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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW | Daniel Matsunaga and Jex de Castro - The Face Australia Red Carpet Event
Jan 14, 2024
In this exclusive interview, Raine Cabral Laysico, senior writer of The Philippine Times (Australia), had an intimate conversation with Philippine-based personalities Daniel Matsunaga and Jex de Castro. This took place during The Face Australia's Red Carpet Event on 16th September 2023 at The Melrose Events in Melbourne. 🎤✨ 🎥 Video Production Credits: Producer: Ariel Victoria or Valsite Imprints Photography and Films Special thanks to Choy Symes of Face Australia for facilitating this interview. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with exclusive content and captivating interviews from notable events! #DanMatsunaga #JexDeCastro #TheFaceAustralia #RedCarpet #ExclusiveInterview #PhilippineTimesAustralia #MelbourneEvents
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hi everyone, this is Serene Cabral-Acico from the Philippine Times and here with me are Daniel and Jack
0:07
So, Daniel, how are you finding Melbourne and what's your first impressions
0:13
Well, it's an amazing city. So beautiful, I love the weather, I love the people here
0:19
It was so warm to us. I haven't had any bad experience. I've been traveling for many other countries
0:27
and when I got here, even in immigration, everybody was super cool. I love it, I love it
0:34
Everything about Melbourne has been a great experience, even if it's just too short
0:39
How long are you staying? We arrived on the 13th, we'll leave you on the 19th
0:45
Oh wow, and Jack, what about you? What stood out the first time, like the first two hours in Melbourne
0:52
Everything's so overwhelming in a very good way. When we arrived at the airport
0:59
everything is organized. When I went to the city, I was really amazed with all the buildings and stuff
1:06
When did you start your career and what was sort of the defining moment when you decided
1:13
okay, I could make a living out of this? That's too serious. I'm gonna cry right now
1:22
I started, I'm in a corporate job before and then 2017, I had like, what do you call this
1:30
A call from ABS-CBN and they want me to try Tawag ng Tanah Ata. I think it's a talent scout from ABS
1:36
I kept on declining it since I thought that I'm not gonna be in this business anymore because I
1:42
have a day job, I'm doing good already. And later on, they've been calling me like March of 2017
1:51
and I decided to join December 2017. So it's been a while, they've been in touch
1:58
They were really quoting you. I think they saw me singing in a bar in Makati
2:03
And that's how it started and then I joined the competition and I think I lost it the first time
2:11
I joined Tawag ng Tanah Ata. And I think it got me fired up. I can't fail
2:19
Like I can't end it on that note. That time after I lost it, I contacted the talent coordinator
2:27
who messaged me and then I want to go back to the competition. You should put me back on
2:32
because I want to win this one. That's it. And right now, I still keep on singing
2:37
And I think that really showcased your determination and your resilience as well
2:42
So if they knock you, I guess this is a life lesson right here. Jex is dropping some wisdom
2:49
that if it's not meant for you but you still want to keep and give yourself another shot
2:57
just go for it. I just want to share as well since I didn't win Tawag ng Tanah Ata
3:01
I still have this emptiness in me. I think I'm very competitive. And then last March
3:09
I was tapped to represent the Philippines in London. It's called the Stars of the Albion
3:15
It's different countries. I think 25 countries competed and I won the title
3:20
So there you go. And after that, I got a courtesy call in Walakanyang Palace
3:26
I was awarded, like giving pride to the Philippines. And it was fun because this is
3:32
what, as a performer, it's a big thing that people appreciate you. You give inspiration
3:38
to other singers who can't make it as well. Exactly. When I won it, during my interviews
3:44
I always tell them that if it's not your time, it's not your time. But in God's perfect time
3:49
it's going to happen if it's really for you. Congratulations on winning and representing
3:53
the country. So that's definitely props to you, Jex, for not giving up on your dreams
3:59
Awesome. All right. I'm not your competition. In today's digital age, more specifically, everything is a little bit, I would assume
4:12
superficial. Everything's sort of like instant gratification. And people tend to, I guess
4:20
judge you by the cover of how you present yourself to the world. So how do you sort of
4:27
manage, obviously, as a model, as an actor, you have the skills to be in your industry
4:37
to be recognised. But how do you sort of balance, I guess, the superficial with the deepness of
4:44
your character? And how can you sort of showcase that? That Daniel Mitsunaga is not just a pretty
4:52
face. Well, of course, from the start, when I got in the Philippines, I always had my goals
4:59
and objectives in life. I guess I just have to be me. Be simple, humble, see where I came from
5:10
and keep working hard. I think the most important in any business is for you to really work hard
5:16
and have a goal. And I always had that in my mind. I had to go through a lot of difficult times
5:26
bad times. There's always an up and down to everything you do in life. But for me, well
5:33
