Little brod also rises

MANILA, Philippines - It hasn’t been a year since AJ Muhlach had his acting debut but he has already earned his first career nomination.

The 18-year-old half-brother of one of the country’s biggest stars, Aga Muhlach, is in the running for the Outstanding Breakthrough Performance by An Actor trophy in the 2011 Golden Screen TV Awards of the Entertainment Press Organization. The citation is for his work in BAGETS: Just Got Lucky, the leading teen-oriented weekly series that airs every Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on TV5.

“Super surprised po ako,” says the Viva Artist Agency talent. “Mas comedy po kasi ang BAGETS at hindi masyadong drama na mas pinapansin sa mga awards. Of course, sobrang saya and thankful ko po sa recognition.”

The series’ mix of comedy and drama, which AJ handles with equal ease, may have been a big reason the press group took notice and decided to reward the young actor with their approval, which couldn’t have come at a more perfect time  just when AJ was celebrating, together with the entire BAGETS gang, the renewal of the series for a third season.

It also arrived just weeks after he started working on his next big project  TV5’s upcoming primetime dramaserye P.S. I Love You which is set to premiere tonight. In the series, which is a sequel to the classic hit movie of the same name from 1981, AJ goes full throttle as a dramatic actor and does heavy hitting alongside Gabby Concepcion, who reprises his role from the movie, and Dina Bonnevie.

“I feel so blessed sa lahat ng magagandang projects na nabibigay sa akin kahit baguhan pa lang ako,” AJ says. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng mga nagtitiwala at sa mga fans na sumusuporta sa akin.”