Who is David Licauco off cam?
That was the question I asked the 28-year-old heartthrob during our quick interview in a restaurant in Cebu where he and the cast of Maria Clara at Ibarra went for a series of mall shows during the Sinulog Festival.
In his usual boyish demeanor, he said, “I’m a very chill person, I’m actually very shy. I would say I’m an introvert. I tend to shy away from big groups of people.”
“If you noticed kanina during the press conference, I felt really nervous, but now I feel relaxed and I can talk more,” he carried on.
David is not your typical celebrity. At a young age, he already has several businesses to his name – a few restaurants, a fitness club, an online shop for holistic lifestyles, and a food-delivery service. It’s also good to note that his intentions as an entrepreneur are not solely profit-motivated.
Onscreen, he portrays an image that melts the hearts of many. On social media, he makes every girl blush, and makes them drool for more. Thanks to his genes and his diligent effort to hit the gym twice a day.
But did you know David start off his day at 6:00 in the morning with a mental exercise? He reads books in the morning.
“Working out clears my mind and makes me feel happy and energetic throughout the day. But I do read books like Start with Why, Leaders Eat Last, and I study marketing. Or for work, I study films that can help me with the emotions required by my character,” he said.
How about his normal day? It depends on his mood.
“I believe that what you do in the morning will dictate what you’re going to do throughout the day. If I’m an actor today, I have a different preparation. The same thing goes when I want to be a business for the day. It really varies from day to day. Minsan tamad din ako,” he comes clean.Undoubtedly, David is one of the brightest names in local show business. He’s made a seamless transformation from an eye candy and a budding talent into one of the most bankable male leads today.
His role in the GMA
Network series Maria Clara at Ibarra obviously has done so many good things in his booming career as an actor making him a household name.
“Now I get video greeting requests from people who used to bully me,” he said in jest. “But kidding aside, not everyone gets this opportunity, not everyone can pull off a role like this so I feel blessed because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.”
A mark of a humble actor, his popularity doesn’t get into his head. David is also building a reputation for speaking his mind, recognizing his status as a role model for young people.
“I like going out, and sometimes I get conscious because whenever I go out, by the next day I would already see videos of me on TikTok. In a way, that made me feel responsible for my actions especially when I’m outside because people now look up to me. I need to be careful with my actions and set a good example.”
Just like Fidel, his character in Maria Clara at Ibarra, who is also known as “The Pambansang Red Flag,” David has gone through some sort of “character development” in real life.
“I guess we have to be aware sa lahat ng bagay na nagyayari sa paligid natin. Just like Fidel now, he tries to put himself in others’ shoes before he makes any actions,” he ended.