in the beginning, it was very difficult. I didn't know the language. I didn't know a lot of things
5:38
Everything was new. Acting was new. Being there in a different country was new already
5:44
You don't know many people. You don't have connections. So basically, you go there by
5:48
yourself and then you have to just face it. What was the hardest? When you were starting
5:56
what sort of, looking back then, what was the hardest thing that you said
6:01
maybe I should just, maybe it's not for me? Did you ever think that
6:05
Many times, yes. Many times, sometimes you want to give up because the industry is very competitive
6:13
At the same time, it's very tricky too. There are a lot of things that happens
6:18
in the background. There are a lot of bad things too. It's difficult. It's not something for
6:26
everybody. But I guess if you really don't go for your dreams, if you really have to
6:37
follow what you really want in life and make sure that you learn
6:43
What was your first big break? Do you remember when you just said, all that hard work sort of paid off now? Well, of course, big time was Be My Big Brother when I
6:54
won Be My Big Brother in 2017. That was really a big thing in my life. People got to know
7:02
got to see me on TV almost every day there for like 100 days, 100 plus days
7:10
When you're there, there are cameras everywhere. People see who you are and there's nothing you
7:16
can hide, right? So at the end of the day, they will see if you are really a real person there
7:21
or if you have your bad moods. So me, I always try to stick to being positive, a positive person
7:31
I always try to make my friends happy and people around me happy. If you were to tell yourself and sort of meet yourself like Jax of 10 years ago
7:41
what would that message be to yourself? How would you talk to yourself
7:46
This is like a pageant. We're at the FACE Australia pageantry. The questions are so hard, you know. Sorry guys, you said kahitano
7:59
So we're going kahitano. If I'm going to tell Jax 10 years ago
8:05
I'm just going to tell him that wait patiently, wait for the right timing and never stop dreaming
8:13
Because 10 years ago, I think I almost gave up with my singing career
8:21
Like what I said, this is really not for me. So I should just keep my day job
8:27
And because before Tawag ng Tanghalan, I lost on all the TV competitions I joined
8:34
Like during the audition, the first level, I failed. So I thought it wasn't for me
8:40
Then after that, there was just really a right timing for everything
8:44
So never stop dreaming Jax and all your dreams will come true at the right time
8:49
Wow, awesome. Okay, so what would your advice be to people who want to pursue their dreams
8:57
Well, follow your goal, you know. Always dream big, you know. Never dream less than what you can
9:06
Work hard. Work as much as you can. Try to make people proud of what you can achieve in life
9:18
Make yourself proud. Make yourself happy and do the things that really will make you happy first
9:27
Happiness is very crucial. And of course, always put everything in God's hands
9:35
Because without Him, we're nobody. And no matter what you get in here
9:41
you won't bring when you're dead, right? So always glorify Him in everything you guys do
9:48
But always have big goals and work hard. Amazing. I'm gonna mention, I think, a word or a phrase and then you tell me what
10:01
the first thing that comes to mind. Filipino game. Filipino game? Poseidon
10:12
Pwede, pwede. Game, game. All right. Dance songs or hip-hop? Dance songs. Bruno Mars-ish. Favorite dance song
10:24
Uptown Funk. Adobo or sinigang? Sinigang ngayon. Kasi dati, adobo talaga ako. You like it more
10:34
Yeah. Before, I couldn't even eat sinigang. But now, it's one of my favorites
10:39
So grow. Kinilaw. Kinilaw. You can eat it. It's nice. Sinigang and kinilaw for me
10:44
Favorite activity when you go to a new country, aside from eating the local food
10:51
I like shopping. That's why I'm looking for a divisoria here. I'll show you. I'll show you. I'll show you the place to go
10:59
And then, if there was going to be a song about your life, what would it be
11:05
I kinda call one or another. You got me with the other one
11:13
Yes. I snuck that in. I would say, photograph. The Ed Sheeran? Yeah
11:22
Do you want to sing it? No, I don't want to sing it. Okay. You say yes or no
11:31
All right. Thank you so much for joining us in today's episode with Jax and Daniel
11:41
And catch them right now, today. Right now. Come to Melrose Receptions and Event Center for the FACE Australia pageantry
11:54
So to all our Kababayans who are in Bendigo, come check out Jax and Daniel
12:01
They're one of the most down-to-earth celebrities that I've met. And we just really enjoy the vibe here
12:10
It's super chill, super Mabayet. And it's just, you know, I just can't ask anything about Daniel's shoes
12:18
But that's fine. So nice. It's, it's, they're both nice shoes, right
12:22
No, no. I said feet. So feet. And feet. It's there inside
12:27
Yeah. All right. There you go. But catch them, guys. And I know that this won't be the last time that they would be here
12:36
Because they're just super cool, super awesome individuals who have never given up on their dreams
12:42
So once again, this is Reyn Cabralesico from the Philippine Times. So any last words to our Kababayans here
12:50
Thank you. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Thank you. All right
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