Next Gen Heartthrobs

What is it about becoming a Kapuso heartthrob and the next generation leading man? Is it just a title? A responsibility? Or is it like an award that every newbie actor is longing to achieve?

For Allen Ansay, being dubbed as the next generation leading man makes him more eager to learn about his craft as an actor.

Newest Kapuso heartthrobs Michael Sager, Vince Maristela, Raheel Bhyria and Sean Lucas are also determined to create names for themselves and make a mark in the industry.

Now that these five young actors are in a new series titled Luv is: Caught in His Arms, how does working together help them in honing their crafts as actors?

It all began with a dream for this young man from Bicol. A then-16-year-old Allen Ansay had always wanted to become an actor; not just an ordinary actor but the first TV personality who hails from his hometown in Sagnay, Camarines Sur.

“Madali po sabihin na gusto mong mag-artista pero hindi mo alam kung paano gagawin kasi wala po sa probinsya 'yung opportunity e, nandito sa Manila,” Allen said in an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com.

With a heart filled with determination, Allen and his mother traveled all the way from Bicol to Manila to pursue his dreams.

“Ang ginawa po namin noon ni Mama lumuwas po kami siguro mga two days po kami dito noon sa Manila para mag-commercial and then bigla kong nalaman na may StarStruck. So nag-audition ako doon pero may gut feel na ako noon na, ‘Sana ito na. Ito na ’yung chance ko para makapasok sa showbiz,’ ito ’yung kumbaga maging daan, tapos nag-try po ako, nag-audition po ako hanggang sa makapasok na po ako,” he shared.

It was the seventh season of GMA-7’s reality-TV artista search StarStruck Allen got in. At the time, the artista hopeful was surprised with all the challenges that he had to face.

“Wala po akong ka-aydi-idea kaya talagang sobrang na-stress po ako. May times po ako noon na, ‘Kaya ko pa ba ’to?’ kasi hindi po ako marunong umarte tapos sinabak agad kami sa acting challenge. Ganun po kasi kapag StarStruck e, papasayawin kayo, papakantahin kayo tapos marami kayong mga directors na makakasama tapos matitinding eksena,” he recalled.

After battling with self-doubt, which almost pushed him to the point of calling it quits, Allen proved his potential as an artist and emerged as the First Prince of StarStruck Season 7.

“Happy naman ako na naka-survive po ako sabi nga, Dream, Believe, Survive, StarStruck,” he said with a smile.

Allen looked back on his hometown, the place where he started dreaming and believing.

“Nakakatuwa nga po kasi dahil first time ko nga pong makapasok doon kumbaga na-inspire ko ’yung mga tao doon na hindi lahat ng bagay ay imposible, basta susubukan mo, matutupad ang pangarap mo. So marami akong na-inspire na puwede pala ’to kahit nandito ka sa province basta susugalan mo lang talaga,” Allen said, his tone brimming with pride.

His big StarStruck win put Allen on a promising path, one that was filled with good projects. For the past years, he has proven that he has so much to offer for his home network.

The promising leading man has appeared in Prima Donnas and Raya Sirena, two big TV shows that practically became his training for a much bigger project in 2023: a lead role in the primetime kilig series Luv Is: Caught in His Arms, together with his onscreen partner Sofia Pablo.

Talking about Sofia, Allen shared that the teen actress has made a major impact on his career.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako kay God dahil binigay niya po si Sofia kasi tinanggap niya po kung ano ako lalo na noong pandemic at andiyan siya palagi para i-guide ako, palakasin ’yung loob ko kasi may mga times po talaga na sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na, ‘Hindi ko na kaya,’ kasi parang ang hirap-hirap na, ‘Hindi na ako ’to,’ pero nandiyan pa rin siya lagi para palakasin ’yung loob ko,” Allen said.

Having the title The Next Generation Leading Man has taught Allen a lot of valuable lessons. One of these is getting ready for all the struggles that one must face on his path to his dreams.

“Masaya na po ako sa kung ano man pong meron ako ngayon at pinakamasasabi ko lang talaga ay lahat ng bagay e, hindi nagiging madali, kahit ulit-ulitin mo pa ’yan, pagdadaanan at pagdadaanan mo ’yan. ’Yung mga struggle na ’yan pa ang tutulong sa’yo para ma-improve ’yung sarili mo kaya happy na po ako sa kung ano ang meron ako ngayon at excited ako sa future. ’Yun ’yung inaabangan ko, ’yung future na mangyayari pa sa akin doon ako excited,” Allen claimed.

