“Aren’t you a bit too young to have some sort of a second coming?” I teased Alexander Diaz, a guy of 24, as we shared lunch along with fellow theater actor and now-collaborator Jan Mayo for a cover story he gamely volunteered to art direct himself.
“Well, I’m really at that point where I am looking at my career path clearer. I have realized a lot of things and it is, in so many ways, a resurgence of character for me,” he shared with a shy smile, but a conviction in his voice that knowingly declares this to be the beginning of a new and better version of himself. “Alexander 2.0” as he likes to call it.
Born James Alexander Diaz McDermott, the Scottish-Filipino multi-hyphenate didn’t plan to land on a life under the observing eyes of the public and yet, he is now trying mightily to keep his head high above water, leaving no stones unturned for the craft he has now grown to love—and fight for.
IN THE BEGINNING
“Growing up, I was definitely the loud kid. I always had something to say, always stubborn, always rambunctious. In highschool, I was doing a lot of things, theater, football, and a bunch of other stuff but I never imagined to go into something completely different,” he tells Rank.
He continued, “I was in my senior high school year when I was approached to do Pinoy Big Brother. It was the same year as James’ (referring to long-time friend, James Reid) but I wanted to do football, so I prioritized that.”
That, and a father who wanted him to focus on his studies built a wall that momentarily halted his affinity with show business—which would later on be slowly broken down by way of television and print ads and a life as a radio jock—all done behind his father’s back—which, in turn, ultimately brought him closer to the spotlight.
It was at the age of 17 when he finally auditioned to become part of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic and things took an interesting turn. Getting into the circle of newcomers in the network giant’s coveted “star” factory was the only time his then-strict father would give him his blessing and full support.
“In college, it felt like I had more freedom. So, when I got into Star Magic, that was the only time my father found out about me doing everything against his wishes. That’s when he supported me fully.”
“Going into showbiz was really tricky. I know I can sing, I know I can act. I love performing for people and interacting with them. You go into it with certain level of confidence and then you realize there are a lot of factors involved. I was really naïve. I wanted to try everything and be able to tell myself that I was able to do it,” he went on about being thrust into the scene.
“Going into showbiz was really tricky. I know I can sing, I know I can act. I love performing for people and interacting with them. You go into it with certain level of confidence and then you realize there are a lot of factors involved. I was really naïve. I wanted to try everything and be able to tell myself that I was able to do it,” he went on about being thrust into the scene.
IN LIMBO
Diaz is not afraid to admit now that he has joined the industry with an unclear view of his path. “Basically, summing up the first four years of my career—it is just pure experimenting. Takaw tingin ako. Gusto kong ma-try lahat. Sometimes, I even felt the need to do something just so I could prove na kaya ko eh,” he opened up, ending with a slight chuckle. “At one point, I think everyone in showbiz, to a certain extent, is a little bit papansin and pakitang gilas. I am not afraid to say that.”
In 2013, Diaz went on to play best friend roles for Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo for shows like Got 2 Believe and Pangako Sa’ Yo. He also joined the two in the blockbuster hit She’s Dating the Gangster as well as another well-loved pairing of Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil for another Wattpad-derived movie, Just the Way You Are. Darker and more complex roles then came for Diaz in the form of villainous and challenging characters for drama anthology Ipaglaban Mo, which groomed him to take on a role in a teen coming-of-age drama, Bagito, playing a vice-ridden teen in a relationship with a young mom.
Not long after, he stepped into the world of music television with a stint as video jock to Myx Philippines, which seemed like a natural progression of his stint as radio jock years prior. However, this marked a hiatus to his string of teleserye projects. After some time, Diaz then realized that life as a video jock is not what he is meant to do and so came his calling for the theater. With his background as a young thespian in high school, he eventually set out to be cast in the local run of Newsies—tumbling and splits in midair and all.
EVEN SUPERHEROES FALL
But Diaz sure was in for a rude awakening. The long road to self-discovery came in early, pivoting him to reassess his values and hone in on what he needs to blossom into a more fully-realized person. “I think as a person, I wanna become fixated on something—there’s no swaying me. I am very goal-oriented so when things don’t go the way I planned it, it takes a toll on me as a person,” he went on to share.
“I think as a person, I wanna become fixated on something—there’s no swaying me. I am very goal-oriented so when things don’t go the way I planned it, it takes a toll on me as a person,” he went on to share.
Looking at Diaz, what with his boyish charm and irresistible personality, it is hard to see him have what could easily be described as a fall from grace. He is warm, yet unapologetic with his views but possesses a likability so entrancing it is not surprising to see why good things are lining up for him. Online, he has collected over 500,000 followers on photo and video-sharing platform, Instagram. He talks to you with a child-like smile but a firm grasp of what he truly is, but everything that he is now, he calls to have sprung up from learning after hitting a life-altering situation.
