All About Fred, Joaqui and Matt

SOURCE: The Journal Group Article Written by Mario Bautista

WE got to interview the evicted PBB male teens and they all seem to have a bright future in showbiz.

The first thing you notice with Fred Payawan is his perfect set of pearly teeth, ideal for being a CloseUp model. He turned 17 on March 12 and stands 5'11".

Like Aldred Gatchalian, Fred is the second of three kids. They live in Merville, Paranaque City. He'll be a high school senior this June at Colegio San Agustin, where Fernando Poe Jr.'s daughter Lovi is his classmate and good friend.

"When her dad died, I went to the wake in Sto. Domingo," he recalled.

Fred is an officer in his military training class, which is not surprising since his dad is a colonel at the Air Force and a pilot. He said he has always been athletic.

He plays basketball, swims, and is into judo and karate. Last year, he started working out in the gym. What prompted him to get into bodybuilding?

"There's a gym near our place and I want to improve my physique. Kasi, ang tangkad ko, pero ang payat-payat ko."

What will he take up in college?

"Entrepreneurship. I'm a goal-oriented person and I want to have my own business someday."

What are his memorable experiences in PBB?

"When I won a watch in a contest na ipinagawa sa amin ni Kuya. Also, our exposure there gave us instant fame. When I go out in public now, nakikilala na ako ng ibang tao."

At 17, he has never had a girlfriend. "Hanggang MU [mutual understanding] lang. Pero 'yung seryoso, wala pa talaga."

But inside Kuya's house, he admitted Nina Atienza was his crush.

"That's true. But it's best if we'd just be friends muna. Nagkasama na kami sa six-day workshop na ibinigay ng ABS-CBN sa group naming mga naunang na-evict and there's a proposal na bigyan kami ng show, lahat kaming 14 housemates sa PBB Teen Edition. People say we have good chemistry ni Nina, kasi pareho kaming mataas. She's 5'7". As it is, nakapag-guest na kami together sa ilang show, like Gudtaym and Wowowee. I can sing, but when I join showbiz, I want to be known better as a dramatic actor."

JOAQUIN Mendoza replaced Aldred in PBB Teen Edition.

Unlike Aldred who comes from a poor family, Joaqui is from one that's well-to-do. His dad is the vice president of a trucking company and his mom has her own businesses.

He recently finished high school at Colegio San Agustin and, this month, he'll be taking up AB Communication Arts at Ateneo, which is too far from their place in Better Living, Paranaque. The eldest of four kids, he is turning 18 on Sept. 18. He is a taekwondo blackbelter.

Many people were shocked when he announced that he has had 25 girlfriends.

"Medyo eksaherado ang dating as most of them, MU lang naman and not serious," he said. "I was just instructed to say that on the video they took of me. Nagmukha tuloy nagyayabang ang dating ko."

Is he aware that's the impression most people have of him?

"Yes, marami'ng akala, mayabang ako. But once they get to know me better, they realize that I'm not like that naman."

Some quarters thought he was being too "sosyal" when he refused to eat inside Kuya's house.

"That happened only once when I over-ate the previous day and I said, magda-diet muna ako. But it was misunderstood that I didn't want to eat, kasi ang ulam namin then is tuyo lang. But I did eat it when Kuya asked me to do so. Pinalaman ko pa nga sa bread."

He got a high total of 14 votes when he was nominated for eviction, compared to his colleagues who got only three votes each. This is said to be a sign that his housemates don't like him. Did he feel bad about it?

"No. I have no hard feelings. I must admit hirap ako nu'ng una to adjust, as I came in so late as Aldred's replacement and they already knew each other well by then. But during my last few days, I think I got along fine with them naman. Ayos lang sa akin kahit ni-nominate nila ako."

Said to be a lookalike of Seiko Films star Michael Locsin, does he really want to join showbiz?

"I want to give it a try. I've done some TV commercials, so gusto ko namang sumubok ng TV show. I want to be paired with Shaina Magdayao."

A LOT of viewers were surprised when curly-haired Mathew "Matt" Nicolas Evans was evicted since most of his housemates like him for being so "maasikaso."

Matt, like PBBTE Big Four finalist Gerald Anderson, has an American father. But unlike Gerald who lives with his dad in Gen. Santos City, Matt has never seen his father, a soldier named Talmadge Evans whom his mom met in Okinawa, where Matt was conceived. His mom has another son by a Japanese and a third one by Matt's Pinoy stepdad.

In spite of what Matt has gone through, there is no bitterness in his heart. He loves his mom so much and believes it was her misfortune that she loved two guys who didn't love her well in return. It's his dream to one day meet his dad.

"Nasasabik akong makita siya at makasama," he said.

Matt grew up in poverty and just graduated from a public school, Quirino High. He doesn't have any money for college, so he started working while still in school.

"Gusto ko talagang makatulong sa family ko, kaya nagsimula akong mag-extra-extra sa shows ng ABS," he says. "I also appeared in one scene in D' Lucky Ones, when Sandara Park enters a moviehouse and I'm one of the viewers there. Nakuha rin akong assistant sa crowd control sa shows ng ABS, then someone suggested na mag-audition ako sa PBB at pinalad naman akong makuha. Ang four-week stay ko sa loob ng bahay ni Kuya ang isa sa most memorable experiences sa buong buhay ko."

In Kuya's house, he was paired with Olyn Membian and ABS now plans to develop their loveteam.

But well-meaning writers advised Olyn to lose weight as she's a bit plump, while Matt is quite skinny so he needs to gain some pounds.

"Para maging mas bagay kayo sa isa't isa," they said.