Michael Sager, one of the newest Kapuso heartthrobs, moved back to the Philippines from Vancouver, Canada, to pursue his goal of becoming an artist.

Michael would be the first to say that his life back in Canada was a typical one. Like any normal kid, he had to take on part-time jobs to support his personal needs and not just depend on his parents.

“My life was different then. It was super young lang ’yung walang worries because I was still in high school, I was just studying and I’d always go out with my friends, play my sports and work part-time to earn my money din, my life was very simple lang if you can say din before,” Michael recalled.

In his interview with GMANetwork.com, Michael admitted that he always wanted to go back to the Philippines but he never dreamed of becoming an artist. It all changed when he became part of a reality TV search which exposed him to the world of livestreaming and entertainment.

“Gusto ko po talagang umuwi sa Pilipinas I’ve always told my parents na if ever makatapos ako sa Canada, I want to go back. It’s never been my goal to become an artista like hindi ko dream nung bata pa ako but siguro nung nakasali po ako sa reality TV show search and from then we had livestreams and because of that na-develop ko ’yung parang way that I get to communicate with people, talk to them and na-e-entertain sila. So siguro for me the fact that I know na nakaka-entertain ako, that I can make people smile, I liked it parang na-enjoy ko lang ’yun and I slowly developed the passion for that kaya sinabi ko po sa parents ko na, ‘Ma, Pa, let’s give it a try kasi bata pa ako.’ So I took one year off in college and I went home to the Philippines so that leads to where I am today,” he narrated.

Living in Canada made Michael more mature and goal-oriented. This is one of the reasons why he was able to focus on his career.

“I think my life in Canada taught me many things po for sure I can say that I don’t know if advantage siya but siguro mas aware ako on how work goes because sa Canada kasi you really work on a more professional field. At a younger age naka-set na ’yung mga rules mo, mga kailangan mong gawin,” he recalled.

“I started working when I was 16, my first-ever job. Ano po ako non e, ice cream scooper and then I eventually became sales associate sa isang store so parang natuto ako how to deal with people, customer service and sa mga bosses. So parang trinanslate ko lang po ’yun na ’yung how we talk to customers parang just how we talk to one another like always happy, always open, and friendly lang po so nagamit ko po talaga ’yun pag-uwi ko,” he shared.

Before moving back to the Philippines to chase his artista dreams, Michael already showcased his talent in performing as he was once a part of the Disney musical film titled Descendants.

“‘Yung sa Disney’s Descendants nagulat ako kasi ang galing non e, it’s like a Disney film so I was like kahit ano pang role kahit naglalakad lang ako game ako kasi ang galing and then nung nakatrabaho ko na po ’yung Disney actors they’re very welcoming and then ’yung director po no'n, director din ng High School Musical and he’d always talk to us, give us advice and the set was so cool parang Disneyland type na e, ang galing magical talaga,” he shared.

In 2022, Michael started his journey in GMA when he was launched as part of the Sparkada — a group of 17 young, talented, and fresh faces of Sparkle GMA Artist Center.

“Well it’s great po I mean not everybody is given a chance to be launched in a group such as Sparkada and for me it really helped me kasi when you’re entering a new industry, it’s so hard kapag wala kang kilala, ’yung nangangapa ka. But with Sparkada parang family ko and parang together kami pumasok, so if meron kaming things that we don’t know what to do kung kailangan ng tulong we’re there for one another. That really helped me. And to be part of the Kapuso family it’s just great. It’s always an honor kasi number one po ang GMA so to be saying na, ‘Kapuso ako,’ talagang nakaka-proud,” he said.

Now that he is starting to reach his goals as an actor, Michael also wants to prove that he deserves all the opportunities he’s been getting these days.

“I want to prove to myself din na I deserve that spot. I want to improve my acting, the way I move, the way I inspire people kasi as a leading man malakas ‘yung nakakainspire ka e, so talagang kapag nabigyan po ako ng title na ganun I will really work hard for that spot po.”

Another promising name in the industry is Vince Maristela, a former child actor who played the younger versions of some of showbiz industry's prominent actors.

