Showbiz newbie Antonio Vinzon is in disbelief that he has been given a lead role just two years after he entered showbiz.
Antonio is one of the lead stars of GMA-7 primetime series Mga Batang Riles, which starts airing on January 6, 2025.
The 16-year-old actor tells PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that his dad, veteran actor Roi Vinzon, is equally surprised about the unique opportunity given to him.
“Until now shocked pa siya, e. Like parang ganyang edad bida na agad sa teleserye,” Antonio says of his dad’s reaction, which stems from the fact that Roi himself was 25 years old when he got his first lead role in a teleserye.
Nonetheless, Antonio says dad Roi is grateful that the budding actor is starting to make his showbiz dream come true at a young age.
“Super grateful po siya and super thankful po ako siya ang naging tatay ko siya. And I’m happy po na naging part ako ng opportunity na ito.”
Antonio, who is 6’2” tall, is Roi’s son with Jeany David-Vinzon, a former band vocalist.
Antonio stars in Mga Batang Riles alongside Kokoy De Santos, Raheel Bhyria, Bruce Roeland, and Miguel Tanfelix.
DISCOVERED THROUGH A PHOTO ON SOCIAL MEDIA
How Antonio got into showbiz is something to be envied.
Unlike showbiz aspirants who go through countless auditions and rejections, Antonio was discovered quite by accident.
But Lala’s attempts became Antonio’s ticket to showbiz. She posted a photo with her younger brother on her Instagram account, which then caught the eye of a talent management company.
That was two years ago, when Antonio was just 14 years old.
Antonio tells PEP, “Nakita lang po talaga ako sa IG ng sister ko, and sa Cornerstone po ako nakilala, at nilagay po ako sa GMA Sparkle.”
Antonio is now being co-managed by Cornerstone Entertainment, Inc., a local talent-management company, and Sparkle GMA Artist, GMA’s talent-management arm.
“Basically po, first, naging basketball player po sa San Beda School,” related Antonio, who is now Grade 11.
“And then nakita po ako sa IG ng sister [Lala] ko, and I was shocked po na nakuha ako ng Cornerstone.”
The talent company then got in touch with Antonio and was asked if he wanted to sign with them.
It was a positive surprise for Antonio, as it was for his dad Roi.
“Nagulat rin si Papa sa nangyari na, ‘Bakit? Nakuha ka?’ Shocked rin siya, e,” Antonio recalls.
It turns out that dad Roi was thinking Antonio would eventually join showbiz but at a later age, like at 18 years old.
But the father and son did not have to wait that long, as Antonio grabbed the opportunity that landed on his feet.
In his first two years in showbiz, Antonio appeared in All-Out Sundays (AOS), GMA’s Sunday variety show, and in vlogs.
And now he has been given his biggest break yet: starring in Mga Batang Riles.
“Dati nag-a-AOS lang ako—singing and dancing. Ngayon nasa Mga Batang Riles,” he says.
“Mas gagalingan ko pa po yung pagiging part ng Mga Batang Riles to show you guys. Gagalingan ko po, ibibigay ko yung 100 percent ko.”
Based on the teleserye’s trailer, Antonio shows promise in terms of acting.
The young actor credits this to the workshops he went through for two years under actress Ana Feleo.
Antonio explains, “Pina-acting workshop po ako for two years—singing, dancing, and acting rin po.
“Pina-workshop po talaga ako ng management para pagdating ng araw, ready na ako, and 100 percent na alam ko na yung craft ko.”
ANTONIO on LESSONS FROM HIS DAD
It is no surprise that Antonio was set to enter showbiz. Despite the fact that it is in his blood, he grew up observing his dad on set.
“Three years old pa lang po ako, nandito na ako sa GMA,” he explains. “Pumupunta po ako sa mga set niya.
“Marami na po akong natutunan kung paano gumalaw yung mga tao sa set.”
He then went on to describe his father’s role in the 2013 Kapuso primetime series My Husband’s Lover.
Roi portrayed a retired army general in the series. He would then share bits of acting tips, such as internalizing a character, to a young Antonio.
According to Antonio, his father assumes his role every time he puts on the costume.
He elaborates on his dad Roi’s advice when it comes to portraying a character: “Sa akin naman sabi niya, ‘Hanapin mo yung paano ka pumunta sa eksena na iyon. Paano ka pumantay sa karakter mo na iyon.”
But more than effectively portraying a role, Antonio says his father gave another important advice in the industry.
“Sabi ng Papa ko, ‘Maging mabuti ka lang sa mga tao and dapat husayan mo. Dapat ready ka na on set or off-cam.”
Antonio reveals he received the same piece of advice from Jeric Raval, his senior co-star in Mga Batang Riles.
The young actor also clarifies that his dad Roi is not pressuring him in his showbiz venture.
“Basta galingan ko lang daw po sa pag-acting and makisama sa mga tao kahit mababa iyan.
“Gaya nga ng sabi ni Tito Jeric Raval, kahit mababa, kahit staff man iyan dapat maging mabuti kang tao.
“Sa acting puwede mo naman matutunan, pero yung ugali hindi mo na matututunan iyan.”
As for the direction his showbiz career is set to take, Antonio intends to just go with the flow.
“Kung saan mapadpad at kung saan mabigay ng Diyos sa akin, doon ako pupunta.
“And kung acting mapadpad sa akin, okay lang rin kasi parang nasa dugo ko na rin po, e.”
For now, he is leaning toward the action-drama genre, which he admits to enjoying in his current teleserye.
