'I'm so sorry, candidates 1 through 30...'

MANILA, Philippines - I’m so. So. Sorry…

I would like to take this moment to apologize to you: the pharmacy student; the HRIM graduate; the licensed physician; the double-degree holder, in political science and law. Wherever you are right now, wherever you came from, please accept that you were upstaged. By a 24-year-old model/DJ — male, straight (a relevant clarification, in light of recent transvestite-linked rulings), name of Callum David — a.k.a. DJ Vinimal, who spun music — and circles — around this year’s Binibining Pilipinas aspirants. Taking to the turntables to accompany the girls’ sashays with his own pop-and-electronic stylings, Callum unwittingly trended on Twitter, winning the hearts of girls and pa-girls alike. But just who is the man behind the deejay’s table? We do some digging to see if there’s something between the headphones…

What are you doing here? We mean, in Manila. You hail from Brisbane, right? Then had some modeling stints in Thailand and Korea? Why land here?

CALLUM DAVID: Well, I live here now, but originally I came to Manila straight from South Korea for modeling jobs I had been pre-booked for.

Until recently, you were more likely to be in the company of an Aussie posse of models. Are there new people you’ve hung out with, interacted with? Any suspicious changes in recent activity? How has life changed since last week?

Not that much has changed except people telling me I looked like I was having fun at Bb. Pilipinas. Well, it’s more fun in the Philippines after all!

Would you happen to know Robin da Roza?

(Laughs)

Just wondering.

You usually wear specs to distract from the, um, pecs. This is when spinning, right? Can you tell us why?

It gives me a different persona from my everyday life. I’m normally a quiet and reserved person.

Where are the black specs from? And why’d you choose them? Is there anyone you’re channeling in particular?

I have a collection of them. Whom I’m channeling is up to the crowd. I could be channeling Superman mixed with Boy Abunda!

What’s in a name? Why DJ Vinimal?

DJ Vinimal is a mix of Volta and minimal. Volta was inspired by a song name, and minimal stems from my love for minimalism.

It’s been said that you don’t use a laptop when spinning. Why not? What’s your equipment?

I don’t use a laptop so I can never be accused of fake DJing. I use CDs only. I feel old school sometimes. CDs are the new vinyl.

What was that dance move you were doing on pageant night? It was like a mix of head bobbing and a shimmy. Who taught you?

It was my failed attempt at doing the dougie.

What’s your training? Where and what did you study? We hear you have a past — and present — in modeling (duh), and commerce.

I did engineering for two years before leaving and taking up commerce. Engineering really wasn’t for me. Modeling started off as a holiday [hobby?] but I never expected it to become like this. It’s an incredibly interesting life and one I am very lucky to be living.

We also heard about your acting stint in an independent film by Dante Garcia. Who or what do you play and what was the experience like?

I play a clueless Frenchman looking for his long lost love. It was a really fun role. And while it was my first movie, the whole experience wasn’t too different from my modeling experience.

Now, about the music. Can you tell us about your mix on pageant night? Is it true to the flavor of your regular set, or did you have to play to your audience a bit?

My style is normally less mainstream, but I was able to use cool remixes of the songs in my playlist.

How did you prepare for this particular gig?

For that 20-minute gig, there was about four to five full days of preparation.

How would you describe the music you spin on a regular basis?

I play house music that people don’t hear all the time. I give the crowd a unique experience.

On pageant night, what was going through your head?

Don’t screw up. Don’t screw up. Don’t screw up!

What is your favorite party-starting track?

Justice – The Party.

To wrap up, what’s one thing people don’t know about you?

I have long toes.

Are you single? Scrap that. We mean, how much longer are you planning to stay in the Philippines?

Yes I’m single! (laughs). The girls here are very beautiful. I would like to stay as long as I’m welcome.

What’s the one quality that you prioritize in persons you choose to surround yourself with?

The ability to instantly recognize mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes and errors in judgment. And it is my opinion that the most successful people in this world are the ones that recognize their mistakes early and then work to fix those mistakes and prevent them from happening again.

When do you turn 25 and what would you like to have achieved by then?

18th of March next year. By then I would like to be able to speak Tagalog.

Where can people find you?

On Twitter at @callumdavid1.

Where do you usually spin?

Prive in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig every Thursday night.