Derek dares to be bold

He is the type who would live up to challenges, face all odds and hurdle the toughest task even to the extent of hurting himself.

This what Derek Ramsay is about to prove as he is determined on making good in whatever he does — be it in sports arena or the acting department.

“In everything that I do, I always make it a point to do my best and finish things that  I’ve started until they’re done,” Derek says.

Even a knee injury couldn’t keep Derek away from the sport that gives him a different kind of high every time he is into it. His passion for Frisbee is so intense that he considers the popping out of one of his knees a part of the game. Taking extra care is needed to avoid another serious injury. In fact, he even recently competed for the sport and will be flying to Taiwan on Dec. 6 for the Asian Championship.

“I’m really stubborn. I guess it shows in my personality. I’m the type who doesn’t give up when I know I can do certain things and won’t let good chances to pass,” Derek offers. “I will be competing in the World Championship if I win in the forthcoming competition.”

His knee is supposed to be operated this December but Derek can’t let go of the good opportunities falling his lap these days. One of them is to become part of the cast of ABS-CBN’s primetime dramaserye Maging Sino Ka Man Book 2.

“I used to portray playboy type of roles but this time it’s gonna be different. I have a low profile personality here and it’s a lot challenging,” Derek says.

Televiewers will see Derek away from the Chef Mito character he portrays on the Judy Ann Santos starrer Ysabella or as Machete, the academy trainer on Super Inggo. This time, Derek will breathe life to sculptor named Joaquin on the dramaserye to air starting Dec. 10. He aims to draw some attention from the audience as he will pit dramatic flair with the likes of John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo, Sam Milby, Anne Curtis, Toni Gonzaga, Chin Chin Gutierrez, Phillip Salvador, Angelica Panganiban and Rosanna Roces.

He feels working with John Lloyd and the rest of the cast is a must for him to prepare for the role he deems more challenging than those he has played before. Although Derek undergoes an acting workshop with Beverly Vergel, he still watches some dramatic movies of Piolo Pascual as a way to prepare for the role. A keen observation on how John Lloyd or Sam act is another means to get a tip or two on playing his character well.

But Derek hastens to add he has his own style when in front of the cameras.

“I saw how John Lloyd and Piolo act. They really feel their characters. I’d like to learn from them as I find nothing wrong bettering yourself by trying the way they do,” Derek explains.

This only shows how the boyfriend of Angelica Panganiban takes every work on his shoulders seriously. But who would expect Derek to be busy in front of the limelight than putting to good use the two degrees tucked under his belt?

Derek, who has a British dad and a Filipina mom, completed the marketing course he took up at a US school. He even finished engineering in England. His career started when he appeared on a CloseUp commercial and he later became an MTV VJ and ETK host. He was also seen on Panday which according to Derek opened more TV and movie projects for him.

”Actually I didn’t really plan to become an actor,” Derek says. “All I wanted is to share my ideas in my dad’s company when I graduated. But the plan changed since I started appearing on TV.”