WEDNESDAY

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WEDNESDAY
18 October
2006

COVER
STORY

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BY NIKI CHEONG
SOME guys have all the luck. Okay, so maybe
Alvin Daniel Pulga, Channel [V]s latest video
jockey, has the looks, talent and the confidence to succeed as well, but one cant help
but feel that luck played a major part in
building his entertainment career.
Before you go, What career? We dont
even know this guy, take note that Alvey, as
he is popularly known, is quite the celebrity
in the Philippines, where he comes from.
There, Alvey is a celebrated model, actor and
well, certified heartthrob.
The Canada-born Alvey started his modeling career about four years ago when, while
on a trip with his Filipino father back to the
latters hometown in Luzon in the
Philippines, he was discovered by a talent
agent. Alveys uncle had brought him to
Manila to show me what the Philippines
has to offer and boy, did he get a taste all
right.
Within the first week of being scouted,
Alvey changed his name from Alvin Pulga to
Alvin Alfonso (his agent had told him that
Pulga was too common a name, so he took
on his mothers maiden name instead). A
week after that, he was in his first commercial and a month later, got his big break as
the star of a Ponds commercial.
That commercial declared him the
Philippiness latest boy-next-door star cute,
young and available.
Ive done modeling, acting and emceeing,
and Ive guest starred on daytime television
since, Alvey recounted.
Now, his modeling portfolio has extended
across the world, having been featured in
countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and
many countries in Europe.
Not a bad start for someone who is only 20

years old.
Before the fateful holiday with his father
in Luzon, Alvin was just enjoying life, and
perhaps not in the way many parents would
approve off. At that time, he was studying
kinesiology at the University of Regina at
Saskatchewan in Canada, although he admitted that it was more from parental pressure.
It was one of those things, you know,
with Asian families, you go straight to university, he said.
But pressured or not, he enjoyed it there.
I tried to be cool, go to as many parties
and meet hot chicks. It was like PR university.
I spent a lot of time at the library... to check
out the talent (referring to the pretty female
students), he said with a grin.
But when he couldnt get into class (he
was late in submitting his class request so
there was no space left), he decided to take a
trip to the Philippines.
Now, Alvey is the latest addition to the
Channel [V] family, a job he also got by
chance. It happened two nights before Alvey
was due to leave Malaysia producers from
the music TV channel had spotted him in a
bar and approached him. The day before he
left, he went in for a screen test and was told
that the channel could use him.
There was an inner battle. Which one was
more important? I needed a change after
being in Asia for so long. I needed to know
that the world is a bigger place, he said.
Alvey decided to go on his pre-planned
journey of self-discovery and after three
months, he came back, ready to take on the
world again. Good thing his spot at Channel
[V] was still waiting for him.
Im coming in with an open mind, he
said about his new job. Im doing this for
the exposure. Its worth so much more than
money.

COVER
STORY

Log on to
www.rage.com.m
y to watch a
video clip of Alvey
behind the scenes
at the photoshoot
for this article.

3
WEDNESDAY
18 October
2006

ALVEYS PROFILE
Real name: Alvin Daniel Pulga
Also known as: Alvin Alfonso, Alvey
Date of birth: July 15, 1982
Life motto: Youve only got one life
to live, dont let it pass you by.

Baby boy
ITS hard to imagine that someone who looks good, acts cool and well,
loves himself, would talk so much about his family. After all, talking
about filial love is hardly a studly thing to do.
But then, Channel [V]s latest video jockey Alvey, is hardly your average boy-next-door. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada (Its in
the prairie, I grew up with cowboys!), Alvey hardly fit the stereotype
of the submissive Asian nor does he fit into the Western archetypes.
Alveys Filipino mother is an English professor while his Filipino
father is a retired police officer from the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (also called a Mountie, an elite Canadian police force who go
around on horses). This sounds like just some average trivia about
someones family, until Alvey proudly said: My dad was only the second Filipino RCMP, you know.
Alvey speaks fondly of his family, but things werent always so good
with them.
My dad and I were not close, it was like he didnt understand me.
But looking back, I wouldnt have liked me either, Alvey explained.
My brother, whos 26, is the person I admire most. Hes the most
amazing individual smart and articulate. He was the genius, always
getting straight As, while I was always getting Cs or Bs, he said with a
smile.
Alvey credits his brother as his biggest influence, and the one who
made him the person he is now.
He influenced my style. He introduced me to music, and my
favourite music genre hip-hop. Hes an amazing guy to mould yourself after, he said.
Still, Alvey noted that while he misses his family, he doesnt communicate with them much while hes away.
Im a terrible keeper-in-toucher, he said with a laugh. I shut off
and focus on whats going on at that certain place, certain time. But
Ive got their full support. Theyre the people I love most in the world.