Why Luis Alandy wanted to change his name to Adrian

Adrian Alandy —MARINEL CRUZ

Actor Luis Alandy now wants to use Adrian as a screen name.

Alandy said he has made the decision after two life-altering experiences—when he got married in 2017 and when he made the movie “Citizen Jake” under the great Mike de Leon.

“I wanted a fresh start for myself as an actor after I got married [to social media influencer Joselle Fernandez]. I hoped to leave the actor Luis behind. He had been identified with playing sexy roles. I wanted a new packaging. Also, there are a lot of men named Luis in my family,” said Alandy, who is Adrian Louise in real life.

Alandy, however, pointed out that this does not mean he will stop playing sexy roles. “I just want to be able to make my own decisions when it comes to the projects I will make, unlike before when I would just say ‘yes’ to everything,” he began. “This actually started when I did ‘Citizen Jake.’ I mentioned this to my manager (Noel Ferrer). I said, ‘I guess now is the time.’ The audition for that movie was really intense. I cried when I got the role. Not everyone gets to work with Direk Mike. I don’t know if he has done another movie after ‘Citizen Jake,’” said Alandy.

Alandy in Mike de Leon’s “Citizen Jake” —CONTRIBUTED photo

Polishing skills

Alandy was last seen in the 2023 series “Magandang Dilag” on GMA 7. “I’m still waiting for the right offer, but I’ll be doing Meissner Advance Acting this June under Angeli Bayani,” he said. “As an actor, you can’t be too complacent. I can’t say I already know how to be a good actor. I need to work on improving myself, especially now that there are a lot of emerging but really talented actors.”

He continued: “They’re all multitalented. These days, you can’t just know how to sing and dance. You have to be able to do everything. I want to really polish my acting skills. I grew up in this industry. I’ve been acting since 1997, and I’m lucky that I’m still here. Hopefully, I could also study directing at the Mowelfund Film Institute soon.”

Alandy said he first took a crash course on directing in 2020, during the pandemic lockdowns. “I participated in the online class of Direk Adolf (Alix Jr.). I was the only celebrity who joined. I would sometimes practice what I’ve learned, but I still want to have a formal schooling,” he said.

Right now, Alandy is into motorcycle sport riding. “I learned how to ride when I turned 40. I actually started late. I have a certificate from Honda. My wife did not allow me to ride, because she said it was dangerous, unless I signed up for classes. I started by using an adventure bike, then shifted to a classic one. Now, I ride a sportbike,” he said.

“It’s a stress reliever for me. I started during the pandemic, when the roads were still all clear. I would ride my motorcycle and listen to music. I would just focus on the road. Back then, it was really for my sanity. I don’t know how I would’ve ended up then if I didn’t learn how to ride.”

Family life has since been “pleasant and happy,” according to Alandy. “My wife is kind and understanding. I did a number of movies before we started dating. She watched ‘Anino sa Likod ng Buwan’ with her entire family when it was shown. During the pandemic, I did a number of movies for Vivamax, since it was the only production outfit that was producing at the time. I never heard any complaints from her. She just told me to be honest with her about the work that I do,” the actor said.

Effective influencer

Alandy said he was happy that these days, Joselle is often invited to a lot of social gatherings as a vlogger. “I’m actually her ‘plus one’ today,” Alandy told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent interview.

“People would send different products to our house almost everyday. I’m happy for her because her following is growing. She’s really a shy person and is not used to the attention. I was actually the one who pushed her.”

Despite this, Alandy doubts he would be an effective social media influencer. “Joselle is good at speaking in front of the camera, while I’m not. I’m OK if I can’t see myself, like in interviews when cameras are in front of me. Being an actor is different. I’m portraying a character. I embody a different persona every time. I’m not really myself. I stutter when I’m made to talk like a vlogger. I get anxious,” he admitted.

Having a baby is not a priority yet, said Alandy. “I will admit it now—since my father died two years ago, I sort of promised my mom that I will help her financially. She is a senior and is living with my sister. It’s actually more fulfilling for Joselle and me that we’re helping our families. If a baby comes along, Joselle and I will be grateful for it, but right now, our priority is to help take care of our families, especially mine,” said Alandy, adding that his wife has just turned 31.