MANILA, Philippines - Elmo Magalona is not just Francis Magalona’s son.
Having released his first single, Three Stars and a Sun late last year, the 18-year-old is starting to make a name for himself in the music industry, where his late, great father used to hold court.
But this early in his career, he knows that he wants to be a total entertainer.
A commercial model and a regular on GMA 7’s variety show Party Pilipinas, Elmo also has an upcoming film, Just One Summer, with fellow teen star Julie Anne San Jose.
“I really can’t decide which one I want to be known for because acting, hosting, dancing and modeling are all packaged under entertainment. And an entertainer is what I want to be,” Elmo says.
There’s no denying, however, that rap music is in his blood. “Of course, there is pressure (being the son of the Philippines’ master rapper), but that only makes me want to work harder and do better with my work,” he says.
With all the things going on in his career, Elmo recently added yet another feather to his cap — that of being the brand ambassador for a company with a strong Filipino heritage, Magnolia Ice Cream.
“It was very much unexpected,” he says about getting the deal to endorse the ice cream brand.
“Being part of a family that loves sweets, I really enjoyed Magnolia Ice Cream growing up. My parents would always buy a tub everytime there was a birthday or any type of celebration in the house,” he relates.
Elmo will endorse two new products under the Magnolia Ice Cream Frozen Delights line: Fizz Rootbeer Float, the first-ever rootbeer-flavored popsicle with vanilla ice cream filling, and Cookie Monster, which has four layers of chocolate.
“We saw early on that Elmo’s image fit our new products,” says Magnolia Ice Cream Group product manager Jen Chang. “Like Elmo, the new flavors are unique, young, fresh and very exciting.”
Exciting aptly describes Elmo’s future prospects, especially if one considers his role in Just One Summer, his first lead role. In the movie, he plays Neil, a misunderstood teen who goes through an emotional rollercoaster ride.
While he admits it was very challenging, he is now pining for more out-of-the-box roles.
“I would love to play the role of a young father,” he concludes. “I believe this will improve my acting skills.”