INTERNATIONAL model and Mister World runner-up Fernando Alvarez is proud to call the Philippines his second home. After bagging an endorsement deal with the soap brand Psalmstre, Alvarez is bent on pursuing a career in the local entertainment scene when he comes back after the holidays.
We got to speak to Alvarez in the middle of his “Free Hugs” campaign tour for the brand, a few days before he flew back to his native Puerto Rico to spend the Christmas and New Year with his family.
Tell us briefly about yourself, Fernando.
My complete name is Fernando Alberto Alvarez Soto. I am 22 years old, born and raised in Puerto Rico. I have a little sister called Helen Marie who for me is the real pride of the family. We are a close family, hard-working and strong in faith. In all humility, I graduated top of my class in high school.
I can describe myself as a survivor. When I was in the dormitory, a burglar entered the room and held me at gunpoint, before robbing me of everything he could get away with. I was also involved in a car mishap where the car was a total wreck but I came out of it with only a few bruises.
Both experiences made me realize some important lessons in life. And I believe that there is a reason for these life extensions. These experiences made me a stronger person, strengthened my faith in God, and made me live each day to the fullest.
I represented my country at the Mister International 2015 and got to the Top 10. And recently I competed in the Mister World 2016 and bagged first runner-up honors. These accomplishments, I dedicate to both the Philippines and Puerto Rico with love. My path in the world, I don’t know yet, but what I do know is that I don’t desire fame, I desire changing the world one step at a time. I may not be the perfect man, but surely I am a proud Pinoy-Rican that will be an instrument of change.
What are your impressions about the Philippines?
There is a reason of why I call my self a Pinoy-Rican, and it’s just that the Philippines overwhelms my heart. Great values, simple and humble people are just some of the amazing qualities Filipinos carry. The Philippines is a beautiful country with amazing history, beautiful beaches and unique culture, but the beauty of the Philippines is not measured by the land, it is measured by its people. It’s not called the “Smile of Asia” for nothing, people here are just incomparable. With the large number of selfies taken every day, the running jeepneys in the streets, the tasty turon and pansit that I love, and the people that just magnetised my heart since the day I arrived. I’m more than honored and blessed to be here and if I would love to accomplish my dreams, it will certainly be in my second home, the Philippines.
How were you discovered as a model and what brought you here in the Philippines?
I started as a model when I was 17 years old, at a time when I was about to start college. I never imagined I would be a model, because my only focus was to finish college and find a good job. I was accompanying a cousin to an agency and I was asked by the booking officer if I wanted to be a model. That day changed my life forever.
I never dreamt of becoming a model, but I’m a kind of person who always believes in fate and destiny. I also believe that everything happens for a reason, so I seized the opportunity and took it from there.
When I represented my country at the Mister International 2015 pageant in Manila, I was spotted by one of the pageant main sponsors, Jaime Acosta, who happens to be the CEO of Psalmtre Enterprises. I bagged the Psalmstre special award. And as they say, the rest is history.
Since then, I’ve been traveling back and forth to Manila for my official duties as ambassador and endorser, and in such a short time, I have embraced the Philippines as my second home and have fallen in love with the Filipino people.
How tall are you? How many languages do you speak?
I am six feet tall and can speak Spanish, English and marunong konti lang Tagalog.
What are your passions aside from modelling?
I’ve always been active in sports. I’ve been a big fan of basketball and cycling even before entering the modelling world. My passion now is to take care of my body and health. I am very active at the gym and I maintain proper diet and good habits so people can follow and use these as motivation to improve themselves.
Briefly, what’s your role as brand ambassador for Psalmstre?
My main function is to spread the word about the brand and influence Filipinos to take good care of their bodies, their skin and their health. Joining me in this mission are two celebrities, TV and film actor Ejay Falcon and theater actor Laurence Mossman.
Right now, our Free Hugs campaign aims to make people feel good about themselves, sharing the love to as many as we could possibly can.
What are your other dreams and ambitions?
Aside from pursuing my duties as ambassador, I also do a wide variety of modelling projects here in Asia and in America, but my main focus now is to get on board a local television series and become an actor here in the Philippines. I am trying to learn the language but a TV career surely is in the works for me.
How do you take care of yourself, your physique?
Of course going to the gym is a key point to maintain the body I have, but that is just a 25 percent of what I do to be in good shape. Proper eating is the other 75 percent, having a good diet every day, avoiding unhealthy foods just like fried and high carbohydrate foods.
What is your Christmas wish?
Christmas is a special time and it’s always celebrated with the people who matter—like friends and family. I’m going back to Puerto Rico for a few weeks and I’ll be right back in the Philippines to continue my functions as ambassador. We have this Free Hugs campaign now and we plan to bring it to more places all over the Philippines. I wish in very simple terms good health, peace, no greed, less self and more about others.
I also hope that I can become the second Puerto Rican to make an impact in the Philippines since Dayanara Torres. I wish to be embraced and loved the same way as you did for her. For now I’m a proud endorser with big dreams and with deep gratitude to the Filipino people.
If you have the power to move hearts, embrace it. Be the reason of a smile, give happiness to the world. Mahal ko ang Philippines! Merry Christmas po!