Faces of the News: Derek Ramsay

Illustration by Rene Elevera

For delivering what not a few observers described as his career’s finest performance yet, Derek Ramsay, star of the romantic drama “All of You,” won his second Metro Manila Film Festival’s (MMFF) best actor trophy at the recent Gabi ng Parangal ceremony.

In the movie, directed by Dan Villegas, Ramsay and costar Jennylyn Mercado play a couple whose contradicting values and outlooks on love and marriage become apparent after deciding to live together.

As in the 2014 romantic comedy “English Only, Please” — which also starred Mercado and won for Ramsay his first MMFF best actor trophy — the 41-year-old matinee idol wasn’t the first choice for “All of You.”

In fact, he once quipped, he didn’t even think he was ever the first option in any of the films he has done.

He said his victory was made sweeter by the presence of his 14-year-old son, Austin, whom he hasn’t seen in two years. “I dedicate this award to him.”