Enzo Pineda: 1st Prince on the rise

Enzo Pineda may not have won the coveted title of Ultimate Male Sole Survivor in the recently concluded “StarStruck V,” but from the fans’ screams and cheers on him during the Kapuso celebration of the Panaad Festival last March 20 at the SM City Bacolod and Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, it felt that he was the “sole winner.”

According to him, it was an unexpected reception from the Negrense fans. Their energy was inspiring not only for him but also his “StarStruck V” colleagues with him during the Panaad Festival – Sarah Lahbati, Diva Montelaba, Roco Nacino and Sef Cadayona.

“It’s flattering to have such warm reception from them,” said Enzo in Filipino.

So has he gotten over with not winning the “Ultimate Male Sole Survivor” title?

“Well, I didn’t get frustrated after I didn’t win. The important thing is that I was able to show what I can do and stand out as Enzo. Reaching the finals only meant that I was worth a shot in showbiz,” he replied.

Unlike other young actors who pursued their dream as actors while they were still kids, Enzo can be called a late bloomer. According to him he was only able to amass enough confidence to try out showbiz when he was already in college. And this eventually led to him auditioning and being accepted in the Final 14 of the recently concluded “StarStruck V.”

Looking back he added that he regretted not reaching his dream when he was still in high school or even elementary by joining a dance troupe or a theater guild. For him, he was very lucky and grateful to have parents who gave their utmost support to his showbiz endeavor.

“It has always been my personal goal to be an actor. My parents have businesses and I know they also want me to be a businessman someday. But I want to focus now with my showbiz career. I want to work hard and prove myself,” he explained.

Though the whole “StarStruck V” was a training field for all of the Final 14 competitors, honing his skills didn’t stop there. All the Top 5 winners were given a week-long workshop in acting with no other than one of the country’s most respected dramatic actresses, Ms. Gina Alajar. And he learned a lot from her as he discovered more that he really wants to be a dramatic actor!

“From the workshop, I discovered that acting is one long and tedious process… I really want to portray different roles especially not ordinary roles like a super hero in a ‘telefantasya.’ Of course we all want to play lead roles but I like to portray different characters… when we started in our workshops, I fell in love more with acting,” he exclaimed.

The challenge for him is to portray his roles well and make his audience or viewers feel his emotions with his “real acting.” Though he has made a name for himself as a dancer, Enzo sees himself as an actor. With regards to singing, it is a remote possibility but a talent he would like to excel in too someday.

At the moment, Enzo is in GMA-7’s newest Sunday variety show “Party Pilipinas” with the rest of “StarStruck V’s” Top 5 finalists and a few other members of the Final 14.

“I’m really thankful with the blessings I’m getting so far… the only difference with my not winning is not getting the money and the title. Like what the judges said, the real challenge lies after ‘StarStruck.’ And for me that’s true because right now we have different career plans. It’s up to us where we want to go with our careers. It’s up to us to get to be stars and the network and GMA Artist Center are here to guide us and give us the opportunities,” Enzo remarked.

With his drive and passion in acting, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we see Enzo in more GMA-7 shows because he is a “StarStruck V’s” 1st Prince ON THE RISE!

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StarStruck V finalist Enzo Pineda: "I don't want to be overconfident, but I want to be the next Ultimate Survivor."

Si Enzo Pineda ang ine-expect na makakakuha ng pinakamataas na text votes among the StarStruck V contenders dahil sa sinasabing siya ang pinakamayaman sa kanilang lahat bilang anak ni Eric Pineda, ang business manager ni Manny Pacquiao. Pero surprisingly, nang i-reveal ang accumulated text votes ng Final 6 for nine weeks last Sunday, February 14, ay napakalaki ng lamang ni Steven Silva sa kanyang mga kalaban. Pumangalawa si Diva Montelaba at pangatlo lang si Enzo.



Ganunpaman, masaya pa rin si Enzo dahil nakasama siya sa Final 5, kasama sina Steven, Diva, Rocco Nacino at Sarah Lahbati. Pero kabado rin daw siya dahil ilang araw na lang at Final Judgment na nila sa Araneta Coliseum.



"Excited at the same time, enjoy na lang din po kami rito sa StarStruck. Pero siyempre po, hindi mawawala ang kaba kapag Final Judgment na. Pero of course, we have to do our best. It's the Final 5. We all deserve to be here, so we all have to prove ourselves to be the next Ultimate Survivors," sabi ni Enzo nang makausap siya ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) sa presscon para sa Final 5 ng StarStruck V last Monday, February 15.



