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WEDNESDAY
18 October
2006
COVERSTORY
2
BY NIKI CHEONG
SOME guys have all the luck. Okay, so maybeAlvin Daniel Pulga,
Channel [V]s latest videojockey, has the looks, talent and the
confi-dence to succeed as well, but one cant helpbut feel that luck
played a major part inbuilding his entertainment career.
Before you go, What career? We donteven know this guy, take note
that Alvey, ashe is popularly known, is quite the celebrityin the
Philippines, where he comes from.There, Alvey is a celebrated
model, actor andwell, certified heartthrob.
The Canada-born Alvey started his model-ing career about four
years ago when, while
on a trip with his Filipino father back to thelatters hometown
in Luzon in thePhilippines, he was discovered by a talentagent.
Alveys uncle had brought him toManila to show me what the
Philippineshas to offer and boy, did he get a taste allright.
Within the first week of being scouted,Alvey changed his name
from Alvin Pulga toAlvin Alfonso (his agent had told him thatPulga
was too common a name, so he tookon his mothers maiden name
instead). Aweek after that, he was in his first commer-cial and a
month later, got his big break asthe star of a Ponds
commercial.
That commercial declared him thePhilippiness latest
boy-next-door star cute,young and available.
Ive done modeling, acting and emceeing,and Ive guest starred on
daytime televisionsince, Alvey recounted.
Now, his modeling portfolio has extendedacross the world, having
been featured incountries such as Thailand, Malaysia andmany
countries in Europe.
Not a bad start for someone who is only 20
years old.Before the fateful holiday with his father
in Luzon, Alvin was just enjoying life, andperhaps not in the
way many parents wouldapprove off. At that time, he was
studyingkinesiology at the University of Regina atSaskatchewan in
Canada, although he admit-ted that it was more from parental
pressure.
It was one of those things, you know,with Asian families, you go
straight to uni-versity, he said.
But pressured or not, he enjoyed it there.I tried to be cool, go
to as many parties
and meet hot chicks. It was like PR university.I spent a lot of
time at the library... to checkout the talent (referring to the
pretty female
students), he said with a grin.But when he couldnt get into
class (he
was late in submitting his class request sothere was no space
left), he decided to take atrip to the Philippines.
Now, Alvey is the latest addition to theChannel [V] family, a
job he also got bychance. It happened two nights before Alveywas
due to leave Malaysia producers fromthe music TV channel had
spotted him in abar and approached him. The day before heleft, he
went in for a screen test and was toldthat the channel could use
him.
There was an inner battle. Which one wasmore important? I needed
a change afterbeing in Asia for so long. I needed to knowthat the
world is a bigger place, he said.
Alvey decided to go on his pre-plannedjourney of self-discovery
and after threemonths, he came back, ready to take on theworld
again. Good thing his spot at Channel[V] was still waiting for
him.
Im coming in with an open mind, hesaid about his new job. Im
doing this forthe exposure. Its worth so much more thanmoney.
Ladylucks
bestfriend
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WEDNESDAY18 October
2006
COVERSTORY
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Baby boyITS hard to imagine that someone who looks good, acts
cool and well,loves himself, would talk so much about his family.
After all, talkingabout filial love is hardly a studly thing to
do.
But then, Channel [V]s latest video jockey Alvey, is hardly your
aver-age boy-next-door. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada
(Its in
the prairie, I grew up with cowboys!), Alvey hardly fit the
stereotypeof the submissive Asian nor does he fit into the Western
archetypes.
Alveys Filipino mother is an English professor while his
Filipinofather is a retired police officer from the Royal Canadian
MountedPolice (also called a Mountie, an elite Canadian police
force who goaround on horses). This sounds like just some average
trivia aboutsomeones family, until Alvey proudly said: My dad was
only the sec-ond Filipino RCMP, you know.
Alvey speaks fondly of his family, but things werent always so
goodwith them.
My dad and I were not close, it was like he didnt understand
me.But looking back, I wouldnt have liked me either, Alvey
explained.My brother, whos 26, is the person I admire most. Hes the
mostamazing individual smart and articulate. He was the genius,
alwaysgetting straight As, while I was always getting Cs or Bs, he
said with asmile.
Alvey credits his brother as his biggest influence, and the one
who
made him the person he is now.He influenced my style. He
introduced me to music, and my
favourite music genre hip-hop. Hes an amazing guy to mould
your-self after, he said.
Still, Alvey noted that while he misses his family, he doesnt
com-municate with them much while hes away.
Im a terrible keeper-in-toucher, he said with a laugh. I shut
offand focus on whats going on at that certain place, certain time.
ButIve got their full support. Theyre the people I love most in the
world.
ALVEYS PROFILE
Real name: Alvin Daniel PulgaAlso known as: Alvin Alfonso,
Alvey
Date of birth: July 15, 1982Life motto: Youve only got one
life
to live, dont let it pass you by.
Log on to
www.rage.com.m
y to watch a
video clip of Alvey
behind the scenesat the photoshoot
for this article.
