He didn’t lose ‘it’ at the Academy

Geoffrey Taylor’s musically-arranged piece The Future is Bright After All This fits him to a T. The third Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) evictee after Gemma Fitzgerald and volunteer evictee Jun Hirano is determined to carve a niche in showbiz via acting or singing. Last Saturday, Oona Barretto was the fourth scholar to be booted out of the Academy.

Geoff’s eviction does not mean the end, but the beginning of his journey to stardom. It brings to mind the likes of Pinoy Big Brother’s Say Alonzo and Star for A Night runner-up Mark Bautista, who have achieved so much even if they didn’t emerge the top winners.

Geoff’s five-week stay in the Academy proved to be a learning experience. He learned how to breathe properly while singing. He tapped his dancing skills, and his outlook and self-confidence improved by leaps and bounds.

His exit saved fellow scholars from expulsion. Geoff has no hard feelings about it since he feels they have every right to remain in the Academy. He attributes his shy, silent ways as the reasons behind his expulsion.

If Geoff was shy when he got inside the Academy, he still is, to this day. But he vows to get over his shyness through frequent TV appearances and meeting different types of people.

Asked how he feels when he left his fellow scholars, the Fil-Am says, "I have mixed emotions when I stepped out of the Academy. I felt sad because I would like to learn more and I will miss my co-scholars and teachers. But, at the same time, I am happy as I will do more TV guestings and mall shows."

It was Oona whom Geoff became close to among the scholars as she always gives him pieces of advice. Irish Fullerton, on the other hand, became his crush, but not to the point of pursuing her as he is still getting over the pain of a past love.

Geoff will concentrate first on making a mark in showbiz to help his diabetic mom, Emerlyn Seminiano with her medical expenses. Geoff’s dad, Navy man Jeffrey Taylor, left him when he was still a baby. But the communication lines remain open between Geoff and his dad’s new family.

Jeffrey even asked Geoff to visit the US someday. Geoff is now also saving up for his mom’s airfare, so she can join him in the Land of Milk and Honey.

Geoff appeared on The Buzz, Wazzup, Wazzup, ASAP and Blog. He also got to perform at the Araneta Coliseum with fellow scholars. The experience is new to Geoff who used to model for designer’s clothing and was a Mossimo Bikini Open finalist before he joined PDA.

The 20-year-old HRM undergraduate from Tuguegarao, Cagayan used to walk to and from school when his dad stopped supporting him financially. His scholarship in school was not enough to support Geoff’s allowance. He had to stop school and work as a model instead.

Now, Geoff is overwhelmed at the attention he’s getting.

"I’m now being asked for an autograph the way my idols used to do for their fans. It overwhelms me," he says.

He also did a duet with Sitti and Say Alonzo. Geoff dreams of having a duet with Sarah Geronimo. He also loves watching Hale and South Border perform.

Aside from singing and musical arranging, Geoff would also like to try acting.

"I will attend workshops and continue working out to tone my body. This way, I will look good on and off screen," he reveals.

Full of passion and determination, Geoff will never stop reaching for his dreams.