mother, his manager Jojie Dingcong and his inamorata, Joanne Villablanca. GMA has prepared a special video presentation for him, with several Kapuso stars welcoming him, including Gabby Concepcion, Dennis Trillo, Dingdong Dantes, John Estrada, Jennylyn Mercado, Tom Rodriguez, Heart Evangelista, Ai Ai de las Alas, Lovi Poe, Rhian Ramos, Carla Abellana, his ex-GF Solenn Heussaff, and Kiray Celis who was paired with him in Regal Entertainment’s ‘Love is Blind’.
He says his contract with TV5 expired early last year yet. “Matagal na. GMA patiently waited for me. I didn’t work for about 7 months since my mind is set on being a professional golfer. John Estrada and I represented our country in an international golf competition in Cleveland, Ohio and it’s a wonderful feeling to win for your country. I just want to thank GMA for being patient in waiting until I’m prepared na maging Kapuso. I asked people working with GMA about it and lahat sila’y tinanong ko, very positive ang sinabi sa’kin. Na siyang saktong feelings ko ngayong Kapuso na rin ako. Actually, it’s my parents who urged me without my asking them, you should do it, go to GMA. And I always listen to my parents.”
His first project as a Kapuso will be “The Better Woman” and they’ll start taping on April 10. “They pitched it to me and when I read the script, I liked it. It’s a daring drama, quite risky, as my character makes a mistake in his relationship and everything is messed up. I really asked myself, what would I do if this would happen to me in real life? How would I handle it? I wouldn’t like to reveal too much and pre-empt the show. Basta I welcome the challenge of the very intense material which is about love and lust, obsession and jealousy. I feel it’s the best vehicle for me as I start with GMA. I will be working with Andrea Torres at nag-click agad kami. Her role is very demanding and there will be sexy moments for us, but we trust our director, Mark de la Cruz, na maitatawid namin ito nang maayos. Ako, I promise I will give everything I can and put my 200 percent in every project that GMA will assign to me. I’m also doing movies for GMA Films and I’m looking forward to that.”
