Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Robi Domingo: ‘I think I now have the capacity to act.’ by Napoleon Quintos from ABS-CBN.com

After taking on a guest role last year in My Girl, Robi Domingo is up for a lead role in Your Song Presents: Boystown which will also feature his fellow Gigger Boys Enchong Dee, Dino Imperial, Sam Concepcion, Arron Villaflor, AJ Perez, and Chris Gutierrez. At the story conference of the upcoming weekly drama, Robi exclusively told ABS-CBN.com that despite his nervousness about it, he believes he is finally ready to venture into acting. “The truth is, when I was told I will be in Boystown, naramdaman ko uli ‘yung kaba na naramdaman ko when I was told na I was supposed to do a major role in Underage (the role eventually went to Matt Evans). I asked, ‘Wow! Sigurado ba kayo?’ Ngayon medyo may apprehensions pa rin naman ako. Pero after ng My Girl, nag workshops naman ako, so I think I now have the capacity to act. Not just acting na parang wala lang but really professional and artistic acting.”

From the time he emerged as the crowd favorite and the second Teen Placer in Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus, Robi’s showbiz career has really taken off. He became a Bench image model and the first Filipino endorser of Nokia mobile phones. This Ateneo Health and Science student also became a MYX channel VJ.

In Boystown, Robi will play a character that is very far from his real personality. “I’m Arkin, the rich boy. Seloso siya, sakim sa pagmamahal. Maiingit siya kay Arnel, played by Enchong. May girlfriend ako dito but I take her for granted, like with everything else sa buhay ng character.” The 20-year old talked about how he plans to go about the challenge of portraying a character who, unlike him, had an unhappy childhood and has a lot of angst. “Mukhang mahihirapan nga ako sa paghanap ng paghuhugutan for my character. Siguro kukuha na lang ako from the stress I get from school and showbiz. I will harness all those emotions to portray my character.” But is Robi ready to be perceived by his fans as the troubled Arkin? “Sa tingin ko hindi naman siya dark. May reason lang why he acts that way. Siguro kung magkaka-negative reaction ‘yung mga tao kapag napanood nila, ang sasabihin ko is wait for the ending. Subaybayan niyo ‘yung character ko until the end para makita niyo ‘yung development.”

In a recent appearance on Entertainment Live, Robi revealed that he finally has a non-showbiz girlfriend. But in a later conversation with ABS-CBN.com, this cutie clarified that he is still unattached though he admitted that he goes on casual dates when he has the free time. “I’m seeing someone lang. Pwedeng masabing exclusively dating. The girl, we’re good friends. Hindi naman officially I have a girlfriend. Siguro I’m just a young man who falls in love, goes on dates. Let’s just wait and see kung saan pupunta ‘to.”

credits to :

ABS-CBN.com

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Robi Domingo - The Most Popular PBBTEP Housemate




Although Robi Domingo (The True Blue Atenean) ended up as 2nd Teen Placer in the recently concluded Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus, he is currently the most popular housemate and he’s ready to enter the upcoming love triangle with Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson.

Bio

Full Name: Robert Marion Domingo
Nickname: Robi
Origin:Quezon City
Age: 18
Birth date: Sept 27, 1989
Height: 5′9
School: Ateneo De Manila University
Nationality: Filipino
Favorite cartoon character: Homer Simpson
Favorite subject in school: Religion, Social Studies, Tulong Dunong
Least liked subject in school: English and literature
Favorite sport: Baseball, track and field
Favorite summer/vacation destination: somewhere cold like in Baguio
Hobbies/Interests: Running; playing with younger bro, friends, and family
Ultimate celebrity crush: Elisha Cuthbert

Being a housemate, Robi has to forego his high school graduation and the chance to receive his award for excellence personally. Living up to being a man for others, though, he considers the chance to be a housemate a worthy compromise, not because it may be a claim to fame but as an opportunity to be a good influence to others.Aiming high, he hopes to follow in his father's footsteps and pursue a career in medicine. A member of the baseball varsity and the honor roll as well, it seems all is set for Robi. One thing he can't seem to get the hang of, unfortunately, is his love life. He got dumped both times he tried courting a girl, though he's really persistent in pursuing the second. Too bad they don't teach Courtship (Anti-torpe) 101 in high school.

credits to : Starmometer.com

Robi Domingo reacts on controversies surrounding the MYX VJ Search by Rachelle Siazon from ABS-CBN.com

Joining a reality show such as the MYX VJ Search is like Pinoy Big Brother all over again for ex-teen housemate Robi Domingo. The only difference now is that he becomes self-conscious when in front of the camera. For one, talking to a multitude of viewers takes a while in getting used to especially for a newbie like him in hosting. But as usual, Robi’s sense of purpose once he has set his mind on something drives him to give this competition his best shot.

