This Fil-Am is making waves in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES — Hollywood is the place to be. It sounds all so fancy and wonderful, but it sure takes hard work to get into its business on this side of the planet.

Once you’re in it, there’s no way out. It’s almost equivalent to having a child to take care of for the rest of your life.

I can’t deny that having to smile and look presentable all the time is not the easiest thing to do.

It’s hard to balance our true personality and what people expect of us as celebrities. Often, these people get caught up somewhere in between the roles they play and eventually lose themselves. Trust me, this game is not just all for fun and excitement. It takes hard work just as much as a regular office job does.

Many Filipinos have tried to make an attempt to break into Hollywood, yet very few have made it. It takes so much more than just good looks, pleasant personality, or even talent.

There’s much more this industry is looking for that sometimes we just can’t explain. What keeps it going is the popular line "There’s always someone better than you."

Like I’ve said, Hollywood is the place to be to become known to the world. It’s hard enough being in the Philippines, how much more the US!

One of the few who made a name for himself is Michael Copon, a lovely combination of a Filipino father and a German-American mother.

He was born in Chesapeake, Virginia on Nov. 13, 1982. The way we met was quite amusing. We’ve got a common friend, RD Alba, who is also a writer/director in the US. He has projects lined up for Michael.

Michael and I were introduced last week by RD, right after I got out of LAX airport. We went out for lunch to discuss projects they had in mind.

Michael is very pleasant. There was no hint from him that he’s a Hollywood star. He’s very down-to-earth, with a very good sense of humor. I didn’t feel like I was sitting next to the Blue Power Ranger Lucas on Power Rangers Time Force or Felix of One Tree Hill.

He graduated from Deep Creek High School in 2001. A few months after, he became a part of the Fox Kids Network family where he was cast as Blue Power Ranger Lucas.

Michael was also modeling on the side at that time and, in fact, was named one of People magazine’s "50 Hottest Bachelors" in 2005.

In One Tree Hill, he became even more known as Felix. People knew him as Felix more than anything else.

Michael was part of the TV shows like Scrubs, Reno 911!, That’s So Raven and Even Stevens.

He also appeared in the films All You’ve Got with Ciara (the Hip Hop artist), Elevator and Sideliners.

He is in Orlando, Florida shooting a movie we definitely need to watch out for and will be off to another state to shoot another film which I can’t discuss yet.

I couldn’t feel any better to know that Michael is a very talented Filipino in all aspects.

He also sings and produces music. Michael won in VH1’s celebrity actors and models singing competition But Can They Sing? in 2005 and proved to everyone that he’s not just all looks and acting.

After winning that contest, he began working on a solo album.

Michael has been keeping himself busy with T.K.O. or The Knock Out, a singing group with Brandy and Ray.

I’ve actually heard him sing, and I can honestly say God has blessed him with a beautiful voice.

What more can a man ask for? He has got the looks, talent and an awesome personality. One of the things I admire him most is his love for his siblings. Michael’s younger brother has a condition similar with that of my sibling, Doods.

We talked about these "angels" of ours and how they keep us going day by day. It’s very nice to meet someone very successful, yet who still knows his priorities in life, his family.

I wish him all the best. Hopefully he will come to visit Manila soon. I’ll let you know if he does.

I’d also like to greet Diana Zubiri a happy birthday today!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

(E-mail me at [email protected].)