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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider MOVIEGOER: Why fans love Derrick Monasterio

MOVIEGOER: Why fans love Derrick Monasterio

Published May 7, 2026 01:20 pm

An official holiday was hardly the best time to gather fans and followers in what is known hereabouts as Fans’ Day. Yet, it seemed like the most opportune time for Derrick Monasterio to have an audience with his fans, friends as he likes to call them.

Being part of a non-working long weekend, the day also happened to be the only window in the young actor’s calendar. Derrick arrived just in time when his fans had filled up the airconditioned dining room at Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City.

The “Apoy sa Dugo” star was greeted with wild cheer and applause.

A short prayer prefaced the celebration, during which fans spoke about Derrick’s good heart, his kindness and accessibility. At one point, the 30-year-old actor pulled a tissue from a nearby box, turned around to wipe tears that had welled around his eyes. He was visibly touched by the kind attention his fans had given him.

The formal introductions done and over with, everyone partook of a simple merienda of pancit canton and chicken inasal, both specialties of the 87-year-old bakery café.

I forgot to ask proprietor Wilson Lee Flores if Derrick himself shouldered the bill. If he did, I take my hat off to him.

Some of his fans were prompting Derrick if he was ready to enter politics. That afternoon, I had just learned that his mother, former actress Tina Monasterio, is currently the sitting chairman of Barangay Anonas in Quezon City.

I was reminded of a saying: The apple, maybe the caimito, doesn’t fall far off from the tree.

It remains to be seen if that were to be so in the case of Derrick.

In our brief chat, Derrick invited us to watch his first theatrical role, “Ibarra,” a musical based on “Noli Me Tangere,” slated this June at the GSIS Theater. The actor is a singer on top of being an athlete.

***

After a stalled launching series, once called “Ligaya,” Ivana Alawi claims TV stardom via action-drama, “Love is Never Gone,” which starts airing on Prime on May 8.

Shot in her home country, Morocco, in partnership with Joshua Garcia, the series held its press preview at Gateway Cinema in Cubao, where we sat in awe of its grand visuals, great performances and fast-paced storytelling.

During the open forum, Ivana teased Joshua how he seemed so engrossed in their kissing scene, making the actor blush. My seatmate, Eugene whispered, “Kahit naman sino, gagawin din ang ginawa ni Joshua kay Ivana.”

Ivana is considered the top sex symbol among the younger generation of TV stars. And Joshua is just too lucky landing on her lap.

Related Tags

Derrick Monasterio Kamuning bakery Joshua Garcia Ivana Alawi
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