The sweet taste of celebrity

He may be out of the Academy, but Kristoffer Abrenica is not about to leave the limelight in haste. The sixth evictee of ABS-CBN reality search Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) has his hands full with shows, giving him the sweet taste of being a celebrity.

The third year college Accounting student of Red River College has put on hold his studies to join the search which made him work doubly hard back in Canada as data entry clerk and supermarket staff to save money for travel fare to San Francisco where the PDA audition was held.

Although the 20-year-old Kristoffer did not succeed to become a Star Dreamer, clinching a vampire role in Super Inggo is one thing he didn’t expect to bag. His mind is just focused on making a mark in the music scene. He got his music inclination from teacher assistant dad Virgilio and pre-school teacher mom Clarita.

"Music is really my passion but God has a different plan and I believe He is showing me I can act," he says.

After all, there are actors like Sam Milby who made it big in acting than in singing and Kristoffer is hoping to achieve even half the former’s luck.

Kristoffer’s stay in the Academy has armed him with knowledge useful in stepping to another level of carving a niche in showbiz like mingling with different kinds of people, harnessing his skills, discovering his limitations and finding out his weaknesses. He admits his singing needs some improvement while he excels in playing the piano.

"Master Jim (Paredes) taught us life’s lessons and how to be different so you will leave a mark on the audience, while teacher Moy (Ortiz) shared techniques in singing and proper breathing during our voice lessons," the Mark Anthony Fernandez lookalike says.

Teachers Maribeth (Bichara) and Gretchen (Malalad) were a great help, too.

Co-scholar Davey Langit, with whom Kristoffer became close, taught the latter how to play the guitar.

"My stint in the Academy was not only about music but about friendships I made among the scholars," he says.

He enjoyed being with the group of Chad, Ronnie and Jay-R as he learned how to cook his favorite food adobo and became the group’s taga-palengke.

Even if Kristoffer’s eviction cut short his bonding with the scholars and his chance of enhancing his skills, Kristoffer left the Academy without a heavy heart.

"My heart is already prepared for whatever will happen and the experience has made me a better person," he says.

It was also in the Academy where Kristoffer composed songs like Let Me, Crush, Ang Pag-Ibig Ko, Brighter Day and You Complete Me. He considers Stevie Wonder and John Legend his musical influences and looks forward to meeting Search for a Star in a Million grand champion Kris Lawrence.

Among the remaining scholars, Yvan Lambatan is his top choice to become the grand winner on Dec. 16, the scholar’s graduation day set at the Araneta Coliseum.

"Yvan for me personifies a Star Dreamer. He sings, dances and plays the musical instruments well," he says.

Kristoffer plans to put up his waffle franchise in Sucat, Parañaque and will let his relatives manage the business.

Aside from Super Inggo and mall shows, Kristoffer will soon be seen on Let’s Go as he started taping in Boracay recently.

With all those projects coming Kristoffer’s way, he can never ask for more.