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LUIS ALANDY :: THE ACCIDENTAL ACTOR 1 TVs prime time drama actor on life and love 1 Published in Youngstar Magazine October 2002
You know him best for his character Clarence in Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggang. With his soulful brown eyes and boy-next-door appeal, it’s no wonder that 22-year-old Adrian Luis Alandy, better known to the public as Luis Alandy, has caught the attention of millions of Filipino audiences all over the country. While anyone with his looks, height (he stands 5’10”) and talent accompanied by a successful soap opera and guest roles in different drama series might let it get into his head, Lusis Alandy proves that despite a skyrocketing career in show business he remains candid, down to earth, carefree, even somewhat sentimental.
Luis Alandy in three words: “Three words? Um…simple. What else? Friendly and, ah…what’s the other word?” After a long pause, he finally comes up with a word. “And I’m serious,” he says, though the way he laughingly said this makes one think twice. As the interview wore on, he remembered that “…one of the three words that I’d describe myself as is sincere. I am sincere.”
On his character, Clarence Cristobal in Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggang: “Clarence was once a suitor of Claudine Baretto in the show, but now, I’m with Matet de Leon. Very silent siya. Not naman really the silent type, but, you know, speaks whenever he needs to. Something like that. My character there is parang…martir type na guy. A family guy, a very like me guy,” he says, chuckling. When asked in what ways he is like his character, he replied, “Well, one is, very martir pag dating sa love.” Awww.
Fated to be in the business? “It wasn’t really my choice to be in show business, it was my cousin’s choice,” he recalls. “So he asked me if I could join him audition for the other channel, then ayun, fortunately, ako yung nakuha, instead of my cousin,” laughing as he relates the story. Fate? “Yeah…I started off from there, and right now, ayun, swerte, swerte.”
Claim to Fame: While Luis admits to catching and holding the public’s attention with his character Clarence in Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggang. He believes that what earned him respect from his senior colleagues, was his stint in the pilot episodes of Pangako Sa ‘Yo, where Luis played the role of David, part of a love triangle also composed of Kristine (Hermosa) and Jericho (Rosales). “Dun ako nakilala, e,” he explains. “Dun nakita nung mga (producers) – ‘may potential pala siya,’ or ‘he has talent,’ something like that.”
TV or Movies? “Both…masarap gawin both, (though) mostly, nasa TV ako,” he said, “But I got to experience pano yung sa movies. I did a movie before with Judy Ann Santos (entitled) May Pag-Ibig Pa Kaya. It’s also with Matet. It’s not my first movie, though, but it (was my) first lead role.” It doesn’t matter to Luis whether he’s doing movies or TV shows, though he does prefer that his projects fall under the drama genre. “More on the drama type ako.” Luis shares that more often than not, people take him for the serious, dramatic type. When asked why, he replied, “Ewan ko…it’s in my eyes daw.”
On show business: Luis has worked in show business since 1997 and is now on his fourth year in the industry. He started with GMA 7 where he stayed for two years before transferring to ABS-CBN, where he has been working for two years already up to the present. What does Luis love about being in the business? “Well…ah, the money,” he replied, chuckling. Turning serious, he said, “One is, of course, you learn a lot. Of course, you have to work hard for what you’re earning.” Getting to know other people are also, according to Luis, are among the ups of being in showbiz. “…Maraming nakikilalang friends.” Apparently, Luis has a lot of close friends from the business. When asked to name a few, he replied, “Raffy (Rafael Roselle)…a, who else, I have a lot, e. There’s too many,” he said, sheepishly. “Sa show namin, sila Claudine (Baretto), Matet (de Leon), Jericho (Rosales), Carlos (Agassi).” Making people feel by what he does are also part of the ups of show business. “Yung, pag napapatawa or napapaiyak mo sila (the audience) in what you do, in what they see sa TV.”