Four months din daw ang itinagal ng kumpetisyon nila sa StarStruck V.



"For me, noong pumasok ako sa StarStruck, very positive akong tao," ani Enzo. "At the same time, mas naging strong ako as a person to handle intriga. I have so much to prove sa mga tao. Again, yung family ko, sinasabi na mayaman ako. Pero yun ang point dun, e, yun ang challenge ko rito sa StarStruck. Yun ang hirap na pinagdadaanan ko."



Feeling niya ba, naging hindrance pa sa kanya ang katotohanang mayaman ang pamilya niya kaya may tendency ang viewers to favor yung mas wala kesa sa kanya?



"For me, it's not a hindrance kasi ito pa ang nagpu-push sa akin to prove harder. At saka nakita naman po ng mga tao, yung votes ni Steven, 540,000 plus, at yung sa akin, 370,000 plus. So, obvious po na hindi ko ginagamit ang pera ng pamilya ko to be here in StarStruck," saad ni Enzo.



Pero ngayong malapit na ang Final Judgment, gagamitin na ba niya kung anumang resources meron ang pamilya niya?



"Of course, hindi ko po maiiwasan na tulungan ako ng family ko. Not just sa text voting na namimigay ng pera. Of course, nagte-text ang mommy ko. Kahit yung dad ko, masakit na nga raw ang daliri kaka-text niya!" natatawang sabi ni Enzo.



OFFERING HIMSELF TO PEOPLE. Ano ang mga nabago sa kanya since he joined StarStruck V?



"Nabago in the sense na marami po akong taong na-inspire. Yun naman po ang habol ko, e. I love performing. I love inspiring other people and, for me, I did a good job in doing that. I'm here not because of fame, fortune, money. I'm here because I love to work and this is my passion.



"At the same time, this is the best opportunity to improve myself. Kumbaga, ang priest, ino-offer niya ang sarili niya sa altar. Ako, as a performer, I offer myself sa stage to inspire other people and share God-given talent," saad ng 19-year-old StarStruck survivor.



Sa palagay ba niya, siya ang tatanghaling Ultimate Male Survivor?



"I don't want to be overconfident, but I want to be the next Ultimate Survivor and I believe in myself," sagot ni Enzo. "Hindi ko ine-expect na nandun ako, mananalo ako, but I want to the next. Nandun ang gutom ko to be the next... Pero at the same time, my goal doesn't end there. After ng StarStruck, marami pa pong challenges na darating and I'm looking forward to that."



Kung hindi man daw siya ang palaring manalo, he will always consider being in StarStruck as a blessing.



"I will still gonna feel blessed. Good opportunity, nag-improve ako, so parang what more can you expect? Ang dami mo nang na-receive, sobrang dami mo nang blessing na nakuha. And at the same time, you don't have to win this competition to be the next Ultimate Survivor. At the same time, nandito ka na, so i-prove mo na talaga na ikaw talaga ang Ultimate Survivor."



Ano ang edge niya sa mga kalaban niyang sina Steven Silva at Enzo Pineda.



"For me, my edge is my personality," sagot niya. "Ang talent naman po, nandiyan. Lahat naman po ng tao may talento. Pero it's how you use it. It's your personality. Maraming tao na talentado ngayon, pero sinasayang lang nila ang talents nila. So, it's an ongoing process."



ENZO'S CHOICE. Sina Marky Cielo at Aljur Abrenica ang idols ni Enzo among the StarStruck graduates.



"For me, sina Marky at Aljur, halos pantay lang po sila. Magaling silang umarte, at the same time, si Aljur marunong kumanta. Si Marky naman, magaling sumayaw. Very successful sila," sabi ni Enzo.


Si Sarah Lahbati naman ang choice ni Enzo na maging Ultimate Female Survivor. Idagdag pa rito na very vocal din ang binata sa kanyang admiration for Sarah.



"Of course, gusto ko siya," pag-amin niya. "Start pa lang ng StarStruck, sinabi ko nang gusto ko siya. Of course, nagkailangan kami and nagkaroon ng problems before. Pero now, friends muna. But yun nga, gusto ko siya. So, step by step. For me, masaya siya dahil friends kami. Pero hindi po namin iniisip yung mga ligawan for now."

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