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Chico Alicaya reveals which director intimidated him

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Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>In 2020, Chico Alicaya first entered the <em>Pinoy Big Brother</em> house as part of <em>PBB: Connect</em> where he was introduced as “The Striving Footballer of Cebu.” In this exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, the charming model and actor talks about how close he almost got to quitting showbiz.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-17" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMFZBgRy9EE/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A17%2C%22os%22%3A3273581.100000024%2C%22ls%22%3A451035.10000002384%2C%22le%22%3A451416.10000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1044" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-17" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-18" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQbIsNqkhi5/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A18%2C%22os%22%3A3273585.5%2C%22ls%22%3A451035.10000002384%2C%22le%22%3A451416.10000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="810" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-18" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>“Three years ago, before ako mag-sign sa CreaZion Studios, uuwi na sana ako (sa Cebu) kasi the funds were not coming in, ganun. Sabi ko, balikan ko ito, yung pag-arte. And then little did I know na yung pag-audition ko sa mga commercials, makukuha ako. So three months before pa ako aalis, nakakuha ako ng commercial and yun yung nakapagbayad sa inuupahan ko. And then that commercial led to another one and another one to another one. Parang nag-recommend na yung mga directors. Kaya I’m super blessed that I’m here, five years na,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-19" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQEpHYnkuk2/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A19%2C%22os%22%3A3273589.5%2C%22ls%22%3A451035.10000002384%2C%22le%22%3A451416.10000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="990" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-19" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/11/1/dustin-yu-chico-alicaya-phi-palmos-and-other-male-celebs-share-their-scariest-ghost-encounters-0855" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Dustin Yu, Chico Alicaya, Phi Palmos and other male celebs share their scariest ghost encounters</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Looking back on his career path, Chico admits it took a lot of guts to stick it out in his chosen career.  “It was a lot of ups and downs. Iba siya kasi akala ko mahirap na yung nasa <em>PBB</em>, yun pala totoo yung sinabi nila na nasa labas yung totoong challenges. So it took a lot from me, but I’m glad that I am where I am and I’m so happy na projects are coming in, not just in commercials and short films but also teleseryes. I’m very blessed,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><p>Now that he is focused on forging ahead with a career on camera, Chico shares what kind of genre he would really like to get into as an actor. “Rom-com talaga and drama. Gusto ko yung mga roles na parang tatay at nanak, nanay at anak, ganun. Gusto ko yan eh, yung mga iyakan and roles where I can make people feel kung ano talaga yung stories sa mga anak o stories sa tatay at nanay. Kasi hindi yan puro happiness eh. Ang daming sadness diyan and ang daming challenges as well,” he shared. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-23" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQeaHtfkkb1/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A23%2C%22os%22%3A3378421.7000000477%2C%22ls%22%3A451035.10000002384%2C%22le%22%3A451416.10000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1035" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-23" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Having been part of films like <em>Love At First Stream</em> and <em>Connected</em>, Chico talked about what he learned from working with top caliber directors like Cathy Garcia-Molina and Ted Boborol. “Sa <em>Love At First Stream</em> with Direk Cathy Molina, ang natuunan ko is be yourself and dinala ko talaga yun hanggang ngayon. Sa <em>Connected</em> naman, sinabi ni Direk Ted na to always do your homework, always have the discipline, and don’t listen to anyone and just be you. So five years after, project after project, especially sa commercials, it gave me so much,” he shared, </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-21" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DO-xuGjkmrW/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A21%2C%22os%22%3A3274184.600000024%2C%22ls%22%3A451035.10000002384%2C%22le%22%3A451416.10000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="902" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-21" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Chico named Direk Cathy as the director who initially intimidated him on the first day on the set. “Natakot ako at first kasi nakita ko siya agad na sumigaw and hindi ko alam kung sino yung actor dun na sinigawan pero what I was shocked about, kasi bago pa ako nun, sabi niya, ‘Anak, dito ka. Manuod ka. Mag-aral ka.’ So parang wow. Super happy ako nun and super blessed with Direk Cathy. I hope I get to work with her again.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Even after signing on as a CreaZion Studios artist two years ago, Chico said he will always be grateful to the kKpamilya network for starting off his showbiz career.  “Gusto ko kasi matutukan ako eh. There’s nothing wrong with ABS-CBN. I love them. They helped me and they made me grow, napaaral nila ako ng Tagalog and of course, made me see my passion sa acting. That’s one thing they made me see so I really owe them. Pero ang dami kasi namin dun. Here sa CreaZion kasi, tinututukan ka talaga,” he explained.</p><div><br/></div><p>It’s been five years since he graduated from <em>PBB</em> in the same batch as Big Winner Liofer Pinatacan, Andrea Abaya, and Kobe Brown, and Chico shared that everyone has more or less gone their separate ways. “Kanya-kanya na talaga. Meron naman kaming chat, batian ng happy birthday, greetings, pero kanya kanya na talaga. And I understand naman kasi it’s very challenging outside PBB,” he said. </p>

<p>Former Pinoy Big Brother: Connect housemate Chico Alicaya talks about which award-winning director really intimidated him on the first day of working on the set.</p>

Former Pinoy Big Brother: Connect housemate Chico Alicaya talks about which award-winning director really intimidated him on the first day of working on the set.

EXCLUSIVE: Chico Alicaya reveals which director intimidated him: ‘Natakot ako at first'

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EXCLUSIVE: Chico Alicaya reveals which director intimidated him: ‘Natakot ako at first'

Rhea Manila Santos,

Push Team

Published Nov 10, 2025 06:53 PM PHT

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