Body Talk with the point and shooting guard of Benilde Blazers
The charming face of Ray Rogil Benedict Carlos, best known as Prince, is a familiar sight. We have seen this eye-candy in a Milo commercial at age 12, and in the advertisements of PLDT, Jollibee, Jack N’ Jill Fun-o Roundwich, and Wilkins at 14. And around that time, he has also captured the hearts of many a teenage girl as one of the Top 20 Candy Cuties. Today, the 18-year-old Prince goes back in front of the camera as one of the influencers of KFC and Lazada.
But before his adorable bedimpled smile landed on print and on TV, his father, a basketball fan, introduced him to the sport as a budding basketball player in a sports clinic. He brought the young Prince to watch games with him, enrolled him in summer trainings, and encouraged him to participate in village and school athletic leagues.
Upon observing the first-grader Prince while playing with the grassroots team of De La Salle-Santiago Zobel (DLSZ), one of the coaches encouraged him to try out for the varsity team. He made it. Since then, he has been an athlete all through high school, graduating with the titles of Most Valuable Player, Athlete of the Year, and the Most Outstanding Player in DLSZ under his name.
Currently taking up Human Resource Management (HRM) Program at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), Prince continues to show his skills as the point and shooting guard and one of the star players of the official varsity team, the Benilde Blazers. Recently, he was the youngest athlete to ever play at the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) DLeague at age 18 and was also hailed and is the current title-holder of the Hanes One-On-One King of the Hard Court.
Prince confessed that his father’s interest and hobby had greatly influenced his current path. He further shared that these early exposures made him love the sport and allowed him to pursue his long-term dream — to become a professional basketball athlete.
While he reigns in the ring or captures hearts on print and screen, at home, he is the humble and lovable bunso of a close-knit family. He is a self-confessed clingy Mama’s Boy who loves to put his arms around her, and a cute younger brother who binge-watches thrillers and television series with his sister in an away-from-home studio-type unit they share in Manila.
His parents have been supportive with his sport, advertisement stints, and his growing fanbase. It is quite obvious that this young heartthrob has what it takes to join the show business. He, in fact, is open to the idea of entering the industry. His interest lies in portraying a bad-boy-turned-good-boy character with none other than his dream leading lady, Liza Soberano.
The spotlight of the star-studded world may be tempting and blinding. But for now, Prince has his eyes focused on the main goal of becoming a professional athlete. “I would do everything to achieve my dreams and I am really working hard for it,” he beamed.
Prince stands 5’11; weighs 158 lbs.; and wears medium-size shirts and size-11 basketball shoes and size-10 casual shoes.
How do you keep yourself in tip-top shape?
“Work-out! (Laughs) Super disciplined ako when it comes to working out kasi conscious ako sa body ko, feeling ko payat ako, e.”
How’s your diet? What’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
“For breakfast: crispy bacon, well-done sunny-side up eggs, garlic rice, and fresh milk! For lunch: roasted chicken with rice, plus orange juice. For dinner: vegetables like kare-kare or sinigang. Hindi ako pihikan sa food, e. Matakaw ako; lahat kinakain ko kahit chips or junk food! (Laughs) We train every day so na-bu-burn din ‘yung mga kinakain ko.”
Favorite food?
“Medium rare steak!”
Where does a “Prince” eat?
“Holy Grail and Samgyupsalamat!”
Snacks?
“Fries with milktea! Favorite ko ‘yung cheese and sour cream ng Potato Corner, plus wintermelon tea ng Gong Cha.”
How much water do you take per day?
“Marami akong iniinom tuwing training so siguro more than 10 glasses a day.”
What workout do you do?
“I go to the gym thrice a week and iba-iba ang work-out na ginagawa ko, eh. For example this day, I’ll work on the legs and then the next day core naman.”
What part of your body needs improvement?
“Pwet? (Laughs) Wala akong pwet, eh!”
What part of your body is your favorite?
“My six-pack abs! Favorite din nila ‘to, eh!” (Giggles)
What part of a girl’s body do you notice first?
“Eyes! Tingin sa taas!” (Laughs)
What turns you on and off in a girl?
“On if very caring and off if maarte like sensitive sa environment na pupuntahan or sa food na kakainin.”
How much sleep do you get per night?
“Six hours.”
How many pillows do you sleep with?
“Three!”
Favorite sleepwear?
“Shirt and pajamas.”
Do you snore?
“Hindi.”
Do you talk in your sleep?
“Hindi.”
Do you sleepwalk?
“Hindi! Nakakatakot naman.”
Do you ever sleep in the nude?
“Never pa but I want to try.”
Last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
“Pray. I thank Him for the blessings, of course, and guidance — guidance for the family and for the girlfriend!” (Giggles)
First thing that you do as soon as you wake up?
“Check my phone and then stretch!”
When did you lose your innocence?
“Ay hindi pa! Strict si mommy, eh!” (Laughs)
Preferences: an older woman, younger woman or a woman your age?
“Woman my age.”
Lights on or lights off?
“On.”
How’s your love life?
“Going strong!”
If you were to describe your love life as an ice cream, what would it be?
“Vanilla — simple pero masarap!”
How’s your sex life?
“Wala pa po, grabe, a!”
And your night life?
“Party with my friends kapag walang training. I go to BGC with my high school friends. If we have training, I sleep at 9 p.m.”
How do you cope with stress?
“Pray talaga. I always pray. Kapag na-stressed ako sa kalagitnaan ng game, nagdadasal ako — oo, pwede ‘yun!”
Outlook in life?
“Do your best and God will do the rest.”
Using only body language, how would you make a woman know that you admire her?
“Akbay or smile. Ganun ‘yung ginawa ko sa girlfriend ko. We actually have common friends and they introduced us to each other.”
Do you think you have a killer smile?
“Yes! (Laughs) Joyful ako, laging naka-smile at laging happy. Happy dapat lagi, enjoy life!”
Are you naughty or nice?
“I’m nice!”
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)