“Nu’ng bata pa po ako, nagko-commercial model po kasi ako and then, wala, sobrang sinuwerte lang talaga ako na na-cast ako sa dalawang movies which were Ang Cute ng Ina Mo and You Are The One. Sa Ang Cute ng Ina Mo, ako ’yung batang Luis Manzano and then ’yung sa You Are The One naman is kapatid ako ni Sam Milby,” he shared.

Few years later, Vince needed to stop his acting jobs to prioritize his studies. But even then, Vince knew that someday he would find his way back to acting.

Instead of waiting for the right opportunity to find him, Vince went to seek it out himself. When he had spare time, he would attend go-sees and auditions.

“After talaga nung sinabi sa akin ng Dad ko na ako na bahala pagdating ko sa college, nagsimula agad ako na mag-commercial kasi ewan ko, gustong-gusto ko lang talaga na makita ‘yung mukha ko sa TV.”

Just like Michael, Vince is also part of the Sparkada launched in April 2022. For Vince, becoming part of this group of young talents is really a dream come true.

“Sa totoo lang it’s a dream come true po kasi ang tagal ko na kasi talagang gustong maging artista, bata pa lang ako kaya kahit ’yung mom ko sobrang proud sa akin, ’yung dad ko naman isa rin ’yun sa kinabibiliban niya sa akin dahil nakatapos ako ng school and napagsabay ko ’yung pag-aartista kaya ngayon sobrang suwerte ko lang din talaga na inaalagaan ako ng GMA,” Vince shared.

According to the Kapuso actor, becoming an artist (and being good at it) is also his way of inspiring many people. That’s why he loves taking part in outreach programs in remote areas. He knows that the simple folks, especially those living in such places, appreciate the presence of celebrities who take the time to visit their areas and entertain them.

“Hindi ko ma-explain kung gaano ako kasaya kapag pumupunta ako sa mga ganung organization dahil ewan ko parang hindi ako napapagod or masaya lang talaga akong nandoon ako, ’yung pakiramdam para sa akin na pagdating ko doon parang masaya lang talaga ako, gustong-gusto ko na ’yung mga tao na nandoon e, nag-eenjoy kaya ‘yun ‘yung mga bagay na hindi mabibili ng pera para sa akin yung feeling na ‘yun,” he claimed.

Now that he's part of GMA, Vince is more than motivated to work hard on his career.

“Para sa akin naman is ito lang kakasimula pa lang natin tara na hardwork pa ganun ‘yung nararamdaman ko ngayon. Parang mas lalo ako ngayong namo-motivate.”

Growing up as an only child, Sean Lucas dedicated most of his time to studying. For those who don't know, Sean is a graduate of Philippine Science High School and a future industrial engineer.

“Feeling ko hindi ko pinili maging artista parang ’yung pagiging artista ’yung pinili ako kasi before I was very much into school sa Philippine Science High School so puro ganun lang. ’Yun lang ’yung iniisip ko so nag-enrol ako dito sa Manila for college tapos siyempre iniisip ko wala pupunta lang ako sa Manila magka-college ako, ga-graduate ako, magta-trabaho bilang engineer, I was gonna work with my Dad,” he shared.

Last year, Sean became the engineer of his own career as he took another career path by entering the showbiz industry as a newbie actor and a member of Sparkada.

“Ever since naman I was really into performing and all those stuff kasi sino ba naman ’yung hindi nag-isip na, ‘Ay someday gusto kong maging artista.’ Siyempre it crossed my mind din pero I never thought that I would have the opportunity to pursue that. Siyempre nung dumating na ’yung opportunity na ’yun game na game na ako and when I got into it, I was really enjoying and ayun andito na,” he recalled.

During the launch of Sparkada, Sean presented himself as a charming teen actor fit for romantic comedies because of his charisma, personality, and unique humor.

Sean said, “I’d like to say I have a sense of humor, so I can do something that’s more on the comedic side and also something that’s more like from my background, something that’s more serious, something like more intellectual I guess and also, I’m very open to learning more and exploring more.”

Sean said that he has learned to enjoy the world of entertainment, which was far from the world he used to be in.

“All my life puro academics lang ’yung ginagawa ko so parang ngayon na na-explore ko na ’to na side I really enjoy it kasi it’s something that I really enjoy doing and ngayon na kumbaga napagkakakitaan ko ’yung ine-enjoy ko and at the same time kasi ginagawa ko lang ’yung gusto kong gawin. Nagpe-perform ako, umaarte ako, and nakakaapekto ako ng mga tao like people enjoy what I do, like I give entertainment sa kanila by doing something I also enjoy, so ’yun ’yung napagdesisyunan ko na, ‘Ah, parang I really like doing this.’”

