Gil Cuerva believes becoming Pinoy 'Matteo Do' is his destiny

When Gil Cuerva auditioned for the role of Matteo Do for GMA's 2017 adaptation of the hit Koreanovela "My Love From the Star", he earnestly believed he would not get the part.

"When I auditioned, I didn't even think that I'd get it. I just really wanted to use it as a bit of exposure, so I can get my feet wet 'cause I was a model," Cuerva told GMA News Online.

He was so confident of this fact that he expected to be in Thailand by this time to model- the profession by which he is known for in the Philippines and abroad.

Gil Cuerva has a message for his fans! @gmanews pic.twitter.com/CCR13K7JJU

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) January 13, 2017

Today, he feels thankful for the chance to play the beloved role — and even believes that it may be his destiny to do so.

"All of it came as a surprise to me, but it's something that I'm very honored and thankful for," Cuerva said.

"The show revolves around destiny and I guess in that same manner, it could be said that this, somehow, is my destiny."

Cuerva on Friday formally signed with the Kapuso Network to bring Do back to the silver screen.

Veteran actress Jennylyn Mercado will play his bratty-but-sweet earthly lover Steffi Cheon, and the experience gap between him and his leading lady is not lost on him.

Instead of being nervous, Cuerva said he is "embracing the pressure because I know that this is how great actors are made, when they're put under a lot of pressure to portray a role especially when it's a lead role and it's a hit TV show."

Playing the role popularized by Kim Soo-hyun also plays a unique challenge, but Cuerva believes he can step up to the expectations of fans as well as bring his own twist to the role.

"I hope to live up to them but at the same time, I try not to focus too much on it because what's important is my own expectations and my own feelings or how I portray the role of Matteo," he said.

Gil Cuerva looks forward to growing as an actor with the help of the GMA Artist's Center and working on My Love from the Stars. pic.twitter.com/gIxPNNxs8M

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) January 13, 2017

The young actor expressed his thanks to the GMA Artist Center and Cornerstone Management, whom he believes will help him "flourish as an actor".

"I'm blessed and I'm excited because I know that I'm in good hands with GMA Artist Center along with the help and guidance of Cornerstone Management. I know that under their guidance, I'll be able to flourish as an actor and I know that I'm in the right hands," Cuerva said. —JST, GMA News