Sure, we’ve all watched him grow into one of the most exciting young leading men around, but there’s so much more to this crush-worthy guy than meets the eye. For example, you’d be surprised that he and Oscar winning actress Whoopi Goldberg share a connection.
Well…sort of.
“I sang in a black gospel choir. It was an unforgettable experience. Singing in different churches in South Side, Chicago was life-changing. It felt magical,” the half-Italian hottie shared with us.
Alright, so maybe the whole Whoopi/Sister Act 2 connection is a bit of a stretch. Still, it’s one of those fun facts that spell out just how f-r-e-s-h this h-u-n-k can be. “I like being adventurous, trying out new things, and just going all out.”
While it’s no secret that the 23-year-old has always been the athletic type, he admits that the kick he gets from triathlons is just one of the craziest things he craves. “Training non-stop and racing in Hawaii for the world championships. That, I would say, was over the top.”
But don’t think that it’s all get-up-and-go 24/7 for the heartthrob one hundred percent of the time, though. “There are those lazy days where you just want to sit and do nothing. I like being around nature, with animals and trees, fresh air. Basically, the outdoors. I also watch a lot of movies.”
See? Despite that matinee idol veneer, Matteo could totally be part of your own barkada! That is, if your barkada was made up of insanely talented, handsome, fun-loving men who have more than 900, 000 Twitter followers. Dreams can come true! Don’t lose hope!
Seriously though, friends and family naturally take priority in his downtime, and Matteo especially credits his mom for helping him stay centered. “My mother taught me the best strategy to deal with negativity is to always focus on things that I should be thankful for and not lose my sense of humor.”
Go ahead, ladies. Feel free to swoon after reading that statement. Grounded and good-looking? Plus, he admits that “mother knows best”. Can you say “total package”? No wonder he’s so in demand.
Speaking of which, Matteo was recently chosen as the first ever endorser of Mentos in the Philippines, and 2014 will be all about discovering what helps Matteo “live fresh”. He makes it crystal clear that the bottom line is to just surprise yourself, in anything and everything. And we mean everything.
“I usually train 3 to 4 times a week. Or there are times where I switch it up and just go to the gym, boxing and other intense workouts to keep everything fresh.”
Matteo also applies the Mentos “live fresh” philosophy in his work. “Every project I would consider challenging. When something is challenging, that alone keeps me motivated, just like learning a whole new language, Tagalog. It wasn’t easy but I had to if I wanted to stay in the industry.”
And as it turns out, challenging and celebrating his sense of curiosity has played such a huge role in Matteo’s growth. “Learning the history and culture behind people and places, eating rather exotic food, or even picking up a few phrases from a foreign language are things that help me become more creative as an actor.”
With all the success he’s enjoyed, Matteo makes sure to pay it forward too and shares that “giving time and energy wholeheartedly, cheerfully, and joyfully to an advocacy close to the heart is a source of great fulfillment.” (Ahem. Feeling a little weak in the knees again, girls?)
For someone so young who’s already experienced an enviable level of success, Matteo still knows there’s always room for improvement. “Continue learning every day” is on top of his resolutions this year. “Every year we grow older and as time passes we learn and become more knowledgeable about life. That’s what really excites me.”
And that, dear friends, is how you know for sure that this is one fresh-faced heartthrob who’s in it for the long haul. The world would be a better place with more men like him around. All we need to do now is find some way to clone him. Visit http://www.facebook.com/MentosPhilippines to catch more exciting stuff from Matteo and Mentos soon!
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