Currently the object of the nation's affection is Maria Clara at Ibarra leading man David Licauco. Dubbed as the "Pambansang Ginoo" by his legions of old and new fans, the 28-year-old has everyone besotted with his portrayal of Fidel in the historical GMA series.
The show, with its modernized retelling of Jose Rizal's literary masterpieces, can be considered as David's biggest break to date. He's been a Kapuso talent for close to eight years now, and finally, people are taking notice of not just his swoon-worthy looks, but also of his boy-next-door charm.
Someone who has witnessed the actor's meteoric rise to fame is his personal stylist, David Milan. Aside from sharing the same name, the two also have similar timelines when it comes to how they pursued the careers they're enjoying today.
With his star continually on the rise, we've grown curious about what our beloved Ginoong Fidel is really like behind the camera. To find out, we got in touch with his trusted stylist. Read our full interview with him below:
Preview Exclusive: David Milan on Being David Licauco's Fashion Stylist
Please describe the first time you met.
"I first met David back in 2017 for a Bench shoot. I was the stylist and it was his first campaign after being announced as one of the brand’s endorsers. It was for a summer campaign and we shot in Siargao for several days."
How did you end up working together? How long have you been working together since?
"We worked a lot together for Bench and he [didn't have] his own stylist back then, so that’s pretty much how it started. We’ve already established a working relationship together and I can say [that] we started with our new careers almost [at] the same time—him as an up-and-coming GMA talent and me [as someone] venturing into styling after being in publishing for the longest time. We haven’t stopped since then."
How would you describe David as a client?
"One thing that I appreciate [about] David so much is the full trust that he gives to his collaborators, may it be from the makeup artist down to his [stylist]. He gives his own input but leaves the creativity to his team."
As his fashion stylist, what can you say about his personal style/aesthetic?
"David wears a lot of hats. One day he’s an actor, [and on the] next he’s a businessman. He also takes his fitness seriously and sometimes people forget that he used to be an athlete."
"So when it comes to dressing, comfort comes first for him. His style is very functional, it’s a combination of athleisure meets boy-next-door."
Has your personal relationship developed since you first met? How would you describe David as a friend?
"More than anything, the trust we’ve had in creating looks and working together throughout the years cements [our] partnership. Everyone in the team [got] to know more about each other on a personal level. David is a generous guy, [he] treats everyone on any level with utmost respect. You can say a lot about a person with how he deals with people."
What’s your most unforgettable moment working with David?
"This is not really a moment but I would just like to point out the immense growth that he’s had throughout these years. He used to be so timid and charmingly awkward when he was starting out. He's never the one to do anything for show just to get attention. He just kept doing the work and minding his own business."
"So to see him now makes me really proud. The improvement on his craft and passion for all that he does is worth taking notice. He’s proof that grinding pays off. All the good stuff happening to him now is very [well] deserved."
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