Smiles, handshakes, autographs and photos: It didn’t take long for Luis to be recognized by the public. So how does he deal with it? With utmost humility, of course! “When people recognize you, you say hi or you smile at them…it’s a big thing to them,” he says knowingly. “Kasi kung wala naman sila, wala ka rin e, so if you get noticed just return the favor: say hi, smile at them. Wala naman, you don’t have to be, like, feeling artista talaga na di ka mamamansin. You don’t have to be like that. I mean, personally, me, hindi ako ganun.” Has he been asked for his authograph? “Yeah, a lot. And pictures din. And handshakes,” he added, chuckling. Does he like it? “Yeah, yeah,” he replied enthusiastically. “I mean, I make them happy! I give a smile to their faces, so yun…that’s the good thing about it.”
What’s a regular day like in Luis Alandy’s life? “If I don’t have work, when I wake up, I just go to the gym, tapos in the afternoon, I hook up with friends, or just eat outside, play basketball minsan, or watch movies,” says Luis. Also somewhat of a mallrat, when his schedule isn’t so packed, Luis likes to hang out at the mall.
A boring person? “I’m not the type of person na lumalabas-labas talaga every night, pero, minsan talaga, lumalabas ako. I don’t drink and I don’t smoke, so that makes me a boring person, as they say,” he said, laughing.
Reading people: Before Luis chose to forego of his college ducation to pursue a career in show business, he was a student at San Sebastian College. “At first I was taking up psychology, and I transferred to management, but I’m planning to go back to psychology because it’s more interesting – the study of behavior of people…yung kung pano sila kumilos, yung mga gestures nila, you would know if a person is sincere…Yun, that’s one of the three words that I’d describe myself as is sincere. I am sincere.”
If you can’t find him on the set, you just might want to try a.) the basketball court or b.) the kitchen. If he weren’s an actor, Luis may either be a basketball player or a restaurant owner. Luis prides himself for excelling in basketball, his favorite sport. “Recently I won the co-MVP (title) for the star olypics,” he shares enthusiastically, his face lighting up. “It’s my first year to join and champion kami…My first year of joining and I won the MVP…so that’s a big thing for me.” But if you can’t find him playing ball on the court, during his down time, try looking for him in the kitchen, as Luis considers cooking as one of his all-time favorite hobbies. “I cook. Pwede na nga ako mag-asawa, eh,” he says kiddingly. “’Di, joke,” quickly taking it back. Not wanting to let his cooking skills go to waste, Luis plans to venture into the food business in the near future with his friends. “I just don’t know what kind of food (business) yet. I’ve been talking to friends, but they’re still in school, so, wala pang plans,” he said. “Right now, I earn para mag-venture into that (business)…nagsasave ako for that.” Though he takes his present work seriously, it might not be too far off into the future that Luis might just open a restaurant, so watch out for that.
What a girl wants to know. Does Luis have a special girl right now? “I don’t have any (girlfriend) right now.” Then, making a doleful face, he whimpered, “Awwww, I’m sad.” He muses over what he just said. “Minsan talaga, nakakalungkot,” he says, sharing his sentiments about what it’s like to be single. “I was in a six-year relationship once and after the six-year relationship, I was in a one-year-and-a-half relationship so, sometimes, you get used to your being with someone. Right now, it’s my first (time to be single). I haven’t been in any relationship for like, three months, so…” his voice trailing off. “But I’m getting used to it, being single and all, and enjoy naman siya…dating,” Luis said, laughing out loud. So what kind of girl does Luis go for: Good girls or bad girls? “Good girls,” he said without missing a beat. “I’m the (kind who’s) looking for the serious type of relationship.” And how does he deifne serious? “Ummm…long term? Not like you’re going to get married, but you’re serious to each other, you don’t date other guys.” Very exclusive, indeed.
Loving one’s work: Ten years from now, where would we see Luis Alandy? “Still on TV, sana movies, winning an award,” he said, laughing as he toyed with the idea. Utterly content, Luis intends to stay in the business for a long time. “I love the work, I love what I’m doing right now,” he shares passionately. “That’s the most important thing – loving your work. If you love your work, your work will love you back.”
© Valerie V. Mayuga, 2005
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On missing his family,
friends and dealing with being down: