From an interview by Tessa Mauricio-Arriola on the online show, “The Manila Times CSI: Celebrity, Style, and Inspiration,” Thursday nights on The Manila Times Facebook, YouTube and Daily Motion accounts.
Derek Ramsay is certainly the hunkiest of all in Philippine showbiz, but since starting his career in 1997, the man has always proven that he’s so much more than his damn good looks. He is a consummate actor and a very versatile one at that.
Moreover, he has consistently inspired many with his active lifestyle, passion for sports and athletic adventures. Indeed, the half British-half Filipino celebrity is known not only as an actor but an athlete having played for the National Frisbee team, and despite his great regret of getting into golf late in life, he unabashedly pursues his dream of going pro at 43.
But of course, his obsession with both golf and acting have become very difficult to do since the world began its battle against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The pandemic didn’t just put his acting projects on hold, kept him off the green, but for the devoted son and brother, it sadly kept him separated from his family for some time.
“It’s been tough for me like everybody,” Ramsay shared during an exclusive interview for the weekly online show “The Manila Times CSI: Celebrity, Style, Inspiration.”
had to endure being separated from girlfriend Andrea Torres, but steeling their relationship
with a lot of communication
“I’m having a very hard time adapting to all of this but that’s the key here — we have to adapt to what’s going on right now.
“My family and I were separated for the entire initial lockdown,” he continued. “The first week was the toughest for me. I was struggling with a little bit of depression because I’m always used to being outside the house and doing things.”
Unable to do any sports during the strict quarantines, Ramsay said his body was longing for the outdoors where he prefers to release his energy.
“I just had to find ways of entertaining myself, keeping myself mentally strong here in the house by doing different types of workouts, reading, praying and having quality conversations with my friends and family online.”
Besides being away from his family, he was of course separated from his girlfriend Andrea Torres too, which, though unbearable, had a positive outcome.
“I didn’t get to see Andrea for the entire lockdown. We talked to each other through video calls and stuff like that, but we had such great quality conversations so I got to know her immensely and it made the relationship a lot stronger. What happened was kind of a long-distance relationship although she’s just 20 minutes down the road,” he chuckled.
“In our regular lives, sometimes we’re so preoccupied with work and all of the other things that you have to do. You might be physically there with your family and loved ones but sometimes you’re not 100 percent there because you’re thinking of other things. But during the lockdown, your focus is completely on them and I enjoyed the conversations that I had with her and my family. It’s amazing for me to say this but I got to know her, my mom and my dad even more during the lockdown.”
Ramsay’s anxieties gradually lessened when the Enhanced Community Quarantine was lifted. He wasted no time in reuniting with the most important people in his life.
“The first thing I did was go and get Andrea’s family and my family together so we all went up to Tagaytay. My father and I went for a round of golf together with Andrea, and the two families bonded so that was really nice. That helped me to get my energy levels up again and my positivity, I got it back. It was just nice to see our loved ones together,” he enthused.
New chapter
Since starting in showbiz, Ramsay has always sported his trademark buzzcut look. But since the pandemic, his followers have noticed he has decided to grow his out little by little.
“I just wanted to open a new chapter in my life,” he explained when asked why. “But I still shock myself every time I pass by a mirror—I’m really not used to it. Parang ‘who’s that guy?’ It’s been so long [since I did this] and now I have to stock up shampoo and conditioner,” he added laughing.
“But yeah, it’s been over two decades that I’ve maintained that kind of look. But just over the lockdown, I said maybe it’s time for a change.”
Besides the pandemic, it is also in completing the construction and interiors of his new house that led Ramsay to embracing change.
“I was in the process of building my home where I want to start a family and stuff. So, I was like, new house, new look, and new chapter of my life. We should have that kind of mindset. Life is filled with ups and downs, twist and turns and I guess this is just a part of life. We’re going to adapt and get through this. I definitely trust that this will come to an end,” he declared.
Church bound
It can be recalled that Derek Ramsay and Andrea Torres confirmed their relationship during an interview on the set of GMA Network’s prime time series, “The Better Woman,” in September 2019. It was only their first time to work together—Ramsay having just joined GMA from TV5—but since then, the celebrity couple have proven that that their relationship is both serious and genuine.
With his past girlfriends, Ramsay—who would always dodge questions about marriage—is both a confident and certain man when the topic comes up.
Given his new home and plans of raising a family there, The Sunday Times Magazine had to ask if he and Andrea will soon walk down the aisle, he declared, “Most definitely. That’s the plan. Like I said, this new home, I built it so that I can make the family bigger. That’s definitely in my two- to three-year plan. Sana ito na nga, please Lord,” he adorably and happily pleaded.
The public has always been interested in Ramsay’s love life for who would disagree that this seemingly perfect guy is catch. He dated Solenn Heussaff, Angelica Panganiban, Cristine Reyes and commercial model Joanne Villablanca, but never talked about taking those relationships to the next level. “Time will tell” was his go-to statement.
In this interview however, Ramsay willingly opened up and said, “There was a whole confusion that Derek is not the marrying type and then this and that, but that’s not the case. My parents have been married for 47 years and I have the perfect marriage to follow. What they taught me is to take my time. That’s the best advice they gave me when it comes to marriage, to make sure it’s the right one.
“That’s why I didn’t really talk so much about it because I was taking my time to get to know my partner to see if you’re compatible and all of that. And with Andrea, I feel all of that. I feel secure, our families get along, there’s no putting your best foot forward or trying to make the family like you with her.
“They’ve accepted me, my parents love Andrea to death — they’re even closer to her nga! Kapag meron kaming misunderstanding ni Andrea, yung mommy ko, sa kanya kakampi. So there really was no effort, our families just hit it off,” he happily continued.
Raised in a very stable and loving household, Ramsay further noted, “I could never get married to someone na hindi tanggap ang pamilya ko. With Andrea, I don’t have to worry about that because our families are very close and we enjoy each other’s company. I talk to Andrea’s mom every now and then; Andrea’s very close to my mom too. So, no effort talaga, all of that has been skipped. We can just really focus on each other,” Ramsay noted.
Going international
Career-wise, the current pandemic affected Ramsay and his new show with Torres for GMA, supposedly an action series titled “Sanggang Dikit.” Put on hold since it’s difficult to tape action scenes with social distancing rules, he is still staying optimistic.
“Like I said, this industry has been hit hard by this pandemic and we’re still figuring out ways on how we can get back to doing teleseryes. But it’s very tough because [our show] is an action serye given the rules we have to follow. Still, I’m being positive and looking to next month when we can get back to entertaining people again,” he said with much hope.
More exciting news however, is Ramsay’s revelation that his first ever international film is still a go, where he will star with Hollywood actor Sam Worthington (“Avatar”).
“I have a film and hopefully we’ll be starting [to shoot] in September with Sam Worthington, the lead actor from the ‘Avatar’ movie. It’s an action drama and I’m really looking forward to working with brilliant actors from all over the world including the Philippines and learn from them.”
Newest hat
With his personal life thriving and projects on the big and small screens just waiting to begin, there is one final revelation which Ramsay shared with The Sunday Times Magazine. He is also tinkering with the idea to become an interior designer.
“Just over this lockdown, when I was building my house, a lot of my friends told me I should jump into becoming an interior designer or designing homes because they really liked the way I designed my home,” he openly shared.
“I didn’t hire an interior designer for this. It was all me. Lahat talaga ng mga stores inikot ko in a short period of time so that I could make the house look the way it is right now. And a lot of my friends were impressed saying I should really get into this line of business.”
In fact, the ever in-demand Derek already had an offer to work on a friend’s home.
“I might be doing one after this is all done. So maybe that’s something I can jump into. Ang sabi kasi nila dapat may mata ka for that eh, and I think I got it from mom. She’s really creative and she’s an amazing woman.”
Imagine Derek Ramsay in your home as an interior designer. Would’t that be something!
In the meantime, with restrictions still in place, however, Ramsay’s is determined to use the time to spend with his family and loved ones before “going back to normal.” now is to appreciate the extra time that he has and spend more days.
“It’s nice to make stronger ties with the family. What we do is we love to have lots and lots of food during the lockdown, then we eat, work out and do it all over again. That’s the best way to fight the virus—to eat healthy, keep your immune systems up and to be fit. There’s no other way for us now but up,” Ramsay ended.