Kelvin Miranda: The next Alden Richards

It’s not right to say that Kelvin Miranda is the “new” Alden Richards because there’s only one Alden Richards. But it’s correct to say that Kelvin Miranda could be the “next” Alden Richards.

If you look closely at their pictures, they do have a certain resemblance. They are both pretty boys with quietly expressive eyes that, perhaps you didn’t know, tell a lot of stories.

Aside from good looks, Kelvin actually has a lot in common with Alden, starting from their humble beginnings and how they, well, “languished” on the sidelines while waiting for the big break and for the “magic wand” to be wield by the powers-that-be. And then Maine Mendoza came into the scene and we all know how she and Alden turned into overnight sensations. Now, the two of them are counting millions. Something “big” has yet to happen to Kelvin.

Alden and Maine auditioned (separately) for the Kapamilya talent search PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) but didn’t make the grade. Then Alden joined the Kapuso talent search StarStruck but didn’t make it to the magic circle, only to beat the winner(s) in the race to stardom. Away from the AlDub tandem, Alden is exploring new ground by starring with Kapamilya Kathryn Bernardo in Star Cinema’s Hello, Love, Goodbye, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and showing nationwide last week of July.

Kelvin went the same way. Two years ago, he did pass the Star Magic audition and was already into workshops when he was dropped due to absences.

”He was disoriented, unfocused,” said Tyrone Escalante who described Kelvin as “nerdy, wearing eyeglasses” when he discovered him. “He was 16 then, from a family whose mom earned a living by hawking breakfast. He’s actually very shy and soft-spoken. But he ‘s really talented. He can sing, dance and act. In school, he acted in plays. His hobbies are drawing, playing the guitar and skateboarding. He plays basketball and volleyball.”

For a while, Kelvin stayed away from showbiz until Tyrone brought him to Kapuso.

“I almost gave up,” admitted Kelvin, 18, “but I’m glad I did not.”

Together with fellow Kapuso Angel Guardian, 20, Kelvin stars in Beauty and the Hypebeast, the second digital short film (after Walang Label) for the GMA Public Affairs’ One Hugot Away series, showing starting today on the network’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The daughter of a Filipino mother and an Israeli father, Angel started in commercials (with Joshua Garcia in the Cornetto ad, etc.). She’s also managed by Tyrone.

Coming after the episode Beki Basketball Beauties (aired on Magpakailanman two Saturdays ago, for which Kelvin and co-star Mart Escudero earned praises for their portrayal as gay basketball players), Beauty and the Hypebeast is the story of senior high school students Cat (Angel) and Joe (Kelvin) who, while belonging to two different cliques, find themselves drawn to each other. Written by James Harvey Estrada and directed by Zig Dulay, it will also air on TV during the commercial gaps of Kapuso Movie Festival and Kara Mia from Monday to Thursday, with the finale on June 6 during the commercial gap of latest K-drama Are You Human?

Beauty and the Hypebeast and the forthcoming movie Dead Kids (directed by Mikhail Red) are so far Kelvin’s big breaks. He has appeared but was barely noticed in several GMA shows (Bubble Gang, Kambal Karibal, Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw, Dear Uge, Tadhana, Ika-5 Utos, etc., and in two episodes (The Bitter Brother and Oh My Ghost) of Maynila hosted by Rep. Lito Atienza) as well as in Star Cinema’s Vince, Kath & James, and Regal Films’ Walwal, Haunted Forest and The Hopeful Romantic.

“I was comfortable working on Beauty and the Hypebeast because I know Angel very well as a friend,” said Kelvin. “Both of us learned a lot from direk Zig during the shoot which lasted from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. the next day. He was mabusisi and explained to us before shooting a scene.”

Understandably, Kelvin dreams of working with Alden someday.

“He’s my idol and role model,” Kelvin said. “Sana marating ko rin ang narating niya.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)