Good things are in store for Ian Batherson, the German-Filipino model-actor who made it to seventh place in StarStruck 5. PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) caught up with Ian last night, March 5, on the first day of Camp Nivea at Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas.

Camp Nivea is a three-day event that teaches teen stars crash courses in modeling, fashion, disc jockeying, and other skills that an entertainer would need. It also teaches them how to be safe while having fun and partying under the summer sun.

NEW NOONTIME SHOW. Ian, who spoke to PEP in Tagalog flavored with a strong foreign accent, said he's making the most of his stay at Punta Fuego because this will be the only rest he will get before his career gets rolling in the next months. Not even Holy Week will give him a chance for another vacation.

Ian will be part of Party Pilipinas, GMA-7's replacement for the now defunct Sunday noontime show SOP.

"Gusto ko talaga umuwi sa Bicol sa Holy Week pero hindi puwede. Marami pa 'kong guestings, and then yung Party Pilipinas, malapit na. So no time to rest, all work. So I will enjoy this vacation while it lasts," he said.

Ian is the only Kapuso talent at the camp where most of the participants come from ABS-CBN, but he said he tries to make friends with everyone.

"Everyone here is comfortable with each other... I'm talking to them naman pero, of course, not as close as... you know? But everyone is so nice here. Everyone is so friendly," he said.

He only coyly laughed when PEP told him he seemed particularly close to former Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition housemate Nicole Uysiuseng. They looked so good together at the Nivea Camp beach party.

But Ian just shrugged, "I'm just having a good time, you know?"

PEP pressed further by asking Ian if he would move to ABS-CBN so he could be with Nicole or his newfound friends. Ian said he will always be loyal to the network that gave him a break.

"I'm pretty happy with GMA kasi binigyan ako ng opportunity," Ian replied. "I didn't get any opportunity from ABS. I got it from GMA, so I should be thankful. Hopefully magkaroon ako ng maraming projects sa GMA. I'm proud to be Kapuso. Well, of course, I respect and I like the other channels here in the Philippines but for now I'm happy with GMA-7."

FAST LEARNER. He will be launched with Party Pilipinas on March 21, and he's been preparing himself for what lies ahead in the new noontime show.

"I'm taking vocal lesons. Although magaling na 'kong maggitara, I want my voice to be really good. Inaayos ko talaga yung Tagalog ko. Gusto ko matanggal yung accent ko," he said.

He spends extra hours at the gym and in doing martial arts to keep his body fit.

"Kung kumain ako nang malakas, nagwo-work out ako. Tapos minsan-minsan, nagko-control ako sa kinakain ko, ganun. I do Muay Thai [a form of kickboxing], you know, a lot of martial arts," he said.