Bugz Daigo: Taking his chances in 'Starstruck' to pursue his studies

A lot of young stars nowadays quit school to get into showbiz. For Cebu's very own Bugz Daigo, however, breaking into showbiz through GMA Network's Starstruck the Nationwide Invasion, is a chance for him to finally continue his studies, which he unfortunately had to put on hold due to financial problems after he graduated from high school at Salazar Institute of Technology two years ago.

Given the chance to pursue a college education, 18-year-old Bugz would like to take up Hotel and Restaurant Management at University of Cebu or a university in Manila, so he could later work in a hotel or be a bartender, which he said while pretending to juggle bottles. He divulged that HRM is also the course his grandmother would like him to take. The challenge of juggling time between studies and a showbiz career doesn't seem to faze Bugz one bit. In fact, he thinks it would be a great opportunity if he could be a singer and a bartender at the same time. "Bili na kayo!" he gamely sang while doing the imaginary juggling again.

Born Carlos Pedro Daigo III, Bugz-so named "kasi pinanganak po ako nang may bagyo," he revealed with a laugh-was raised by his aunt and grandmother, for his parents have long separated. His mom now lives in Davao, while his father is based in Manila. In fact, it was only when he was recently chosen as a finalist for Starstruck that he met his father for the first time. On the other hand, he has not seen his mother or communicated with her in a long time. As far as he knows, there are eight of them in the family, "Pero dalawa lang po kaming magkapatid sa parents namin. Mas nakatatanda po 'yung sister ko. She's 19," he said.

His grandmother, meanwhile, has been working as a caregiver in the US for more than a year now. This is another motivation behind Bugz' sheer determination to become the "Starstruck Ultimate Survivor." Given the chance and the resources, he would like to buy his grandmother a ticket back to the Philippines so she would not have to work abroad anymore. "Babawi po ako sa lahat ng ginawa niya para sa akin," he said.

Before joining Starstruck, Bugz became a part of GMA Cebu's Sunday variety show, Oi!, where he did hosting and performed dance numbers. He was discovered by the Oi! staff during the Starstruck auditions in Cebu. His stint in the show gave him the much-needed experience and exposure, and kept him occupied while he waited for his call back from Starstruck, which fortunately came a month later.

Below are excerpts from the Bugz' interview with In Between Takes, wherein he talks about his Starstruck experience, his family life, and his dreams. Bugz has dreamed bigger and believed stronger. The question that remains is will he survive longer?

Why did you enter show business aside from the opportunity it presents to pursue your studies?

Gusto ko rin po kasing i-share ang talent ko sa pagkanta at pagsayaw.

What qualities do you have which you think would make you win in Starstruck?

Naging confident po kasi ako simula nung sumali ako sa Oi! Nawala po ang hiya ko at lumakas po ang loob ko.

What do you think makes you different from the other Starstruck finalists?

Cebuano ako eh, iba ako! Magaling ang mga Cebuano!

Who among the Pinoy celebrities do you look up to and would like to follow the footsteps of?

Wala po. (Pauses to think) Pero siguro po si Richard Gutierrez, kasi andami po niyang projects. Sana ganun din po ako.

When you auditioned for Starstruck, were you confident then that you'd get in?

Hindi po ako sure eh, kasi maraming magagaling sa Cebu. Thousands po kaming nag-audition.

Do you have friends who also joined Starstruck?

Nakasali rin po 'yung pinsan ko, pero sa top 20 hindi na po siya nakuha.

What do your family and friends tell you now that you are one of the Starstruck Final 14 and still standing?

Happy daw sila at saka proud para sa'kin. Pinapanood daw nila ako araw-araw.

How are you now in Starstruck?

Ok lang po, medyo nate-tense pa rin po. Nate-tense, hindi po sa mga performance, kundi dun sa mga nangyayaring problema.

How long has it been since you left Cebu for Starstruck?

Mga two months pa lang.

Where do you stay now?

Sa Cubao po, sa hotel. (GMA provided accommodations for Bugz and the other regional finalists.) Kasama ko rin po yung ate ko. Lahat po kami sa hotel bisaya, kaya nagbibisaya po kami doon.

Don't you feel homesick?

Hindi po. (Smiles) Pero namimiss ko rin 'yung barkada ko at mga pinsan ko. Nakakausap ko naman po sila through text at tawag.

Who's your closest friend here in Starstruck?

Sina Gian (Carlos) at Vivo (Ouano) po. Pare-pareho kasi kaming kalog.

What's your most memorable experience here in Starstruck so far?

Wala pa po.

What's the most important lesson you've learned in Starstruck?

Disiplina po. Huwag maging pasaway. Dapat sundin ang lahat ng utos.

What's the most difficult thing you were made to do in Starstruck?

Acting po. Nahihirapan po kasi ako sa acting kasi nabubulol ako, may accent or punto ako. Okay lang po 'yun, at least marunong akong magtagalog.

What's the easiest?

Pagkanta at pagsayaw po.

If you win Starstruck, what project would you first pursue?

Gusto ko po sanang magka-album, at sana maka-duet ko si Yasmien Kurdi. Maganda po kasi ang boses niya.

Have you ever been in danger of being eliminated from Starstruck? If ever, how did it feel?

Opo, dalawang beses na po. Malungkot po ako nun, nasabi ko po sa sarili ko na parang hindi ko napatunayan sa kanila Last week, tatlong beses, nasa bottom five po ako. Parang nagtataka nga po ako kung bakit ganun.

In conclusion, In Between Takes asked Bugz to write a short message for the people back home in Cebu:

Hi ninyo mga Cebuano Cebuana, kamusta namu? Maayo gani gi tagaan ko ninyo ug chance na maka-sulat ninyo mga ig-agaw, silingan ug uban pa. Please suporta lang jud ko ninyo, kay di lang ni para sa akoa, para sad ni sa inyoha. Thanks kaayo.