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The start of my "Artista" Journey

This is my first post here in my blog and I will post something special and personal for you guys, who are reading my posts, to know me more.

Everything started when I enter Star Magic Workshops in Summer of 2013. This is not acting, not even dancing, but singing workshop. Singing is my passion since I was in my elementary years. I was part of Tiples Del Nino Jesus De Malolos, ICONS Choir in high school and Arkipella Mix Ensemble when I was in college. In that case Music or Singing is my life and it made me confident, the more I engages myself into it. In 2013, I was Third year college back then, I challenged myself to join Star Magic Voice workshops, then I asked my parents about it that my goal is to learn techniques and improve myself, but! That's not my only purpose (in which they didn't knew before) hehehe.. I wanted to be discovered and be a star someday.

We were under the really good singers and mentors Mam Jeanelle and Sir Raymond Roldan with my workshop

mates Beb De Lara, Seph Manlapaz, Ruth Brillo, Kathryne Lopez, Trisha Dumlao,Patricia Isabel Almencion,Faye Yupano,Dawn Tagious, Josel De Leon, Nicole Sean Chiang, and Janine Kris Tenoso the singer behind the song "241" from the movie "100 tula para kay Stella"

here's the video of our recital

After the workshop it is the start of awakening the "Artist" within me.I am one of the lucky students to be picked by the staff to audition for Star Magic,but I was not that confident then, so I was not filtered in it. Yet, it is the start

of my "Artista" Journey, they invited me to audition for "Got to believe" the musical teleserye of Kathryne Bernardo And Daniel Padilla, and it was only a night before the audition but, it was one of the happiest birthday present in my life, hahaha you heard it right it was my birthday then! and we only practiced overnight the song "Little Things" by One Direction. In that case we are named as the "Last Minute" boys, literally. hahaha

together with Lloyd Abella, a performer from Master Showman in GMA7 before, and is now a Radio DJ, Jomari Umpa who is a versatile actor and he is also the brother of Jericho Rosales in the teleserye "Magpahanggang Wakas", Kenji Exaltacion, who was starting his singing career just like me before, Christian Bables, the award-winning supporting actor "Barbs" we all know in the award winning movie with Paolo Ballesteros "Die Beautiful" and Seph Manlapaz, who was part of "To the Top" in GMA7. (oh dibaa.. ako nalang nahuhuli saamin :'( hahaha)

After the audition, days have passed and I became a part of the Artist Agency who gave us the audition for the teleserye, and they gave me a screen name "Glen Mercado." There are also other names in the choices (Glen Domingo, Glen Espiritu and Glen Mercado, I also have other surnames from my grandparents in the choices; Alcoriza and Laquindanum) Do you think Glen Mercado is better? haha

Kenji Exaltacion and I received a callback for "Got to believe" but unfortunately I went back to school minutes before I was called to perform, luckily for Kenji he got the role as one of the lead singer in the band "G2B Boys." Yet another opportunity has come and they invited me for a role in the movie to be directed by Jose Javier Reyes as one of the barkada of the lead artist. I got the role but I backed out because of my commitment in school, I regret these opportunities but I think " School is life" and I need to graduate first.

But then, before all of these started, I had my very first Print Ad or Digital Ad in Pambansang.com, a Locale-based company promoting social entrepreneurship thru fashion, culture and heritage, in 2012. With no background in modeling, it enhances my capabilities to be a model and learned to open myself to others and create new bonds and family. And still there for us models 'till the present day.

Joanna Dionisio, Marco Dionisio, and Zette Galicia, Gian Borlongan

you can visit their page on facebook.com/pambansangdatcom

Before I graduated Architecture I auditioned for "HUMAN fashion Show" in the University of Santo Tomas Welcome walk, and it was overwhelming to hear those cheers, claps and shouts aiming at you especially the girls. :)

And it is one of the best experience and my first time to ramp clothes, but the one that I like the most is meeting new people and befriends with the other models.

Check out my ramp in Human Fashion show here (https://www.facebook.com/Glen165/videos/10202593526142745/

Another opportunity has come up after I graduated, and now "School is not life" anymore, I already obtained the degree of BS Architecture in the University of Santo Tomas. A new project comes and it is GLOBE Telecomm digital ad entitled "Sustaining One Globe, Our Globe" as for the first time in a commercial or advertisment and no acting experience i really feel awkward in camera but I really like the experience and it made me pursue this career path and joined different Modeling agencies, Artist Agencies after this project.

You can watch the Digital Ad here

As my passion in this industry has its fire-burning and I regret the opportunities that has come my way. I joined many Artist/Modeling Agencies before the 2-Agency/Exclusive Model rule has come for freelance models before. I joined a lot of go-see and auditions, and all I need is to try and try! as one of my co-models say there will possibly be only 3 projects you will have if you auditioned for a hundred or more. In this industry all we need is to fuel up ourselves and be optimistic, then our time will come.

In the latter part of 2016 I signed a contract under VIVA Artst Agency/ VIVA Modeling Agency and I now I am officially a #VIVAbaby hahahaha as my co-VIVA artist would say.

Recently an opportunity from VIVA has come and they let us undergo VIVA acting workshop and its a blast!

It is under the supervision of Director Jonathan Orano together with my co-VIVA Artists Marah Munoz, Rayshiel Manalo, Angela Tinimbang,Janina Raval, Angela Muhlach, Seirra Briones, Gus Villa, Rj Dela Fuente, Timothy Mcardle, and Vincent Baltazar.

Let see in the next days or weeks on what will happen as my "ARTISTA" journey continues.

Stay connected! on theGdrive.

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