Derek Ramsay is a big baby. That’s how his sister Camila Barclay describes the sexy actor. Last Sunday on The Buzz, Derek shed tears when he talked about his parents. His father has long been complaining about pains on his feet and on his stomach but he refuses to go to the hospital. He revealed that they were scheduled to visit the doctor but his father chose to accompany him to a meeting at ABS-CBN. On the other hand, his mom had a mild stroke but refuses to take maintenance medicine and would go to the doctor only when she feels the need for it.
Derek is doing his best to make his parents proud. And they are. His Achilles Heel is his family. “I can’t entertain the thought na mawawala (ang mga magulang ko).”
He was nicknamed Bitoy as a young kid, who was chubby and had too white a skin. In grade school, he was so thin that girls would not give him a second look. He “bloomed” in high school.
The big kuya that he is, Camila said that Derek intimidated guys who were interested in her. “The only guy he welcomed out of those who became my boyfriends was my husband.” It takes a while for Derek to warm up to anyone who would court his sister. “Inoobserbahan muna niya yong guy before he gets close to him. Kasi ang theory niya, if the guy stands up to him, then he can protect me pero kung takot daw sa kanya e di duwag daw yong guy. At paano daw mapo-protektahan yong sister niya?” Camila enthused.
As a son, Derek has always been dependable. As a brother, he is very sweet. But Derek being in showbiz was farthest from his family’s mind because he was very shy. And he would always be in the background while Camila did modeling. “Siya yong pirming background guy ko sa picture. Nakasimangot siya because he hated it.”
But Derek has always been determined on what he wants. He won’t stop until he gets it. “Even in school, when my dad wanted to send him to England for college, he wanted to go to the United States. One day, he told my dad, “Let’s have a game of golf. Bet tayo. If I beat you, I go to the States. If you win, I continue my college in England. Eh mas mahusay na golfer ang dad ko before so parang the fact na natalo niya yong dad ko, talagang gusto niya makapunta sa States.”
When Derek made Panday, they were all worried about him. He was not fluent in Tagalog then. “Nalaman namin mine-morize lang niya yong script, hindi niya naiintindihan yong sinasabi niya.”
Derek who has been going steady with Angelica Panganiban for several years now, is the sweet type according to Camila. “He is very thoughtful. But he also expects the girl to look after him. He is a big baby. Konting sakit lang niyan, kailangan alagaan mo siya. Kasi mag-aaway kayo, magtatampo yon.”
Camila thinks Derek is happy and content with what he has now. She also wishes that he settles down soon. “I want him to be happy.”
Yes, Derek admits his relationship with Angelica is getting better. “The relationship is getting stronger and stronger every day even though we don’t get to spend as much time together. The relationship is still going forward and that’s what’s important and she’s definitely growing as a person and I am growing as a person as well.”
Settling down is a long way to go but he sees himself with Angelica in the long run. “Like what my sister said, she has never seen me this happy and my parents are very happy with my relationship and how it has affected me. Angel has made me a better person. Angel has given me direction and ‘di na masyado matigas ang ulo ko when it comes to other things in life.”
On the showbiz front, Derek is starring in a movie Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang with Erich Gonzalez. The movie opens in theaters nationwide starting March 14.
Kababaihan at Kabayanihan
In celebration of the 2012 National Women’s Month, the Cultural Center of the Philippines through its Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point, is holding a forum-performance titled Kababaihan at Kabayanihan on March 15, 3 p.m. at the CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute (Studio Theater).
The forum will tackle the uniqueness, strength, courage and nobility of womanhood and how these traits contributed in improving lives and the society as a whole. The event will be attended by CCP employees and officials, some students as well as eminent artists and arts and culture specialists. There will be special performances by renowned women artists.