Derek Ramsay reunites with former Kapamilya

“Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope this will lead to better things,” said actor Derek Ramsay, who once severed ties with ABS-CBN after he transferred to rival network TV5, but is now promoting a film under Star Cinema.

Derek plays lead in the romantic drama “Ex With Benefits,” by director Gino M. Santos. He also stars in the Toto Natividad action flick “Pangil,” which will be released by Skylight Films. Both Star Cinema and Skylight are movie production arms of the Kapamilya network.

“Looks like things are going to that direction,” Derek told reporters during a press conference for “Ex With Benefits,” which will open in

theaters on Sept. 2. He is set to promote the movie in four Kapamilya shows, Derek reported. “TV5 has allowed me to promote, too. (ABS-CBN and I) will limit our relationship strictly to the movies. This is out of respect for TV5.” He just renewed his contract with the Kapatid network early this year.

“I have to thank Direk Toto and Sir Enrico (Santos of Skylight) because they really fought for me. I guess they (ABS-CBN bosses) just figured that it was time. Both parties have decided to settle differences and just move on. When Direk Toto asked me to do ‘Pangil,’ that led

to other things. They realized that ‘maybe we should give Derek

another chance.’”

“Ex With Benefits” is the story of former lovers, Adam (Derek) and Arki (Coleen Garcia), who went to school together and had a good relationship until Arki suddenly disappeared. A decade later, they reunite, with Adam already a successful doctor and Arki, a medical representative. The two try to work together as they attempt to forget the past.

How do you approach acting in a sex scene?

The challenge of every actor is to step out of who you are, get into character and then come back to reality. What I do is shut my entire system down, stop being Derek and become my character. To prepare for this, I meditate. I convince myself that I am Adam. Coleen will not respect me if I get carried away.

How do you avoid “mishaps” during shooting?

Accidents happen. During one scene, I was supposed to lift Coleen and then dip her. When I did, her boobs were in my face. Coleen and I carried on with the scene. I simply apologized and she said OK. I haven’t experienced feeling exploited on the set. Only Anne (Curtis in “No Other Woman”) got to touch my bottom, but it was under the instruction of the director and with my consent.

Did you get to talk to Billy (Crawford, Coleen’s real-life boyfriend) after shooting the love scenes?

DEREK Ramsay is happy to be given a second chance.

Billy approached me to say that he was happy that the role went to me because he trusts me. It was kind of him to say that. It’s nice to know that I have a friend in the industry who looks at me that way and respects me.

Will you let your nonshowbiz girlfriend watch the movie?

She has no problem with it. She knows that this is what I do for a living. Before we got together, there were things in her life that some men might not accept—she has a child, but that’s a plus for me.

Joanne (Villablanca, 26) is a commercial model. Her daughter Sophie is 8. She calls me Tito Derek.

Have you had a chance to speak with Angelica (Panganiban, ex-girlfriend) after your breakup?

I haven’t seen her. I’d say hello to her if I bump into her but if she ignores me, I will not be insulted because that’s her take on things. I just hope that one day, we’d get to talk and let bygones be bygones.

How has your relationship with your 12-year-old son improved through the years?

I haven’t seen him since Christmas. He’s in school in Dubai…Our relationship is so much better than before, but it’s still a long way before we could have the kind of relationship I have with my father. I won’t stop trying, though. I went to Dubai recently, but didn’t get to see him. It will happen in God’s time. I will just keep trying. My son has been through enough emotional stress and I don’t want to add to it anymore.