Jay R Albino is like an old soul determined in his pursuit
Dream Maker semi-finalist Jay R Albino, 19, lives a quiet, simple life in his hometown in Tabaco, Albay. “Before I joined Dream Maker I had only three friends and we’d see each other maybe 4-6 times a year,” Jay R said. “I was a normal school boy graduating from high school and off to start my college life in Bicol.”
He rarely goes out of the house, and only if asked to run errands, like to buy stuff in the market. He loves dogs and takes care of four—a Pomeranian and three German Shepherd. “I like taking them out whenever I’m not busy with school.”
Then he was shown an application for for Dream Maker, a joint Filipino-South Korean boy band reality show produced by ABS-CBN Entertainment. He submitted his application online way back in 2021, and the rest is history.
After five grueling months of training, out of 62 contestants, he made it to the Top 16, but fell short in making it to Top 7. And now he is ready now to venture out and explore what’s next for him.
Aside from doing this shoot, he modelled in the recent Bench Fashion Week, striding down the runway in Bench summer collection.
Jay R believes himself to be an old soul; he doesn’t really do much social media because he would rather immerse himself in reading books. “I prefer to read novels and self-development books. I feel like it helped me so much to see the bigger picture in life and to understand why and how things happen around me.”
His favorite quote at the moment is by Vince Lombardi Jr.— “Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.”
On performers, he leans towards Justin Bieber, Harry Styles and One Direction, for inspiration, and celebrity and former beauty queen Kisses Delavin for her mindset and the way she communicates.
For now, Jay R is taking one moment at a time, “I plan to continue chasing my dreams, a dream to be in an international/global group and to become the very best version of me,” he said.
He is a student of Tabaco National High School in Albay, and is very thankful that his school is very understanding and supportive, “I was surprised to see that I have so many supporters in my school. It melts my heart to see and hear them cheer for me.”
If showbiz is not for him, he has a promising fall-back career, he wants to go into sales, perhaps real estate. He used to help his family’s food business selling sushi boxes in their home town, “My family said that I was very good at it. I attracted lots of customers whenever I’m around. Sometime we sell more than a hundred sushi boxes a day.”
Photography Lem Atienza
Styling Luis Carlo San Juan
Videography Yuuka Tanaka
Fashion Urban Revivo
Accessories Vagabond Vintage Ph
Shot on location Fritz Hansen Manila showroom