“I grew up in a very liberated family, I wanna have fun. But I’ve only now realized that a lot of the things that are normal back home in Canada are not in here, that’s when I have started adapting to the culture. Not having your parents with you is also really difficult because when you are 18 and thrust out into the world, you’d immediately think, ‘Finally, I have all the freedom in the world.’ But that’s actually not the case,” he said.
“I grew up in a very liberated family, I wanna have fun. But I’ve only now realized that a lot of the things that are normal back home in Canada are not in here, that’s when I have started adapting to the culture. Not having your parents with you is also really difficult because when you are 18 and thrust out into the world, you’d immediately think, ‘Finally, I have all the freedom in the world.’ But that’s actually not the case.”
“After two or three years of being on your own, you would sort of realize that there’s nobody who’s going to tell you to keep your circle small, invest more in yourself and less on temporary thrills. And so, a lot of those mistakes happened without someone tapping me on the back and calling me out on my faults.”
It was in December of 2017, at the height of balancing acting, hosting, and even being an indoor cycling instructor, with drinking and going out with friends that it took him to have his body to tell him to slow down. “I blew my vocal chords. I couldn’t sing, let alone speak.” Then, like an antagonist in a Greek tragedy, Diaz reached an all-too-important epiphany.
“I woke up one day and just asked myself, do I even like doing this? Going and staying out all night, or do I just like people pleasing?” He went on to say, “Going out. Being young and being a kid. Partying. Choosing friends over work. Those were forgivable mistakes but I am just very competitive with myself that I felt like I shot myself in the foot there and I realize at the end of the day what do I have to show for? Friends are great but who’s going to have your back when you try to reach your dreams?”
“I woke up one day and just asked myself, do I even like doing this? Going and staying out all night, or do I just like people pleasing?”
He paused and smiled before continuing, “I’ve realized I was wrong to trust people. You think that everyone is going to be as kind to you as you are to them. But this year, I’ve learned to put myself first and to invest in myself. So, I started doing things on my own that surprisingly allowed me to do things that I like–from working out, running, spending time with my dog and my family. After that, eight months later, my career is stable, I got my new single out and I am happy with my family. I have less friends but they are real friends and I am a happier person.”
At the end of the day, it was his family—his father, particularly, who now lives in Tagaytay, who served as his anchor for his character’s resurgencer. “My father always told me to take responsibility for my own actions. You have no one else to blame but yourself whenever you make mistakes. But God does not put you in trials you cannot overcome and everything that you are going through is preparing what is for you. I feel like whatever I have gone through, it has made me really strong—kinder.”
A RENAISSANCE SORTS
At the young age of 24, with a career spanning five short years, Diaz was one of the lucky ones who had the will to identify spots that needed filling and faults that needed growing from this early in his career, and in his life. When asked what has changed upon these said realizations, he barely misses a beat and answers, “I am a more confident Alexander now. I take no shit. I am very protective of my peace of mind. I have stopped allowing people walk all over me and I have stopped people-pleasing. I am still the same guy, but I have stopped being kind to everyone because not everyone deserves it. I now have the confidence in my craft knowing what I have to offer.”
This year, Diaz has made a declaration to go back and harness his core—acting and music. Right now, he has just taken on the long-running primetime television drama, Ang Probinsyano, opposite bigwigs like Coco Martin Susan Roces, and Angel Aquino. This came shortly after his memorable stint in the daytime drama, Sana Dalawa ang Puso with Jodi Sta. Maria and Robin Padilla. “I prayed for that. God really works in mysterious ways.”
If there’s anything that surprised Diaz in his formation as a renewed person, it was his faith and his stronger relationship with God. “You have to realize that even if you have moved forward from your mistakes, not everyone knows it yet. So, you have to forgive yourself and them. What’s important is you know who you are. Find your balance and don’t let anyone knock you off that balance,” he waxes philosophical. “All my frustrations, all my doubts were offered up to Him, as He is the first one I talk to.”
“You have to realize that even if you have moved forward from your mistakes, not everyone knows it yet. So, you have to forgive yourself and them. What’s important is you know who you are. Find your balance and don’t let anyone knock you off your balance.”
This sense of clarity has then propelled him to take his career to new heights. He added, “Before, I didn’t know what I wanted and it was obvious in my career path. I was all over the place. Now, I am a little more mature. I know what I want.”
Apart from his ongoing series of projects, he has also taken a more serious look at his music, having released two new singles “Dulo”, which he has co-written and “Hide Away”, which he has written and produced himself. He has also been busy writing materials for creative content he envisions to pitch and produce for a movie or straight into his YouTube channel.
In the end, I asked, Diaz what key learning sums up the man that he is today. He replies, “Today IS the day! Every day IS day!”
Produced and stlyed by Leo Balante
Creative direction by Alexander Diaz and Leo Balante
Grooming by Jinx Aggabao.
Special thanks to Cornerstone Entertainment, Inc., Val Taguba, and Von-jeric Estoque.