DEREK RAMSAY (Photo by Lester Ramos) After his contract with TV5 expired April this year, Derek Ramsay has been in talks with GMA executives, even meeting with them twice in one week. “They’re really nice. They were kind enough to invite my parents during the meeting,” he said. He cleared, though, that he is “not yet” Kapuso as they are still “negotiating certain things.” But given the chance, who are the Kapuso artists he wants to work with? “Anyone,” he pointed out. “I’ve never been the type of actor who chooses the people I work with. I’d love to work with everybody.” “But it will be great to work again with Jennylyn Mercado,” he added. “I’ve worked with her before and our experiences together were wonderful.” The two shared screen time in 2014 and 2017 for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entries, “English Only, Please” and “All Of You,” respectively. “Hopefully that’s not the last because every other year, I’m doing a movie for MMFF. Hopefully I’ll be able to work with her again next year.” Derek revealed he told GMA Network that he hopes to start working again next year and that he’s just on break. “I want to set my mind first because whenever I have a commitment, I want to give my 200 percent to it. Unfortunately, I can’t do that right now as I have been doing a lot of things,” he explained. The actor cleared there’s no bad blood between himself and TV5. “They want to focus more on sports, which is also my interest. But, I can’t forget about the other things I’ve learned to love, one of which is acting.” He is currently finishing the movie “Mga Mata Sa Dilim” co-starring Jessy Mendiola. Asked how he finds her, Derek said, “she’s good, she’s really awesome, she’s a brilliant actress.” “Also, I didn’t expect that she likes outdoors activities. She’s been diving a lot with Luis Manzano (her boyfriend).” Advocate, businesses The actor has not forgotten rendering charity work. In fact, he recently took part in an activity by KYZOX Corp., which focuses on an organic additive that can help eradicate dengue and malaria. “It’s a big problem in our country so we want the masses to be able to access these easily,” he explained. “We’re here to spread the word. I’m not being paid for this. I’m actually taking part in business so this is a new venture in my life, maybe the next chapter in my life.” He’s also tying up with a Singaporean online app that deals with mental health. “That is also a big problem in our society now, with children being bullied by other children, committing suicide, anxiety, depression,” he shared. “So really there’s so much I wanna do – but I’m not going to politics. I really want to just give back, help society.” Derek also has a business venture with his good friend, actor John Estrada, which is an event and talent agency. He’s grateful to work with John, whom he considers his “blood brother.” “So hopefully there are bigger things in store for us,” he said. For their agency, they offer workshops available for people ages three years old and up. “We want to help and protect the smaller talents and give them workshops for free,” he said. Personal life Derek shared he’s hands-on in fulfilling his responsibilities as father to his 15-year-old son, Austin. “There are hiccups and bumps along the way but that’s part of it. All I wanna do is give a big chunk of my time to him and just be a father,” he related. For the past five months that Austin has been living with him, Derek said he took him to school where he’s been doing well. “He even just had basketball tryouts but unfortunately he wasn’t able to make the cut so he was really sad about that. But, I told him Michael Jordan didn’t make his first try out in high school, and I myself didn’t make my first try out in high school,” the actor said. “It’s about how you bounce back.” Are wedding bells about to ring for himself and girlfriend, Joanne Villablanca, we asked. Well, “not yet” but “definitely in the next two or three years.” Derek was also asked about his opinion on rumors that his former girlfriend, Angelica Panganiban, has been rekindling romance with Carlo Aquino. “I hope so. I’ve always said I want Angel to find the right guy. And I see no problem with that as they used to date each other before. Carlo used to come to the house when Angel and I were dating back then so I know him. It’s nice that they’ve maintained their friendship through the years. “So, I hope the rumors are true. I’ll be a fan, if ever it is. They look really, really good together and very sweet together.”