The newbie actor is also feeling grateful for the warm welcome of the Kapuso network.

“Iba maging Kapuso, the Kapuso network is very welcoming. Like lahat ng nakilala ko so far, lahat ng nakasama ko everyone is super nice, super professional, super welcoming and very warm, kaya I’m very thankful to be part of Sparkada and the Kapuso network.”

Joining Allen, Michael, Vince, and Sean in the list of newest Kapuso heartthrobs is Filipino-Pakistani Raheel Bhyria.

Raheel was discovered because of his charming looks and entertaining content on social media, particularly in the short-video streaming app TikTok.

Just like Michael and Sean, Raheel never dreamed of becoming an actor because he always doubted himself, particularly his looks. A little insecure, he felt that he was not fit for TV.

In his interview with GMANetwork.com, Raheel admitted that he suffered mental health problems before and one of the things that saved him from his episodes was show business.

Raheel said, “So entering showbiz, I feel like ang dami ko ring natutunan na what you feel is normal and I also learned that you shouldn’t give in to your thoughts parang accepting the negative is also a positive outcome kaya ’yun na lang ang ginagawa ko.”

Today, his new environment as an artist inspired him to work on himself and to rebuild his confidence.

“It really helps me. It helped me push through my limits alam mo ’yung parang before sobrang mahiyain ko, as in kapag may photoshoot, kapag ngingiti ako, nanginginig ’yung cheeks ko kasi I can’t smile parang ang pangit ko, ’yun ang naiisip ko that time,” he added.

After all the challenges he has gone through, Raheel pushes himself to be brave by trying to do things that are out of his comfort zone. For Raheel, entering showbiz was not just for himself but also for anyone experiencing self-doubt and low self-esteem.

“This dream kasi is bigger than myself and I just wanted to shed a little light in a very dark world na kaya rin nila and they’re more than enough kaya pinili ko pong maging artista,” he shared. “I want to show people na… base po kasi sa mga pinagdaanan ko and like mental health problem, gusto ko lang ipakita sa tao na kaya rin nila,” he said.

Raheel also thanks GMA Network for believing in him and his potential. “To be a Kapuso sobrang thankful ako sa GMA. Kung nasaan man ako ngayon it's because of them.”

GMA’S Next Bankable Actors

Talking about being the next bankable actors in the showbiz industry, Allen, Michael, Vince, Sean, and Raheel shared their thoughts on what it takes to become a successful and effective leading man.

For Allen, a leading man is the one who makes people happy and inspires them with his work.

He said, “Kapag maraming-marami na akong napasaya na mga tao katulad nina Kuya Ruru [Madrid], Kuya Alden [Richards], Kuya Dingdong [Dantes], kasi para sa akin talaga isa rin talaga sa mga gusto ko is magpasaya ng mga tao kaya para sa'kin kapag nagawa ko na kung ano ’yung mga nagawa nina Kuya Ruru, Kuya Alden at Kuya Dong na nakakapagpasaya sila ng maraming tao, nakakapag-inspire sila 'yun na po ’yung masasabi ko na naging successful na ako sa career ko.”

Similar to what Allen said, Michael also defines a leading man as someone whose main purpose is to give inspiration to his audience.

“I always just go back to the reason bakit po ako nandito. Gusto kong mag-entertain. Siguro I just want to see na may na-inspire na akong mga tao, mas marami na akong nari-reach na fans and supporters, kasi ’yun naman po talaga ang main purpose ko. It’s not for myself but it’s also for the people kasi this craft is like public service so we want to give back to the community. If they’re watching TV and if they’re having a bad day I want to make them smile,” Michael shared.

Vince could not agree more. He likened an effective leading man to a public servant.

He said, “For me, siguro kapag nakakatulong na siya sa ibang tao. Para sa akin ’yun talaga ’yung pinaka definition ko. Kasi pangarap ko rin talaga kapag ako medyo settled na gusto ko rin tumulong sa mga taong nangangailangan kasi ’yun parati ’yung tinuturo sa akin ng parents ko na huwag parating sarili ang iisipin, dapat pati rin ’yung taong nangangailangan kailangan isipin.”

