Ang tanging purpose lang ng pagpunta sa Pilipinas ng Brazilian model na si Bruno Folster ay para lamang sa isang photo shoot at ilang modeling assignments. But two years have passed at hanggang ngayon ay nandito pa rin siya.
Sey nga ni Bruno, masyado siyang na-in love sa ating bansa kaya nakalimutan na niyang umuwi sa sarili niyang bansa.
Born in Sao Paolo, Brazil , Bruno Folster (Bruno Pantaroto in real life) started modeling at the age of 16. Hindi naman kataka-taka na maging isang male model si Bruno dahil sa magandang pangangatawan niya at facial features. He is, afterall, a combination of Brazilian, Italian, German and Spanish blood.
Sa edad niya ngayon na 21 years old, Bruno has appeared in various TV commercials, print ads, billboards, fashion spreads and runway shows for different designers all over the globe.
"I've done modeling jobs in Italy, Japan , Thailand , Hong Kong , China and here in the Philippines. It is only here in Manila that I stayed for such a long time. Why I decided to stay? Because I love the people here. I love the working here with my friends.
"Some people ask me why I like it here whereas a lot of Filipinos are wanting to leave the country. I simply say that I have this certain connection with the country. I feel very much at home here. And there is so much to see in this country. Would you believe that I don't get bothered by the traffic here? It's one of the reasons why I stay because there's so much character in this country," mahaba munang simula ni Bruno nang makausap na ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) sa informal presscon na inihanda ng TV5 for their primetime shows sa Mario's restaurant in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, noong Friday, August 15. Bruno is in the show Hush Hush.
WANTING TO GO TO BORACAY. Kung meron nga raw na gustong puntahan si Bruno, ito ay ang Boracay Island . Sa dalawang taon niyang nakatira sa ating bansa, lagi na lang daw hindi natutuloy ang pagpunta niya sa isa sa pinakasikat na tropical beach sa buong mundo.
"It's so funny because I'm living here for the past two years but I haven't been to Boracay," tawa pa niya. "I've been hearing great stories about Boracay from other tourists and I am always eager to go.
"But my chances to go to Boracay have always been cancelled because of work. I've cancelled my Boracay trip twice because a modeling project suddenly comes up. I can't afford to not do my work, so I have to rebook and eventually cancel. Hopefully, I would be able to go just as soon as my schedule is free."
PILIPINO IN TWO YEARS. Ang nakakagulat pa kay Bruno ay marunong na itong magsalita at makaintindi ng Tagalog. Sabi nga niya na sa dalawang taon daw na pamamalagi niya rito ay natuto din siyang magsalita dahil sa mga nakakatrabaho niya at sa mga naging mga kaibigan niya.
"When I arrived here, I speak very little English. I only spoke Portuguese, Spanish and a little French. I need someone to translate Tagalog for me. Pero ngayon, marunong na ako," sabay tawa niya.
"I tried reading local newspapers, magazines, and tabloids. I practiced it by myself at first. There are similar words in the Spanish language that are also in Tagalog. Kaya madali ng konti.
"I want to enroll in a language school to further hone my Tagalog speaking skills. I want to work with more people here and I don't want to have this language barrier. Gusto ko mag-Tagalog para maintindihan nila ako."
NO GIRLFRIEND. Nang tanungin namin kung may girlfriend siya ngayon, sagot ni Bruno ay wala raw. Isang bagay na hindi kapani-paniwala dahil imposible na ang tulad niya ay walang karelasyon.
"I used to have one before pero wala na siya. She was a Filipina. We were okay but I think we weren't meant to be. Besides I want to concentrate on my work. I can date anyone but no serious commitment."
Bukod nga sa modeling ay naging busy na sa TV si Bruno. Una siyang naging part ng grupong Show Boys ng SOP. ‘Tapos ay na-cast siya sa telenovela na Marimar bilang kaibigan ni Marvin Agustin (who played Rudolfo San Ines).
HUSH HUSH. Ngayon ay kasama siya sa drama series na Hush Hush ng bagong bukas na TV5. Ang iba pang kasama rito ni Bruno ay sina Bernard Palanca, Ina Feleo, Dominic Ochoa, Krista Ranillo, Joem Bascon, Ana Feleo and Valeen Montenegro.
"In Hush Hush, I play one of the contract players in a talent agency. The show is a look behind what is happening with actors when they are not acting in front of the cameras. It's kind of a reality show but we are not playing ourselves. We play different characters with different attitudes and problems.
"I'm happy that I was given an opportunity to explore other things aside from modeling, singing, and dancing. I like to improve on my acting skills if its needed. I'm open to a lot of possibilities. I'm still young and I don't want to waste any chances to improve and get noticed."