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| May 18 |
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| Diether Ocampo The heartthrob of Asia. A definite heartthrob with a sense of humor. SHOW BIZ heartthrob Diether Ocampo doesn't mind being called "stingy," when he refuses to buy signature brands. The actor is considered one of the best-dressed young stars in tinseltown. Yet, surprisingly, Diether doesn't go for expensive attire. "I'll wear anything that's nice and comfy, as long as they look good on me," he tells Inquirer in an interview at his bachelor's pad in San Juan. "I don't have to wear an Armani all the time just because it's a signature brand. I also don't want to waste my money on brand names." In the US, he goes to the outlet stores for bargain buys. In Hong Kong, he can even get a decent wardrobe from the night market. Celebrity endorser A much sought-after celebrity endorser, Diether relies on his sponsors like Bench, Country Classic Shoes and Adidas to dress him up. Killer Loop even provides him with those hip shades. "I go for smart-casual clothes," Diether says. "I like wearing jeans and shirts when I go out of the house, especially if there are no formal events to go to. I go for plain black or white. That's a lot easier to match so I don't take up too much time trying to figure out what to wear." The young actor is noted for his fashion sense. Yet, he claims he is on his own when it comes to dressing up. For formal wear, he goes to designers Randy Ortiz and Paul Cabral (Filipino designers). In his pad, Diether keeps a separate room for his clothes. He has two racks full of jackets, long-sleeve shirts and other casual attire, which he can no longer accommodate in his closet. Neatly arranged on the floor are his more than 50 pairs of shoes. He goes for Italian brands, most of which are supplied by Country Classic. Pairs of rollerblades and ice skates are gathering dust in one corner. "Before I could still use them," Diether rues. "But now, I hardly have time to go roller-blading or ice skating." Because of his perennially busy schedule, Diether complains he doesn't even have free time for himself. He plays basketball and goes swimming. He also dabbles in photography and used to take up classical guitar lessons at the Yamaha School of Music. But all those activities have taken a backseat to his steadily rising show biz career. The biggest trade-off of his career, however, is his education. Diether was a second year physical therapy student at De La Salle University in Dasmarinas, Cavite, when he was bitten by the show biz bug. Physical therapy He says it was his grandmother, who urged him to take up physical therapy. After all, he comes from a family of doctors. His last name is Pascual. It was ABS-CBN Talent Center director Johnny Manahan, who advised him to use Ocampo, his mom's maiden name. "I regret that I wasn't able to finish college when I entered show biz," says Diether. "But an opportunity like this comes only once." The eldest child in a brood of three, Diether describes himself as a reluctant actor. He never imagined himself acting before the cameras. When he was in college, he got interested in music. He formed a garage band with his campus friends and played alternative rock. But it took acting workshops with Peque Gallaga (film director) to hone Diether's talent, before he became an actor. Today, after four years in show biz, Diether, who's turning 24 in July, is happy about the way his career is turning out. "Everything I planned to achieve, I was able to do in less than five years, which was the original timetable," he says. He credits director Johnny Manahan and ABS-CBN for his flourishing career. He has also been handled by resident ABS-CBN directors "They were the ones who motivated me to take up acting seriously," Diether says. Comfortable lifestyle His show biz earnings are apparently more than enough for him to maintain a comfortable lifestyle and provide a better life for his family. To date, he has purchased a townhouse for his mom, who moved from Cavite to Quezon City, Philippines. He is also thinking about buying a bigger house for himself. "Four years ago, when I moved to this place, I thought the space was big enough for me," Diether says. "But now, I find it so cramped because of the things I've been getting. Hopefully, I can get my own townhouse soon." From TV, Diether has made a smooth transition to the movies. He has appeared in a number of big screen blockbusters, including one with Maricel Soriano in "Soltera." He was also in the stellar lineup of other films like "Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita," "Bakit Pa," "Mula sa Puso," "Calvento Files," "Magandang Hatinggabi" and "G-mik: The Movie." Like any other actor, Diether aspires to have his launching movie. An acting award is not too much to ask for, too, he says. But he is biding his time. And biding it well. After all, he believes patience is his greatest virtue. Given more good breaks, he is well on his way to his ultimate goal. News
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