Mindanao Protege Ruru Madrid thought he did something wrong when mentor Phillip Salvador slapped him in the face -- he didn't

Mindanao Protege Ruru Madrid, a protege of Phillip Salvador, had a memorable time during his audition spot. What's interesting about Ruru is that despite his young age, he thinks and speaks as if he's older and more mature. He tells of his very interesting audition monologue in the middle of which Phillip unexpectedly stood up and joined him in the "scene." To add emotion to the already dramatic piece, the mentor slapped Ruru in the face. In the end, Ruru handled the scene well.

Ruru Madrid

14 years old

Currently in 2^nd Year High School

Protégé of Phillip Salvador (Mindanao)

TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW

(exclusive to bloggers)

Ruru Madrid, at 14, is one of the youngest among the Top 20 Proteges. Although he and his family are now living in Marikina City, Ruru is representing his home province of Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

How did you know about Protégé?

“May mga nagsabi po kasi sa akin na may auditions nga daw po para sa Protégé. Sabi po nila subukan ko raw po dahil baka malaki ang chance ko na makapasok. Nasa school po ako nung ginawa ang audition tapos nagpaalam po ako na mag-o-audition.”

Why do you want to be a star?

“Mula nung bata pa po ako, kapag nakakapanood po ako ng drama scenes at may iyakan, naiisip ko po ‘siguro kaya ko itong gawin.’ Tapos maya-maya po napapatulo ko na po yung luha ko, tapos sasabihin ng nanay ko, ‘O, anong nangyari sa’yo?’ Tapos ganun po, kaya ko pong kontrolin ang luha ko.

What piece did you prepare for the audition?

“Kumanta po ako nun ng ‘One Thing’ ng One Direction. Tapos habang kumakanta po ako, nakikisabay po yung mga judge. Nung una po parang nahihiya pa po ako, parang hindi pa po ako masyadong handa pero yun pala napasaya ko po sila tapos ayun po, pinatawag po ulit ako para sa ‘call-back.’”

Totoo bang sinampal ka raw ni Phillip Salvador during the audition?

“Opo. Sa call-back po, pinatawag po ako ni Sir Phillip tapos sabi niya sa akin, ‘O, anong una mong gagawin, sasayaw? ’ Tapos sabi po niya ‘kumanta ka muna kasi baka pag sumayaw ka kaagad hihingalin ka mamaya pag kanta mo.’”

“Kumanta po ako ulit ng ‘One Thing’ tapos sumayaw po ako ng ‘Star Ships.’ Pagkatapos po nun, pinag-monologue na po ako. Habang nasa kalagitnaan po ako ng monologue, bigla pong tumayo si Sir Phillip tapos nagbatuhan po kami ng linya, kunwari siya ang tatay ko. Tapos bigla po niya akong sinampal. Siyempre nagulat po ako kasi medyo masakit po. Tapos after po nun, sabi niya, ‘Cut! Very Good!’ Sabi ko naman po, ‘Sir, thank you po.’ Pagkatapos po nun, pinalabas muna ako kasi pinanood niya ulit yung ginawa namin sa TV (monitor). Maya-maya pinatawag po ulit ako at pinakanta ulit. Ang kinanta ko na po yung ‘One Sweet Day’ tapos pinaarte po ulit ako pero hindi na kasama sa eksena si Sir Phillip. Tinuruan po niya ako kung paano humarap sa camera at kung paano umarte. Sabi po niya sa akin, ‘Tutulungan kita, pero sana tulungan mo rin ang sarili mo.’ Siyempre natuwa po ako kasi Phillip Salvador po yung nagsabi nun.”

But even after the call-back, Ruru tried not to think that he was already in the competition – just not yet.

He only knew that he was one of the Final 20 when a team from Protégé went to his house in the guise of doing a VTR material to aid the mentors in their selection. What he did not know was that the team was there to deliver the “good news.”

While the team was “interviewing” Ruru and his family, his cellphone rang, but because he didn’t want to cut the interview, he disregarded the call until the staff told him to pick it up.

“’Hello, is this Ruru Madrid?,’ sabi po nung nasa phone. Sabi ko po, ‘Yes po?’ Tapos sabi po niya, ‘This is Phillip Salvador.’ E di nagulat po ako kasi siya po yung tumawag. Sinabi niya sa akin, ‘Huwag kang magugulat sa sasabihin ko ha. Dapat maging handa ka. You made it; pasok ka na sa Protégé!’”

“Nung una po nagulat po talaga ako, hindi ako makapaniwala. Siguro mga after five minutes, dun ko lang naisip na pasok po ako kasi nag-iyakan na po yung mga kapatid ko at yung parents ko.”

How do you feel now that you’re inside the Protégé quarters?

“Masaya po ako kasi nagkaroon po ng mga kaibigan na taga iba’t-ibang lugar sa Pilipinas. Magagaling po silang lahat makisama, lahat po sila mababait.”

What have you learned from your experience as an aspirant and now as a protégé?

“Ang pinaka-natutunan ko po: kahit na parang alam mo na na pasok ka na, huwag mo muna ie-expect yun kasi marami pang maaaring mangyari. Nung nandito na po ako sa loob, isa sa mga natutunan ko po ay yung sinabi ni Kuya Germs na dapat maging professional daw po sa lahat ng bagay: huwag daw po male-late, kailangan kapag umarte, dapat ilagay mo ang sarili mo dun sa gagampanan mong role. (The protégés had a lecture-workshop session with German Moreno during their first few days in the quarters)

Note:

Catch the daily updates on the lives of each protégé from Monday to Friday (evenings) on Inside Protégé hosted by Jennylyn Mercado on GMA-7 and the online webshow Protégé Pa-Like hosted by Maxene Magalona available on GMA Network Protege.

Watch the weekly live gala nights hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Carla Abellana every Sunday, 8:30pm on GMA-7.