Andres was one of those few proteges who were awarded for their exemplary performance in last week’s acting exercise wherein all the proteges got the chance to act alongside the “Diamond Star” Ms. Maricel Soriano in five short films directed by Cannes Film Festival award-winning director Brillante Mendoza and written by Palanca awardee Floy Quintos.
The 21-year old protege from Metro Manila was awarded as Best Male Protege by Ms. Maricel Soriano and was also chosen by Brillante Mendoza to receive the Breakthrough Performance by an Actor Award.
After the show, Andres was lost for words when he was interviewed backstage about the awards he received.
“Masayang masaya ako kasi actually hindi ko talaga inasahang magkakaroon ako ng award at hindi naman nila sinabi sa amin na meron palang awarding na mangyayari, nalaman lang namin bago mag-gala. Tapos ito biglang may dumating, tapos dalawa pa, kaya talagang napa-wow nalang ako,” said Andres.
Before joining Protege, Andres has already been acting as a professional theater actor. He became a stage performer after he was spotted by a theater director while he was working part-time in a fast food chain. From then on, stage acting has become part of his daily routine.
“Binibigay ko po talaga yung sarili ko sa pag-arte ko. Ang goal ko lang talaga ay mapakita ko yung acting talent ko and maging safe ako sa elimination,” he shared.
Apart from Andres, Elle Ramirez (Mega Manila) also received a special award for Best Female Protege and the Visayas Team for Best in Ensemble Acting.
