It doesn’t take a crystal ball to figure out the future of fast-rising teen star Elmo Magalona. Performing onstage is almost a birthright for the 16-year-old son of the late master rapper Francis Magalona, who first broke onto the scene with a now-iconic performance of Higante, exuding a quiet confidence while sharing the stage with rock royalty Ely Buendia.
Now out of high school, Elmo is gearing up to take a computer-based course for college, but that’s not before he leaves his mark on the hearts of teenage girls everywhere. With a plethora of Tumblr posts in his honor and thousands of followers on Twitter begging for a re-tweet, Elmo is filling the void of the “tween” market longing for a local idol.
Have we found the local counterpart to Justin Bieber? It may be too early to tell but Elmo is definitely making a good start. With his weekly performances on musical variety show Party Pilipinas always considered a highlight, those waiting to see more of him will soon be satisfied as he tries his hand at acting. With his primetime debut only a few weeks away, Elmo grants The Dialogue his first official photo shoot. And at the rate things are going, we predict this is only the first of many more in the future.
YOUNG STAR: What do you think of Justin Bieber?
ELMO MAGALONA: I think he’s really talented, and it’s cool that he got famous because of posting videos on YouTube! I don’t know why some people call me “the Philippines’ JB,” but I take that as a compliment ‘cause girls dig him!
Who are you closest to in your family?
I’m close to everyone in the family at different levels.
What’s a day in your home like?
The usual, we wake up really early to start the day right, whether there’s school or not. I often just use the computer and check out new stuff online.
You seem like a natural performer. Did you always see yourself doing what you are doing now?
Yes, it’s not like I haven’t done this before. I made commercials back then, and did some plays as well. But I didn’t see myself performing by singing and dancing.
How do you prepare for a performance and what goes through your mind while onstage?
I stay focused. I also try to stay relaxed and hope to do my best. Whenever I perform live I just enjoy what I’m doing.
What song do you sing in the shower?
Right now, it’s Airplanes by B.O.B.
What weird habit or mannerism do you have?
Licking my lips every five to 10 seconds! (Laughs) And I like cracking my knuckles.
When was the last time you laughed like crazy?
I laugh like crazy all the time! I laugh really hard when I’m with my siblings because we like fooling around to the point that we all start tearing up.
Now that you’re outta there, what is the greatest lesson high school life taught you?
I learned that cramming will not get me anywhere. But at the same time I learned that the feeling of procrastination actually makes me work better.
Give us a rundown of what you do when you’re not busy with your showbiz commitments.
When I’m free I hang out with my friends and family. I also like playing video games and play basketball.
Who are you a fan of?
Of course I’m a fan of my father’s. I also like Jay-Z, Common and Nas and I idolize Lebron James.
What type of girl could win your heart?
I like girls who have nice eyes and a pretty smile. And those who like to have fun and have a good sense of humor. Looks don’t really matter because I like girls for their personality.
What dish paves the way to your heart?
I love to eat! My favorite dishes include, for Filipino, adobo; for Japanese, tempura and California maki; and for Italian, pasta and pizza.
What is the sweetest thing you’ve done for a girl?
When I personally greet my followers on Twitter, they say it’s really sweet.
What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
Some don’t know that I’m really shy and quiet because I don’t seem like that whenever I’m onstage.
Who is the most overrated person in the industry?
There are a lot, really, locally and internationally. It’s a mystery to me why they’re there.
What comes to mind when you look at yourself in the mirror?
I sometimes see Papa in me, and I’m thankful that I am blessed with his talents. I also do that to remember him when I perform.
Who is your local celebrity crush?
I like Rhian Ramos. She’s pretty, she’s nice and an all-around-performer. She can sing, dance, act and even host very well.
Who do you follow on Twitter?
I’m following 23 people as of now. My family, my friends, Ubertwitter, and some tech-savvy tweeters.
What website do you visit often?
My browser’s always on because I always have a lot of tabs. (Laughs) I like checking updates on gadgets so I go to engadget.com for that, and crackberry.com for the BlackBerry. Of course I do Facebook, but not much.
Who would you like to collaborate with?
I would’ve loved to record a song with my father. And a collab with Kanye West or Drake would be awesome!
What’s the best advice you got from your dad?
To find something I want to do as my job. To love my friends, my family and my country, and to be considerate of others.
If you ruled the world what’s the first thing you’d do?
Blast the whole world with free Wi-Fi access!