Nothing will stop him from pursuing his goal to become a VJ even amidst other people’s criticisms. Apparently, there are those who are saying that he shouldn’t have been a part of MYX VJ Search because he doesn’t really need it, that his budding career as an actor/model is already enough. “Iba-iba naman yun eh. Everyone has a right to pursue their dreams right? I want this thing so I'll compete for this thing,” he exclaimed in an interview with ABS-CBN.com yesterday. Once again, his detractors are making a big deal out of his privileged status in life just like what happened during his supposed rivalry with Ejay Falcon in PBB Teen Edition Plus.

“Compared sa kanilang lahat (MYX VJ Search finalists) ako lang ang walang backround sa hosting eh. Sila, to be honest, almost everyone is a DJ and a host there so yun talaga yung profession nila. Ang sa akin lang, yun ang edge ninyo, so ‘eto naman ang sa akin. Kanya-kanya lang ‘yan,” he said in reference to his showbiz stint.

Rather than stressing himself out with those controversies though, the young heartthrob concentrates on accomplishing all the difficult challenges of the competition. “Yung pinag-spiels kami in the middle of Quiapo, I guess yun yung pinakamahirap. Nung na-realize ng mga tao na may shoot kami dun, pinagkumpolan kami dun sa harap mismo ng black Nazarene. Yung MYX staff nahirapan talaga sa pag-control ng crowd. Ang ginagawa ko na lang is to protect my fellow VJ finalists,” he recounted.

The former My Girl star admits that being a witty and natural host is definitely no mean feat. “Mahirap siya sobra lalo na kung impromptu. You have to make your own hirits and birits. Pero the good thing is na-enhance na yung spontaneity ko,” he beams. Add to his oozing charm and dashing looks, Robi is truly giving the other strong contenders a run for their money. “Ayun, I just wish that all my friends and supporters will help me fulfill my dream to become a host like Kuya Luis (Manzano),” who happens to be one of his biggest idols in the industry.

Be the first to get the latest updates on Robi’s by texting ROBI ON to 2366 and get his three text messages for free.

credits : ABS-CBN.com

Robi Domingo talks about the love of his life by Rachelle Siazon from ABS-CBN.com

There was a reason why former Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus housemate Robi Domingo refrained from being romantically involved inside the PBB house; it’s all because of a special girl whom he has been courting for quite some time now. Though he still refuses to give details about this non-showbiz girl, the young actor has been very vocal about his feelings and his determined courtship of her.


During his birthday blowout with the talented kids of BatasanElementary School, ABS-CBN.com asked Robi if one of his birthday wishes was to finally make the girl say “yes” to him. But the certified hottie was quick to clarify that such a crucial decision is out of his hands. “It’s something different kasi eh. Sa mga wishes ko before, talagang alam kong matutupad kasi controlled ko yung circumstances for them to come true. In that case (his courtship of the girl) kasi, paghihirapan yun eh and it doesn’t depend on my wishes alone. The choice is entirely hers to make,” he explained. With his dashing looks and newfound fame, he could easily take his pick from probably hundreds of willing ladies out there. But the self-confessed romantic stressed with a smile, “Hindi, there’s a reason for everything. Let’s just wait and see.”


In the meantime, the birthday celebrant shared his three wishes for himself: to have a soaring career, to become a successful doctor someday, and a very personal wish which he wanted to keep to himself. “Sana lumago pa (his showbiz career), sana hindi lang mainit ngayon kundi kumukulo na sa susunod,” he exclaimed. Robi is still surprised with the fact that a lot of online fans are in awe of him. “Overwhelmed talaga ako kasi it’s a new thing for me kasi. Lagi ko naman sinasabi na sa totoo lang hindi pa (rin) nagsisink in sa ‘kin lahat ng ‘to,” he added.


When prodded about his plans to have his own love team just like what Nicole Uysiuseng and Josef Elizalde have, Robi made some biggest revelations. “Siyempre may mga natitipuhan din ako sa showbiz kaso lang sana matupad yung pinapangarap (kong) makapartner,” he remarked. Having previously revealed Kim Chiu as being his crush, is Robi open to courting a fellow celeb if things don’t work out with the girl he is currently wooing? “I’ll be loyal pero let’s see. Kung ‘di mag-work out, (I’ll) explore the possibilities,” he divulged. Since his ideal girl is “someone who has wit, looks, passion for work, and a striking wow factor,” does he think Kim happens to possess such qualities? “Well kung ano na lang sa tingin ni’yo,” he grinned.


credits : ABS-CBN.com

Monday, April 13, 2009

Robi Domingo feels being responsible isn’t only for grown-ups by Rachelle Siazon from ABS-CBN.com


Can you imagine Robi Domingo becoming a priest instead of the young heartthrob-slash-rising star that he is now? Lots of girls will surely die from heartbreak if it comes to that but such a scenario is not really next to impossible according to the ex-PBB teen housemate. “When I was a kid, dalawa lang ang pinupuntahan ko parati: simbahan at saka school. Sa school naman, makikita mo lang ako sa classroom, cafeteria, and library,” he divulged to ABS-CBN.com.

