Showbiz newcomer RJ Padilla is Robin Padilla’s nephew and Daniel Padilla’s half brother. He is the son of Rommel Padilla, elder brother of Robin and Bebe Gandanghari.
Recently, the 24 year-old kapuso actor astounded the audience at a regional show in Batangas City when he unexpectedly took his shirt off in the middle of his production number. Members of the audience screamed at the sight of RJ’s – take note — six pack abs!
In an interview after the event, RJ revealed that he did not plan to flaunt his chiselled torso but when he saw how encouraging the audience was, he decided to push his limits further and gave them one hell of a show!
Asked whether it won’t bother him to be branded as the “Justin Beiber of the Philippines” after his “going shirtless” act, he brushed off the idea saying that his half brother, Daniel Padilla, is better suited for the title.
“Masarap yung feeling na maraming nagulat [sa ginawa ko] kasi dati akong payat: nag-umpisa ako na 113 lbs. lang ang timbang ko kaya malaking achievement din na makuha ko yung 135 lbs. na weight ko ngayon,” said RJ.
The young actor started serious workout when he was 20.
“Nag-we-weights ako tapos training, Yaw-Yan (Filipino style of kickboxing) at Muay Thai, so disiplina talaga. Masarap yung feeling na yung mga paghihirap ko ay [nagkakaroon ng bunga],” he shared.
Despite RJ’s display of confidence and machismo on stage, he admitted that he was actually quite nervous about the act. “Kung napansin [nila] yung jacket ko umaagos ang pawis ko sa kaba. Kasi ‘pag ganun ka rami yung crowd kailangan maiangat ko yung energy nila, kailangan lahat gawin ko para mabuhay sila,” he confessed.
A lucky audience member also went home with RJ’s necklace and a kiss on the cheek, while another one with the actor’s tank top.
“Basta mapasaya ko ang mga tao, OK sa akin,” declared RJ.
RJ is one of the stars of “With A Smile.” He feels blessed to be given such a big break by GMA Network, which gave him the opportunity to act alongside lead stars Christian Bautista, Mikael Daez and Andrea Torres. RJ is also one of the final 10 new members (or ‘Bagong Gang’) of the longest running gag show in the Philippines, “Bubble Gang.”
“Napakasarap ng pakiramdam,” shared RJ. “Nagpapasalamat nga ako sa Diyos kasi napaka-laking blessing para sa akin na makasama ko ang mga magagaling na artista katulad nina Mikael Daez, Andrea Torres, Christian Bautista, Direk Louie Ignacio, etc. Thankful ako na napabilang ako sa cast ng ‘With A Smile.’”
