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Josh Mercado

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Viral influencer Deo Balbuena or popularly known as Diwata. Josh Mercado" src="https://news-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20240527120548/b2887e7bc500ce6c3c427a7895cbacbd2f74e6b807a2c7eccc064b0f320e6b90.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption>Viral influencer Deo Balbuena or popularly known as Diwata. Josh Mercado</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- Viral influencer Deo Balbuena or popularly known as Diwata is embracing his rising celebrity status with good humor.Before he became popular, Diwata, who was born and raised in Samar, tried his luck in Manila at the age of 17. In order to survive, he sold fruits in Pasig. He even became homeless at one point, but told himself not to quit. He was a meme subject in 2016, the year his funny interview on a serious incident was aired on TV. He also appeared on Miss Q&amp;A in &quot;It’s Showtime&quot; in 2019. Today, Diwata is one of the most talked about internet sensations, with left and right media interviews. He graciously granted ABS-CBN News a one-on-one interview during the launch of his latest brand collaboration with Shift and Chillax.In the sit-down interview, Diwata opened up about his newfound fame and how it affected his quiet time. “Parang normal lang din (referring to his popularity). Kung may invite (to collaborate or take a picture), kung kaya ng oras ko, go. Pero kung hindi kaya ng oras ko, tumatanggi ako kasi hindi ko puwedeng pabayaan ‘yung business ko. Kaya lang talaga minsan, marami talagang makukulit. Minsan nga kahit natutulog na ako, may kakatok ng 2 a.m. para magpa-picture lang. May ganung eksena. Pero kaya naman pagpasensyahan,” he told ABS-CBN News. The internet sensation clarified the accusations made by some netizens that he does not entertain small-time vloggers.“Ang nakakalungkot nga lang, ‘yung mga hindi lang napapagbigyan ng picture, kung anu-ano na ang sinasabi at ina-upload. Wala naman akong pakialam. Wala naman akong taong inaagrabyado. Wala naman akong taong tinatapakan. Kung hindi mo kayang intindihin  ‘yung paliwanag ko, nasa sa kanila na ‘yun. Kasi nga busy ako. May ginagawa ako. Pero kung may free time ako, lahat welcome kahit maliit na vlogger pa ‘yan, may dala ka man o wala,” he said.He continued: “Ang pinapalabas kasi nila na kapag wala ka raw dala (gift or token), hindi ko raw iniintindi or ine-entertain. Kapag daw maliit na vlogger, hindi ko raw ine-entertain. ‘Yung mga vlogger o kilalang personalidad na pumupunta at ine-entertain ko, kasi may appointment sila. Bago ‘yan dumating, naka-set na ‘yan. Hindi katulad nung iba na dumadating lang nang biglaan, tapos nag i-interview, ina-upload nila, masama na agad ako.”Recently, Diwata bagged his first-ever acting gig from Coco Martin. In “Batang Quiapo,” he plays Freeda, a pares seller. He expressed his joy, saying, “Nagtitinda lang ako ng pares tapos bigla akong may nakita sa TikTok account ko na isang message from the production daw. Hindi naman ako naniwala. Siyempre, may pumunta na taga-production na gusto raw ako makausap ni Coco Martin. Pumayag ako. Na-meet ko si Coco Martin sa Tomas Morato. Nag-usap kami at tinanong ako kung gusto ko raw. Sino ba naman ang ayaw na mabigyan ng break sa showbiz.” About his role, he shared: “Ako si Freeda, nagtitinda ako ng pares dun. May nangyari, hinoldup ako, at inampon ako ni Lola Betchay. Tumira ako sa bahay nila.”“May mga na-tape na kami na hindi pa napapalabas. May mga taping pa. Hangga’t hindi pa sinasabi ni Coco Martin na hindi ako babalik, tuloy lang ako.”Expressing his gratitude, he also shared how kind Martin was to him. “Mabait si Coco Martin. Tinanong niya ako kung gusto kong mag-artista. Siyempre gusto ko. Malaking opportunity ito sa buhay na mahirap kunin. ‘Yung iba nga nangangarap na mag-showbiz, pero hindi pa rin binibigay. Eh ako hindi naman ako nangarap, pero bigla na lang dumating, tatanggi pa ba ako. Nung una, nahirapan ako kasi hindi naman tayo sanay sa ganyang aktingan pero ngayon parang comfortable na ako at dahil ‘yun kay Coco Martin dahil tinuturuan niya ako,” he told ABS-CBN News.The food business owner is also grateful to his loyal fans and customers. He said he wants to expand his business.“Ang plano ko talaga ay i-expand ko pa ‘yung pares business ko. Or kung hindi pares, maglalagay pa ako ng ibang negosyo,” he revealed.He proudly shared that he also plans to buy a new house. “‘Yung bahay ko, maliit lang ‘yan. Pero may plano ako na bumili ng bahay with title. ‘Yung may title talaga. Pero siyempre hindi pa sapat ang pera natin. Hindi pa tayo mayaman. ‘Yung second-hand na car, ‘yan ang una kong sasakyan kasi dati natutulog lang ako sa gilid ng tindahan. Naisip ko kasi ‘yung gamit at pera ko, hindi safe so naisip ko bumili ng car na service at the same time bahay ko rin. May isa pa akong sasakyan ngayon na gamit ko na bigay lang ‘yun. Ginagamit ko rin sa business,” he said.Some said Diwata is just an overnight success, but for Diwata himself, his success was the result of years of hard work. “Huwag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Kung mahirap ka man ngayon, huwag mong isipin na mahirap ka lang. Isipin mo na darating ang panahon na aasenso ka rin sa buhay. Para mangyari ‘yun, kapag nangarap ka, galingan mo rin sa diskarte. Kung nangarap ka ngayon, diskartehan mo na rin. Lagyan mo ng aksyon. Katulad ko, from ilalim ng tulay, ngayon nagnenegosyo na ako. Hindi ko in-expect. Dahil siguro sa kasipagan at diskarte, kaya nangyari sa buhay ko ito. From level 1, nasa level 2 na ako ngayon, may pagkakaiba na ngayon,” he ended.

Viral influencer Deo Balbuena or popularly known as Diwata is embracing his rising celebrity status with good humor.

Viral influencer Deo Balbuena or popularly known as Diwata is embracing his rising celebrity status with good humor.

Diwata opens up on newfound fame, ‘Batang Quiapo’

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Diwata opens up on newfound fame, ‘Batang Quiapo’

Josh Mercado

Published May 27, 2024 07:53 PM PHT

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Updated June 06, 2024 10:52 AM PHT

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Batang Quiapo

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