Though he never wished to become a man of the cloth, most of his trusted mentors in AteneoHigh School used to urge him to enter priesthood. “I was in third year high school nung sinabi nila na pwede ito’ng mabait na bata na ito. Natawa lang ako kasi ‘di ba, bakit nila ako gusto mag-pari, papagalitan ako ng nanay ko. And naii-imagine ko pa si Robi junior eh,” he admitted with a laugh.

No one can deny though that this True Blue Atenista truly upholds good values worthy of his position as youth spokesperson and consultant of Department of Education. But aside from learning how to become a ‘Man for Others’ from his Alma Mater, Robi mainly thanks his parents for his admirable upbringing. “Lumaki ako na marunong maglinis ng bahay. My father wakes me up in the morning to wash the cars. Tinuruan nila kasi kami ni Maro (his younger brother) maging versatile and independent,” he further shared.

Involving him in the household chores though has made him a better person and closer than ever to his family. In fact, living on his own has never crossed his mind as opposed to what the usual teenagers hope to experience once they are old enough to do so. “Gusto magka-apartment on my own? Never. Hindi naman sa ano ha, kasi if you’re living alone, lalo na kung nandyan pa naman parents mo, parang sinasabi mo na hindi ko kayo kailangan. Sa akin kasi dito (sa bahay) ako kumukuha ng strength sa kanila. Sa family talaga nagsisimula or makukuha yung fulfillment ng isang tao,” Robi exclaimed. His parents also served as his role models while growing up to the point that he decided to follow their footsteps in pursuing medicine as a field of career as well.“Sa school nga kung may dissection ng palaka, ako na gumagawa lahat. Pati puso pinaglalaruan ko,” he added.

How come he joined PBB when in fact he can’t wait to practice medicine? “Yung nanay ko pumilit sa akin para makabawi daw ako sa kanya. Actually pangarap daw niya kasi mag-artista,” he quipped. Seriously though, his mom Dr. Mary Ann encouraged him to try out, knowing that he would excel not only in school but even in the world of show business as well. “It’s not easy balancing my time for school and work. Usually sa school na ako nakakapag-aral lalo na nung My Girl na talagang inu-umaga yung tapings. But I won’t give up schooling. Iba pa rin kapag nag-aaral ka kasi mas paniniwalaan ka ng tao, kumbaga meron ka’ng credibility,” he proclaimed.

credits to : ABS-CBN.com

A day in the life of Robi Domingo by Rachelle Siazon from ABS-CBN.com

Sem break has just started and Robi Domingo is happy to share that he did well in his first semester in college despite his newfound career as an actor-model. After his stint in Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus, there have been a lot of changes in his life, including the fact that he can no longer spend his vacation with nothing to worry about. So what is a typical day for Robi these days? How does he spend his spare time? Find out as ABS-CBN.com follows him around for a whole day.

7 to 10 am, AteneoHigh School

After dropping off his brother Maro at school, Robi proceeds to the chapel to hear the daily mass. Then he approaches Father Eli and some students to goof around for a bit before excusing himself from the ABS-CBN.com crew to make a private confession.

Afterwards, he takes ABS-CBN.com on a tour of his favorite hangouts which includes the Campus Ministry Office (where his good friend and teacher Brother Jomari tells us that Robi almost joined the priesthood), the cafeteria, the field where he used to play baseball (his favorite sport), and the “Post” area where misbehaving students are required to stay for hours at a time. Not that Robi has ever been given that particular punishment during his high school days, but he only dropped by to say hi to some of the faculty. His boy-next-door charm has also apparently won over even the typically strict security guards.

But as much as he misses the simple life of a high school student, Robi is happy that he’s past the stage of being trapped in the classroom the whole day, just like the bored HS boys who comically scream his name when we passed by.

10 am to 12 nn, Home Sweet Home

Robi and his family just moved into their all-white dream house in a quiet but peaceful subdivision about a month ago. But his hectic schedule hardly gives him time to enjoy their spacious two-storey house complete with pool. In fact, he didn’t even know that they had an outdoor shower room near the pool area when StarStudio Magazine featured the house in its October issue. And he’s yet to discover the purpose of the understated cupboards upstairs.

