Kenneth Medrano
| Kenneth Earl Medrano | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Kenneth Earl Gesulga Medrano May 9, 1991 Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Other names | Bae Kenneth, KEM, Kenneth, K.E, Kentoy, Earl |
| Education |
Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion University of Southern Philippines Foundation |
| Occupation | Dancer, actor, television personality, model, dubsmash performer |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Known for |
Dubsmash videos Dubsmash King of the Philippines[1] Eat Bulaga! (dancer and performer) Buena Familia as Pacoy Alvero |
Kenneth Earl Gesulga Medrano (born 9 May 1991) also known as Bae Kenneth, KEM or popularly known as Kenneth Medrano as his screen name is a Filipino television personality, Cebuano model, dancer and actor. He is best known for his viral Dubsmash videos especially the song Twerk It Like Miley by Brandon Beal, thus naming him "The Philippines' King of Dubsmash," and his role as Pacoy Alvero in the afternoon's prime time drama Buena Familia on GMA Network and worldwide via GMA Pinoy TV.[2] He gained fame after winning as the "Ultimate Bae Grand Winner" of That's My Bae: Twerk It Dance Contest on Eat Bulaga!.[3]
Early life
Medrano was born and raised in Cebu City, Cebu Philippines to Anna Nimfa Gesulga and Glend Medrano. His mother is a government employee while his father is a retired navy and a teacher. He is the third child of four brothers namely Adriane Glen, Jerrick Karl and Leuvick Jann. He finished his elementary education at Colegio de la Immaculada Concepcion. He finished his high school education and taking up a bachelor's degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) in Lahug, Cebu City.[1][4] He started as a local talent of GMA Network in Cebu and a professional model on VAMP, a Cebu-based talent model agency. He also modeled on various local clothing lines in Cebu.[1][4]
He is one of the original member of XLR8, a Filipino boy band and dance group under with VIVA Records' P-Pop Label. Before the band disbanded in 2012, he decided to go back in Cebu City. In 2009, he tried to audtioned for the season 5 of StarStruck on GMA Network but he didn't make it to pass on the next round of auditions.[5][1]
Career
In the early part of 2015, Medrano's career took off after he began posting dubsmash compilations on Facebook. A compilation in which he impersonates the cartoon character Johnny Bravo, songs of One Direction, Akon, Backstreet Boys, High School Musical, Westlife, Air Supply, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, the song "I'm an Albatraoz" by AronChupa and "Lay Me Down" by Sam Smith, local celebrities like Julia Barretto, scenes from the movie Maybe This Time by Sarah Geronimo and Coco Martin, The Love Affair by Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta, One More Chance by John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, Forevermore (TV series) by Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano and also he do the transformation video of a popular detergent soap in the Philippines. He sings some of his favorite songs like "Kasalanan Ko Ba" by Neocolours, "Kunin Mo Na ang Lahat sa Akin" by Jeremiah and also he dances, all of the videos he posted online through social media.
Among all of his compilations, Medrano is the one who started to trend the dubsmash hit "Twerk It Like Miley" by Brandon Beal which he made went viral online with 2.6 million views overnight. He was featured on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’s episode “Twerk It Like Miley”. This he earned the title “King of Dubsmash" in the Philippines. He dreamed that he will be featured and guest on an international TV show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He had the opportunity to collaborate with other well known Dubsmashers. He made a remake version of "Twerk It Like Miley" dubsmash together with the Dubsmash Queen Maine Mendoza.[1]
Subsequently, Medrano recently posted his latest dubsmash version of Charlie Puth's song One Call Away on his Twitter account dedicated to all his fans.[6]
In July 11, 2015, Medrano joined “That’s My Bae: Twerk It Dance Contest”, a segment on the longest running noontime show Eat Bulaga! airing on GMA Network. On his joining to the contest, Medrano is known already by many people because of the viral video he made and is the key and opened opportunities to him to become an artist. Among the thousand men auditioned the contest, he make it to the semi-finals until he reached into the grand finals. In August 29, 2015, there are seven grand finalists left on the competition. He joined together with his fellow bae colleagues in the contest with Miggy Tolentino, Joel Palencia, Gab Bayan, Tommy Peñaflor, Jon Timmons and Kim Last.[7] His personality, looks and dance moves has a great impact and potential to his life that the audience and the judges likes him. He was declared as the “Ultimate Bae Grand Winner”. He received P250,000 as grand prize and also included in PLDT Home Ultera’s list of brand ambassadors. Medrano also chosen as the “Ultimate Bae Dabarkads People’s Choice Award” by people’s text votes and likes on his picture posted by Eat Bulaga!'s Facebook page.[3][8] Subsequently, Medrano and the rest of his bae colleagues are regularly seen and performed daily on Eat Bulaga!. In September 2015, Medrano and the rest of his bae colleagues gave a segment on Eat Bulaga! entitled “ATM with the BAES”. In January 2016, the segment was changed into "Dancing in Tandem" on which he is one of the judges together with his fellow bae colleague Kim Last and later the segment was changed into "Hotline Bae" in February 2016.