Sean, on the other hand, has a different take on what it takes to be a leading man.

“Leading man para sa akin is if kaya niyang magdala ng show, kahit sinong itapat mo sa kanya, kahit saan mo siya ilagay, kaya niyang dalhin, like he can carry himself, basically,” he shared.

For Raheel, to be able to become an effective leading man, one must be able to bring the show with him no matter what it takes.

“If they give you a role, mahirap man o madali, i-a-accept mo kahit sinong katrabaho, kahit bago lang, kahit first time mo makatrabaho na you can really bring them with you,” he said.

The collaboration project between GMA Network and Wattpad Webtoon Studios titled Luv is: Caught in His Arms serves as the first-ever primetime series of Allen and the first-ever series of Sparkada boys Michael, Vince, Sean, and Raheel.

These five actors play the role of the Ferell cousins namely Nero, Owen, Tristan, Aldus, and Troy Ferell.

To this day, the five Kapuso actors still couldn't believe that they already have their own primetime series.

Allen, who plays Nero, told GMANetwork.com that he devoted a lot of time rehearsing his lines and learning the nuances of his character.

“Sobra ko talaga siyang pinaghandaan kasi kahit ’yung mga pronunciations sa English talagang nag-aral ako kasi may punto talaga ako sa pagsasalita kasi talagang pure Bicolano talaga ako almost magti-three years pa lang ako dito and doon talaga napasabak ako sa mga English. Tapos, nanood din ako ng mga YouTube videos kung paano kumilos ’yung mayayaman, paano ’yung proper na galaw.” he shared.

Michael, who plays of Owen, recalled the moment they were all told that they were going to be part of Luv Is. “It was honestly a surprise kasi we were called for a screen test to audition in person and prinank pa kami ni Direk Barry [Gonzalez] so I was very nervous and medyo na-embarrass din ako but then when he switched it up and said na, 'Joke lang, you'll be part of the cast,' biglang adrenaline, ang saya ko and, of course, I'm so thankful and grateful.”

For Vince, who plays Tristan, he still had to do some adjustments to understand life in production again.

“’Yung challenge po na na-encounter ko sa taping was hindi ako sanay na sa environment [ganoon] like antagal na po nung nagka-shoot ako [noon] so parang naninibago ako sa environment,” he recalled.

Vince is still thankful that he can relate to his character, Tristan Ferell.

“Tapos doon sa character ko naman, medyo nahirapan nang onti na hindi, kasi ’yung role ko doon is I’m a kuya kila Raheel and Sean and sa totoong buhay, para nila akong kuya. Medyo napadali ’yung work lalo na close kaming mga boys, actually lahat ng cast,” he claimed.

For Raheel, who plays the role of Aldus, even though he found his role quite difficult, he believes that this series will prepare him for the more challenging projects that will come his way in the future.

“Very challenging din ’yung role, sa tingin ko ’yun na rin ’yung stepping stone for me to do harder roles sa next projects,” he said. “’Yung character ko po doon is [may pagka] playboy so I really had to ask my friend kung paano maging ganoon [laughs] so medyo nahirapan talaga ako sa role. Pero thankful ako,” he added.

For Sean, who plays Troy, the most challenging part of his preparation was making himself comfortable in front of the camera.

“Nahirapan talaga ako kasi ’yung una kong salang and sa character ko, siya ’yung makulit, siya ’yung maingay. Nahirapan ako nung first day ko kasi sobrang stiff ko sa harap ng camera. Since ako nga ’yung makulit, dapat sobrang loose ako, masaya lang ako. Pero with the help of Sofia, Allen, and all the veteran actors sa set, ’tsaka ’yung workshops na binigay sa akin ng Sparkle, sobrang nakatulong siya na ma-break ko ’yon,” Sean shared.

With their dedication and determination, you can expect more from these boys.

Allen Ansay, Michael Sager,
Vince Maristela, Raheel Bhyria,
Sean Lucas

Next Gen Heartthrobs

They're young, they're ambitious, and they're promising. Allen Ansay, Michael Sager, Vince Maristela, Raheel Bhyria, and Sean Lucas, are ready to work hard to make a name for themselves and join the ranks of TV's most bankable matinee idols.

The Dreamer

The Goal Digger

The Lucky One

The Engineer

The Fighter

GMA’S Next Bankable Actors

All Fired Up

More Profiles

Kapuso Profiles Inside Page