No one else is at home when Robi shows ABS-CBN.com the house (even their trusty caretaker Manang had an appointment with a dermatologist). Unlike in their old townhouse, Robi and Maro now have their separate bedrooms. But years of habit and a secret passage through their closets mean Maro often ends up in Robi’s room, using the phone extension there for hours. When his brother takes over the phone and the bed, Robi ends up sleeping on the floor which he says he doesn’t mind.

Robi eagerly plays for us some of his favorite classical and modern songs, including Second Hand Serenade’s “Fall For You” (which he dedicates to his special someone) on the piano and Parokya Ni Edgar’s “Harana” on guitar. Later on, his three pet dogs (a chow-chow, a Maltese, and a mini-pinscher) beg for his attention so he gladly plays with them for a while before set out for lunch.

12 nn to 3 pm, Lunch and shopping at Trinoma

While eating heartily at a Japanese restaurant, Robi shares how his handler Luz Bagalacsa has filled his sem break with lots of activities, events, and special occasions to attend so he needs to pick up some new clothes. After enjoying a filling lunch, Robi orders an Angus burger for takeout (what for, you’ll know as you read on) from an American fast food joint before heading to the Bench boutique where he bumps into former My Girl co-star and fellow Bench endorser Gerald Anderson. The two briefly catch up in between requests of photo-ops from awestruck students before Gerald has to leave. Robi meticulously looks for shirts and sweaters that fit his casual style. He soon makes his way to the cashier but first he gamely mirrors Gerald’s pose in a Bench poster.

3 to 3 pm, Flowers and a burger for Robi’s special gal

“It’s not about the flowers, but the intention,” says Robi after admitting that he hasn’t learned what’s the favorite flower of the girl he’s been courting. This happens to be his first time to send flowers to someone other than his mother, Mary Ann.

Looking excited and nervous at the same time, he looks through the flower shop’s catalog of floral arrangements to see what suits the love of his life whom he describes as the “perfect girl.” But as usual, he remains elusive about her identity and even asks the shop clerk to keep their transaction confidential. He orders half a dozen white roses (to convey his pure intentions and sincerity) to be delivered at the girl’s house together with her favorite food which happens to be the burger Robi bought earlier. Robi believes that the old adage that “the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” also applies to women.

3:30 to 4 pm, Pinoy Big Brother House

Aside from using its convenient reserved parking space, paying homage to the big yellow house has been part of Robi’s routine whenever he’s in the vicinity. “Masarap lang bumalik sa pinanggalingan. Literally, [in-apply ko] yung Filipino saying na,Ang ‘di tumingin sa pinanggalingan ay ‘di makakarating sa paroroonan.’ At saka I promised naman them (PBB staff) na every time I go to ABS-CBN that I’ll pass by here,” he explains. True enough, PBB Operations Manager Billet Sanggalang quips that Robi always makes a pest of himself there. But it’s pretty clear that the staff is happy to see that Robi has stayed the same long after his stint as a teen housemate.

4 to 5:10 pm, ABS-CBN compound

Robi has to record his updated KRing for his KText at the ABS-CBN Interactive offices where he meets the whole ABS-CBN.com. A current MYX VJ finalist, Robi takes the ABS-CBN.com crew to the MYX offices and the ABS-CBN Publishing offices next door. His naturally warm and friendly manner is greeted with smiles by those he meets and even the security guards seem to know him well.

5:10 to 7 pm, fetching his mom

It’s rush hour by the time he picks up his mom Mary Ann from her office at SSS (Social Security System) where she’s a resident doctor. Though she was ready to go home by 4 pm, she didn’t seem to mind that Robi came an hour late. As Robi’s self-confessed number one fan, she gives him her all-out support and understanding when it comes to the demands of the business.

Robi’s mom proudly shares stories about her oldest son as well as the challenges of spending quality time with him and Maro. Arriving home, mom Mary Ann gives ABS-CBN.com a more detailed tour of the house while offering some refreshments and a relaxing chat.

7 to 8 pm, ABS-CBNTalentCenter

Since he wasn’t able to catch his handler at the Star Magic office earlier, Robi returns to ABS-CBN to fix his calendar of activities. Though tired from doing errands the whole day (as he has been doing in previous days), Robi still opens up about matters of the heart and the things he’s willing to do to impress a girl.

Then he switches to serious mode while listening to handler Luz update him about his upcoming engagements. Afterwards, he drops in on an ongoing workshop of Star Circle Batch 16 and some of his ex-housemates Valerie Weignmann, Alex Anselmuccio, and Ejay Falcon.

For the last stop, he brings ABS-CBN.com to the MYX studios where he hopes to be after the MYX VJ Search Finals on October 21. He reveals that he would really feel heartbroken if he loses the chance to be a VJ on his favorite music channel.

8 pm, home again

Robi finally calls it a day and heads home.

credits to :

ABS-CBN.com