Acting career
After winning as the Ultimate Bae Grand Winner of That's My Bae: Twerk It Dance Contest on Eat Bulaga!, Medrano undergoes a series of acting workshops under with Ana Feleo.[1] He subsequently guests and appears on different shows on GMA Network and GMA News TV. In September 2015, Medrano was part of the supporting cast on which he portrays one of the protagonists, as Pacoy Alvero on afternoon’s prime time Buena Familia on GMA Network.[2] This makes him as his first appearance in an actual teleserye and his first debut acting career. Pacoy (Medrano) together with Harry, character which portrayed by Martin del Rosario are the two men who are rivals and battles in Celine's heart which portrayed by Kylie Padilla.[9] He appeared as a guest star in the TV sitcom Ismol Family. He also appeared on a true to life love story drama on Wagas aired on GMA News TV which he portrays George, an ordinary poor unemployed man and security guard which is in love with a rich girl named Belle which portrayed by Kylie Padilla.[10] In December 2015, he made also a 'cameo role' on the movie My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore, a Filipino romantic comedy film entry for the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival which starred Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai de las Alas with Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza.[1][11] In February 2016, he appeared on Eat Bulaga's segment KalyeSerye on which he portrayed the character named Pepito, a farmer and the cousin of young Anselmo which is one of Lola Nidora's love interests during her younger days in 1945. Both of these characters are portrayed by Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. Even though he appears in GMA, he is not a member of the GMA Artist Center. His career is being managed by Senior Vice President and COO of TAPE Inc. executive Malou Choa-Fagar who is the executive producer of Eat Bulaga!.[5][1]
Personal life
Medrano was known on his numerous tattoos on both on his upper chest on his body and his upper right shoulder. This is one of his best asset, attractive and "bad boy" looks aside on his good personality and bae looks that the people likes and admires him most.[12]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Network |
| 2016 | Eat Bulaga Lenten Special: Walang Kapalit | Carlo | Main Role | GMA Network |
| 2015-present | Eat Bulaga! | Himself | Dancer/ Performer/ Judge/ Ultimate That's My Bae Grand Winner/ Pepito (young Anselmo's cousin) (character role for Kalyeserye segment) | |
| 2015- 2016 | Buena Familia | Pacoy Alvero | Supporting Role | |
| 2015 | Ismol Family | Benjamin | Guest Role | |
| Wagas: Langit at Lupa | George | Lead Role | GMA News TV | |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Film Production |
| 2015 | My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore | Cameo Role | OctoArts Films |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Result |
| 2015 | Social Media TV Poll (SMTVP) | Most New Handsome Face | Won |
| 2016 | Social Media TV Poll (SMTVP) | Best New Male TV Personality | Won |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ciar, Troy. "Kenneth Medrano, bisdak nga nagkasikat sa Manila". www.sunstar.com.ph (in Cebuano). Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- 1 2 GMA New Media, Inc. "'That's My Bae' grand winner Kenneth Earl Medrano, bibisita sa 'Buena Familia'" ['That's My Bae' grand winner Kenneth Earl Medrano, wil pay a visit at 'Buena Familia']. gmanetwork.com (in Filipino). Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- 1 2 GMA New Media, Inc. "Kenneth Earl Medrano, tinanghal na Ultimate That's My Bae Grand Winner". gmanetwork.com (in Filipino). Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- 1 2 "Kenneth Earl Medrano". all-about-juan.info. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- 1 2 Gabinete, Jojo. "That's My Bae Kenneth Earl Medrano, Nakapaghintay ng Tamang Panahon". Abante Online (in Filipino). Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ↑ Acar, Aedrianne. "WATCH: 'That's My Bae' grand winner Kenneth Earl Medrano dubsmash Charlie Puth's 'One Call Away'". gmanetwork.com. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ "List of That's My Bae Grand Finalists 2015 Eat Bulaga". listph.com. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ↑ PEP.ph. "Kenneth Earl Medrano wins Ultimate That's My Bae Grand Winner - Television - Videos - PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz". pep.ph (in Filipino). Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ↑ Buena Familia. "The battle between Pacoy and Harry for Celine's heart in 'Buena Familia'". gmanetwork.com. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ↑ GMA News Online. "Pag-iibigang langit at lupa ang agwat, tampok sa 'Wagas'" [Love with a gap of heaven and earth, well received in 'Wagas']. GMA News Online (in Filipino). Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ "FROM TV TO BIG SCREEN? Alden and Yaya Dub to star in movie?". GMA News Online. GMA Network Inc. August 14, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
- ↑ GMA Network Entertainment. "Hindi bida pero Sikat!" [Not the protagonist yet famous!]. gmanetwork.com/entertainment (in Filipino). Retrieved 22 December 2015.