Gil Cuerva on flirtatious girls, gay people, ‘pogi’ problems

Gil Cuerva

It isn’t easy for most newbies in the biz to land a lead role. But Gil Cuerva got lucky. The 21-year-old half-Spanish model is GMA 7’s latest find. He is paired off with Jennylyn Mercado in the local adaptation of the popular Korean series, “My Love from the Star.”

With Gil’s extensive modeling experience, he definitely knows how to project—no wonder the camera loves him.
As director Joyce Bernal puts it, “Gil is pleasant to look at onscreen, and he has presence. He’s trainable and shows a lot of potential.” Looks like Gil’s baptism of fire is going to make him sizzle even more.

Here’s my chat with Gil:

What is it about show biz that you need to get used to? More people are paying attention to everything that I do now—which is different from modeling, where I just do my own thing.

How do you handle girls who flirt with you? Generally, I’m friendly—and I don’t like to assume that someone is flirting with me. If a girl is doing that, I don’t think about it too much and just continue being me.

What are your thoughts on gay people? I have a lot of gay friends, and I work with them in the worlds of fashion and show biz. Some of them are also my biggest supporters, something I appreciate very much.

As for gay men being forward with me, regardless of who I’m dealing with, when something I don’t like is happening to me, I let people know how I really feel.

What are some of your pogi problems? I’m “prettier” than some girls (laughs).

What made you decide to join show biz? The opportunity given to me was too big to pass up.

How do you handle bashers? You can’t please everyone. But it’s always about poise and composure when faced with adversity. I feel too blessed to be bothered by all the hate comments coming my way, so I focus on my acting instead.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully, I’d still be an actor—and a successful one at that. If that doesn’t work out, I hope I end up becoming a director, cinematographer or producer.

What’s your most memorable modeling stint? I got to shoot a look book for a big brand in Hong Kong. Just to be given the job over taller and more European-looking models was an achievement for me.

What’s your hashtag for your life right now? #Tiwala

What did you do with your first pay check? I bought Coldplay concert tickets.

Who’s your “man crush?” Harry Styles.

Which one would you pick and why: love, happiness, wealth or peace of mind? For me, peace of mind is more important than love or wealth. I want to live my life to the fullest and leave no stone unturned once I exit this life-form.

Love is always a choice, and wealth, though it can make life a lot more convenient, isn’t a necessity. Peace of mind will allow me to not worry too much about life’s “what ifs.”