TOP  CELEB  PAYS  FOR  NEW  HOUSE IN COLD CASH


MANILA, MARCH 15, 2010 (MALAYA) ETHEL RAMOS (‘Obviously, the payment got to the owner intact.’)

THERE’S no denying that Bugoy Drilon (real name: Jay Bogayan) is one of the most successful graduates of the popular reality program, "Pinoy Dream Academy" (PDA).

He placed second to Laarni Lozada, who was the grand winner.

It has been an unending struggle for success for the probinsyano from Ocampo, Camarines Sur.

But it was worth it, Bugoy himself admits. His career immediately took a major leap, when the song from his first album, "Paano Na Kaya?," became a radio hit all over the country.

Add to this the fact that the song became the official soundtrack of a recent Star Cinema movie. Starring the love team of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, "Paano Na Kaya?" was a big success at the boxoffice.

Now, his second album, produced by renowned composer Vehnee Saturno, is packed with OPM love songs, which surely will bring back memories.

The tracks in the album, which has for its carrier single, "Hindi Na Bale," include "Lumayo Ka Man sa Akin," "Dahil Tanging Ikaw," "Ikaw ang Mamahalin," "Pagkat Mahal Kita," "Sana’y Ibigin Mo" and as a bonus track, "Paano Na Kaya?" is included.

To promote the album, Bugoy will go on a mall tour in Metro Manila and in the provinces.

He will be in Cavite on March 27, SM Marilao on April 11 and Bagaberde on May 1.

***

What he enjoys most about his newfound success, according to Bugoy, is the chance to travel .

On the day Star Record organized a presscon for him for his second album, Bugoy revealed that he had just arrived from Japan, where he performed with Sam Milby.

And what are the countries he has been to in the nearly three years that he has been in showbiz?

"Well, I’ve been to New York , some cities in California and some places in Asia.

"I feel so overwhelmed with all these good things that have been coming my way," he added. "Gusto ko lang, namnamin ito."

Bugoy was in Bicol for Christmas and the New Year. He turned 20 last January 1.

For the first time, he related, he took an airplane to Bicol.

"In 30 minutes, I was in Naga City ," he related. "A friend who owns a motorcycle fetched me, from the airport.

"Sa motorcycle niya kami sumakay to get to my hometown.

"Walang nabago sa lugar naming, except that I suddenly became popular.

"And my kabaryo were all proud of me."

"What did you do with your prize money?" we asked Bugoy.

As second runner-up, Bugoy received a cash prize of P500,000.

"I had my father purchase the small farmland na tinatamnan namin ng palay at kung anu-ano pang gulay.

"Dati kasi, we were just renting it.

"The rest, ipinatago ko sa mother ko sa bangko, para naman sa pag-aaral ng mga younger siblings ko."

Bugoy is the third in a brood of five.

***

Bugoy said he is aware of talks about his gender.

"May nagdudang bakla daw ako," he stated. "Dahil daw malamya akong kumilos at magsalita.

"But that’s my nature. What can I do? Basta, ang importante, I know who and what I am."

Before he joined the PDA, he had a girlfriend, who was a classmate at the University of Sta. Isabel in Naga City , where he was a janitor in exchange of a scholarship.

They have since called it quits.

Didn’t he also triy courting Liezl, his fellow housemate?

"I did," Bugoy replied. "But I agree with her that we should both concentrate on our careers muna.

"Liezl and I are in constant contact, as sometimes, we perform together with other PDA housemates, especially in the provinces.

"We often go out, too, as friends.

"Magkasama naming pinanood ang ‘Avatar’."

***

When a top celebrity recently purchased his beautiful house, located in a plush subdivision in Quezon City , the owner demanded that the payment be made in cash.

It wasn’t a small amount, mind you.

But so desirous the celebrity was in owning the property, he obliged to the demand.

Obviously, the payment got to the owner intact.

In no time, the celebrity’s lawyer got all the necessary documents attesting that the celebrity is now the legal owner of the property.