Aljur bares it all
ight years since winning reality-talent search StarStruck, Aljur Abrenica is no longer a novice to the limelight. A care ully-cra ted career has eased him into the public eye, collecting or the -year-old actor a slew o lead roles, motion picture deals and high-profile endorsements.
ow, Aljur hardly ever displays the inhibitions o a neophyte. He is considerably more confident, more mature and more primed to take on the rigors o showbi .
oming rom a middle-class amily sa Pampanga, tapos nakarating sa Manila, it’s overwhelming to be where am right now, he gushes. ’m very lucky. Ngayon, ’m more excited kung
ano ba talaga ang magiging purpose ng
buhay ko. ’m glad that ’m able to inspire a lot o people.
hooting or his newest primetime soap is a test o his resolve as an actor. or Kambal Sirena which recently premiered on GMA
Primetime), Aljur had to undergo diving lessons and dolphin workshops to breathe li e into his character evin, a wealthy ocean park heir and dolphin trainer.
ntensive training in skin diving, scuba diving and swimming was necessary to cra t his character, says Aljur. or that, the producers tapped ormer actor ess apid r., who helms the underwater training or the entire cast. ess is now a member o the orld nderwater ederation, an international organi ation that runs underwater sport events, scientific research and extensive dive training systems.
He is all praises or his instructor. “Napaka-swerte ko na nakatrabaho ko si ir ess. Alam ko na lahat ngayon ang parts ng
scuba diving. Pinag-aralan ko tala- ga. He gave me opportunities to access everything, to be a licensed diver.
Although his ather taught him basic swimming, Aljur says Kambal Sirena has propelled him to tread just outside his com ort one. His deepest dive so ar Twenty eet.
Taking on the role was a challenge in itsel , but he was more than willing to push himsel in the name o pro essionalism. He also prepared physically using a combination o high-intensity workouts, running, surfing and Mixed Martial Arts including Muay Thai, ujitsu, udo and ickboxing.
My character is like Adam andler
in 50 First Dates. Go with the flow lang, care ree, but he is very dedicated to his
work. Kahit amily niya yung may-ari ng place, he does janitorial work, cleans the a uarium, trains the dolphins. Nag-
se- security guard din siya, kahit di naman kailangan.”
He plays opposite ouise delos eyes who portrays twin characters Perlas a human being with gills behind her ears and Alona a mermaid shrouded in the underwater kingdom o irenadia .
This is Aljur’s first time to be paired with ouise who, likes him, has headlined a number o primetime and a - ternoon soaps on GMA. Personally,
magkaibigan talaga kami ni ouise pero ngayon ko lang siya nakasabayan umarte. he’s very pro essional. he’s very energetic, cheer ul, at sobrang kulit kahit
umaga na sa taping. Nakakahawa yung passion niya or work.
Their amiliarity with each other is due to in large part to being teammates in the unday a - ternoon variety program, Sunday
All Stars.
He says he finds evin particularly challenging to play because his sensible personality in real li e is very di erent rom the happy-golucky persona he is portraying on screen. He also actors in the timing o the project, which came shortly a ter wrapping up his recentlyconcluded primetime starrer, Prinsesa Ng Buhay Ko.
Kambal Sirena was o ered to him in the middle o taping or Prinsesa Ng
Buhay Ko, which aired its finale last anuary. “Yung shi t ng roles, yung distinction or each character, yung e ort na kailangan magbuo ulit ng panibagong character, medyo mahirap yun,” he reasons. till, he is uick to thank GMA or entrusting him with another ambitious production. oining Aljur and ouise in Kambal
Sirena are ynwyn Mar ue , Mike Tan, Polo avales, ich Asuncion and Pancho Magno, and seasoned actors otlot de eon, Gladys eyes, Mickey erriols, Angelika de la ru , Tessie Tomas, ova illa, handa omero and ul ervo. ight years and several accomplishments since his debut in the industry, Aljur wishes to be seen as a serious actor who exemplifies versatility in his cra t. His dream role “Parang en el ashington sa Training Day, mga ganong klaseng movie. Action pero smart. omething na kakaiba.”
He names international stars en el and eonardo i aprio, as well as local legends hristopher de eon and Aga Muhlach as his idols in the business. He also wants to be paired with Heart vangelista sometime in the near uture.
r ylie, he answers boldly. ylie Padilla, Kapuso lead actress and daughter to obin Padilla, is his realli e paramour. haven’t experienced working with a girl riend. hallenging siguro. Natatakot din ako na baka mapasok yung relationship sa work. t’s easier said than done.
There are plenty more things that Aljur wants to accomplish, but or now he admits not having a clear goal in mind. just live in the present, sei ing each day and making every heartbeat count.
very day opens a new door to better himsel and his career. As early as a.m., gising na ako. tart na
ako ng workout. Also, do photography. Doon ko nakita passion ko sa art. Minsan, study my character, or spend uality time with my amily.
hat keeps him grounded is his renewed hristian aith. n describing himsel , thinks or a while and answers matter-o - actly, on o God.