Nash Aguas, 21, practically grew up in the public eye.
He was six years old when he emerged the first grand "kid questor" of Star Circle Kid Quest in 2004, and subsequently was among the pioneer batch of kiddie stars in Goin' Bulilit in 2005.
Now, Nash is the young heartthrob on ABS-CBN's primetime series A Soldier's Heart playing the role of the hunky soldier Pvt. Michael "Striker" Mendoza.
Time flies so fast in showbiz that in the blink of an eye, without even his fans noticing, he has cast off his child star skin.
Wholly transformed, Nash in fact has been baring his adult flesh, literally, as seen for the first time in his September 2019 Instagram post.
The post drew surprised reactions from his followers, like, "Binata na si Nash!"
The young Kapamilya actor, however, has mixed feelings about his fans' reaction.
He told PEP.ph (Philippines Entertainment Portal) last February 4, "In a way, medyo weird kasi parang, 'Ngayon niyo lang nalaman? Twenty one na ako, legal na legal na ako. Nakakatuwa kasi ang hirap din umalis dun sa Going Bulilit image, so nakakatuwa na ganun na yung reaction nila."
In this exclusive interview, Nash also shared how he achieved his fit body beginning with the training he underwent for the series A Soldier's Heart.
He said he completed the three-day Soldier Skills Orientation Training at the First Scout Ranger Regiment in Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan, on August 9, 2019.
Nash related, "Wala, yun talaga. Gusto ko na nga mag-start pero at that time, kaya siguro ganun ako kapayat kasi yun yung kakatapos lang ng training namin...
"Yung three-day training sa AFP. Kakalabas ko lang nun and talagang binatak talaga kami dun.
"Kumbaga, inakyat namin yung mga hindi inaakyat, yung buhat namin dun mga 20 kilos na rucksak 'tapos may baril, may bala. 'Tapos kailangang mag-jog pataas ng bundok.
"So parang three hours naming ginawa yun and dun ako na-exercise talaga."
Inspired by the training, Nash has been leading an active lifestyle.
He told PEP.ph, "Ever since, parang naging lifestyle ko na rin in a way na gusto kong laging tumatakbo or something. Gusto kong maging active."
NASH AGUAS'S SCOUT RANGER TRAINING
In his Instagram post dated August 11, 2019, Nash bared the hardships he bore during the training.
Published as is, Nash wrote, "MAHIRAP is an understatement to describe the training both physically and mentally.
"Physically mahirap dahil sa mga physical training tulad ng mag rappel ka sa 40ft tower, mag marcha ka sa bundok ng may 15kg na bag plus rifle, patrolling (simulation ng engkwentro sa kalaban) etc.
"Ang pinaka pahinga mo yung Mase-mase (military exercise) at tusok ulo.
"Mentally mahirap dahil swerte ka na pag may dalawang oras na tulog ka, matutulog ka sa putik habang umuulan, paparusahan ka kahit wala kang kasalanan, nung nilagnat ako ang sagot Mase-mase.
"Kumakain kami ng sampung bilang ng nakadapa, tapos nung nahulog yung pagkain ko sa putik pinakain sakin yun."
Nash revealed he didn't think he could go on and wanted to quit as soon he started.
He said in his post, "FIRST NIGHT mag quit na talaga ako to the point na tumakas ako para makatulog sa may bubong at makatawag sa bahay namin na sunduin na nila ako.
"Sa isip ko, 'bakit ba ako nag volunteer?' hindi naman ako masel masel para kayanin lahat ng matitinding physical activities. Kapag tinuloy ko papatayin ko lang sarili ko."
But then, he was pacified by a sergeant who told him it was all just normal training for soldier.
The actor further wrote, "Kinausap ako nila Sergeant, na itong 'MAHIRAP' na ginawa namin, ito yung 'NORMAL' na buhay ng sundalo natin.
"Pag ikaw, nasa giyera, limited pagkain mo nalaglag yung sayo, aarte ka at magpapakagutom?
"Pag pinutukan ka ng kalaban kailangan mo dumapa eh ang natapat sayo tae ng kalabaw, magpapabaril ka kasi kadiri?
"Kaya lagi nila sinasabi sakin 'Positive thinking' lagi. Seeing the good in every shitty situation you are in (minsan literal).
"Ang main point ng training is tatanggalin nila lahat ng civilian ways mo, pride, kaartehan, ego etc. tapos ibi-build ka nila to be a better person.
"Dahil dun at dahil na rin sa mga nakakwentuhang kong sundalo na kasama namin sa klase, na nagkwento ng kani-kanilang buhay, KINAYA ko."
Toward the end of his post, Nash saluted the men in uniform and their vocation to make sacrifices for love of country and its people.
He wrote, "Wala pa po sa kalingkingan ang ginawa namin pero napaka-laki po nang naging epekto nito sa buhay namin.
"Habang buhay ko po babaunin lahat ng aral na itinuro samin ng ating mga sundalo."
"Hindi po kaming mga artista ang dapat mga fans, hindi po kami dapat iniidolo, kayo pong mga sundalo ang tunay na idol dahil sa panahon ngayon tayo mismong mga pilipino nag aaway away naghihilahan pababa,kayong mga sundalo ang may nag aalab na pagmamahal sa mga pilipino at sa ating bansa.
"Saludo po kami sa inyo."