New faces to 'Watchpad' for

MANILA, Philippines - If TV and radio have VJs and DJs to entertain the viewer and the listener, PLDT myDSL’s watchpad finds their counterparts in its equally engaging and eloquent crew members. Watchpad, a new entertainment media fusing TV and the Internet recently revealed the 10 new faces for its Search for the Watchpad Crew. The five winners who earn the highest on-line votes will join celebrities Rhian Ramos, Isabel Oli and Victor Aliwalas, among others, and take turns in gracing watchpad’s shows such as My Style, My Music and My Fitness.

George Schulze is one of those who could represent the exciting, trend-setting world of watchpad.

“The thing that attracted me to this contest is you just get to express yourself,” replies the 20-year-old student from DLSU-College of St. Benilde when asked why he joined the competition. “It is one of the few places you can be really yourself and be able to express that.”

George, grandson of veteran actor Armando Goyena, cousin of Bernard and Miko Palanca and brother of columnist-host-model Lexi Schulze, has a bigger purpose for becoming a watchpad crew. He wants to share his battle with the Big C.

“I went through a difficult phase in my life,” recalls George. “I had leukemia when I was 15. And I surpassed it. I was hoping that if I could get this I could inspire the kids and the youth to convince them to be healthy. I want to be that image saying, ‘Even though you go through something difficult, it’s not time to give up; just because you’re young, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t focus on your health.’ That’s what I want to tell the kids. To be able to be here and have the opportunity to do that is an amazing thing for me.”

Thus, George The Survivor of the watchpad group. He is one person who considers health as an investment and believes that God rules. Given his show business lineage, George has been doing theater since he was 11. Acting has always been his passion.

The beauty of watchpad, George says, is he can mix his two passions: Acting and health.

“My show on Sundays is all about positive music sending out positive messages to kids and people who are listening and to everyone in the spectrum,” shares Nikko Ramos, Jock on the Beat, Jock on the Bounds.

This is what Nikko wishes to do when he becomes a watchpad crew. As DJ Tyler of Magic 89.9, he will continue to inspire and empower listeners through music.

“I thought what better way to enhance that small positive change that I’m trying to cause is to bring that to a new kind of media PLDT has created with watchpad,” says Nikko, a student at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños.

Nikko was a junior ASEAN ambassador and has been doing radio work for three years now. Outside the booth, he keeps himself busy by posting his music mixes and graphic designs on-line.

Blogger Arbie Baguios, on the other hand, wants “to do something new, different and bigger in my life. (Watchpad) is an avenue to share my things and my opinions. (I think) it will make me a better journalist.”

The monicker Rockstar fits Arbie to a T. He has a band and enjoys the musical interaction by playing the guitar and jamming with members. The 17-year-old junior from Ateneo de Manila University is into reading and playing RPG.

Watchpad’s search for new crew members could serve as launching pad for interesting talents like George, Nikko and Arbie.

(To know more about the other finalists and vote for your favorite crew members, log on to www.pldtwatchpad/watchpadcrew.)