After being officially launched as part of the growing Squad Plus crew this year, Keann Johnson said he is happy to be welcomed into the group. With his fellow Squadmates who are some of the freshest faces in showbiz today, Keann said they have already bonded as a group.

“The first thing we would always do, especially when we were in quarantine getting ready to do a shoot or whatever, lagi kaming nag-po-pod mobile. We’re not sponsored pero lagi kaming naglalaro nun and we’d always do group calls, trash talk, and have fun. Yan lagi yung bonding moments namin. That or TikTok,” he said.

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The actor, who starred in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry The Boy Foretold By The Stars last year, recalled his first encounter with the Gold Squad group this year. The Gold Squad was originally composed of Andrea Brillantes, Francine Diaz, Kyle Echarri, and Seth Fedelin.

“My first encounter with the four of them was nung shoot namin for the music video. That was the first time I actually met them in person and I really got to know them because we were there for a while. Ang first impression ko sa kanila they were all fun to be with, sobrang nakakatawa yung personality nila lahat lahat. Ang pinaka tumatak sa akin si Andrea (Brillantes) kasi the first time we ever talked, the first thing she said to me and I will never forget this, she asked kailan birthday ko and ano yung astrological sign ko. I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ Wala man lang hi (laughs). Nagulat ako. Because of that I’ll never forget that first moment I really got to bond with them sa dressing room,” he shared.

The 21-year-old actor admitted that The Boy Foretold By The Stars opened up a lot of opportunities for him, including a small screen adaptation of the series which is currently in the works.

“In all honesty, I was surprised din. Katatapos lang nung MMFF nun and ang dami kong pinagdaanan nun. Sunod sunod yung mga blessings na nakuha along with yung Squad Plus. Tapos when I found out I was part of it, sobrang tagal bago nag-sink in sa akin kung anong nangyayari ngayon. Once nag sink in na, I felt so happy. I’ve been in this industry for a long time na and I feel like tama nga, this is my big break. About the series naman, we cannot yet announce a date kasi ang dami pa naming hurdles an kailangan ayusin. But as of now ang masasabi ko lang na puwede niyo na abangan sa iWant TFC,” he explained.

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Playing the role of a high school student who unexpectedly falls for a schoolmate in the LGBTQ-themed MMFF film, Keann shared the two lessons that project.

“One thing is about life in general. The overall message of The Boy Foretold By The Stars is love knows no gender so mas na-absorb ko yung ganung mentality. Then pagdating sa Squad Plus, one thing I’ve learned is to always be open to every possibility, to every outcome, to every open door out there na you know is going to have a good outcome. And that includes being part of Squad Plus. And I wanted to take that opportunity kasi I’ve been waiting for it. Siyempre special thanks to The Boy Foretold kasi without The Boy Foretold I wouldn’t have had that open door or open opportunity,” he explained.

“It changed me in so many aspects from my personality to my very lifestyle. I had to adjust a lot of things after The Boy Foretold By The Stars came out kasi ang daming blessings na nag-flow in. As of now I took a hiatus from studying because may bagong teleserye na pinaghahandaan namin at saka yung sa series din ng The Boy Foretold. Besides that, the biggest change was being part of ABS-CBN. I think this is one of the biggest blessings I’ve had in life and I cannot thank the whole Star Magic and Dreamscape family for giving me this opportunity kasi without them, I wouldn’t be where I am right now,” he said.