Seth Fedelin On Investing In Himself To Make Goals Happen

At 20, Seth Fedelin has already tasted the bittersweet chunks of life. As a child, his brain was hardwired to help tend to the household. This kind of rearing, perhaps, is what ushered him to the promise of a better beginning. Once just the “Hope-Pool Son ng Cavite,” Seth’s odyssey started when he auditioned for Pinoy Big Brother: Otso. “First time ko pumasok sa ABS-CBN, dressing room 19 yata ’yun... ’Yun ’yung unang kuwarto kong pinuntahan dito sa ABS,” Seth shares with Metro.Style.

“Tapos, ang pakiramdam ko nu’n, ‘Ay, ang dami namin! Papasok lang ako dito ta’s lalabas na ulit.’ ’Yun ’yung nasa isip ko kasi ang daming nag-audition sa PBB.” The actor-performer, assuming that he would flop the contest, fancied the worst to hold back his hopes. “Ang chance ko lang siguro dito, mga 10% lang,” he persists, preparing for what might have hurt him. Hindi ko makakalimutan ’yun—na sabi ko lang sa sarili ko, ‘Ay ang lamig dito, ang sarap ng trabaho dito, parang ang lamig, nakaka-sosyal,” Seth muses, smiling.

Fast-forward to where he is now, Seth has never imagined that he will meld well into the industry. “’Yung next pasok ko, ’yung paglabas ko ng PBB, sa Dreamscape office ’yun. ’Yun ’yung akyat ko ulit ng ABS-CBN,” he looks back. “Tapos du’n, sabi ko, ‘Yan, ito na.’ [Ang] laking pasasalamat [ko] po talaga.” Landing projects as part of the main cast, Seth has made it to series and films such as Kadenang Ginto (2018), Huwag Kang Mangamba (2021), Lyric and Beat (2022), and Abandoned (2019). He also top-billed the movie Wild Little Love (2019) with Andrea Brillantes.

While Seth’s ticket to showbiz was through PBB, his being in the quartet “Gold Squad” with Andrea Brillantes, Francine Diaz, and Kyle Echarri boosted his career, as the traction that the group gained was impressive. 

Despite successes, rejection in whatever form is still inevitable, but he is less likely to sulk. Seth instead sees every unrequited opportunity as an unforgettable experience that makes him much more of a professional. “Hindi ako masyadong naapektuhan du’n [sa rejection]. Tinitingnan ko siya in a good way na, ‘Uy, ’yung tropa ko, siya ’yung nakakuha ng ganito! Uy, ’yung kaibigan ko, siya ’yung nakakuha ng ganiyan.’ Marami pa diyang iba. Marami pang puwede pang dumating, so hintay lang ako. [Nasa] timing ’yan.”

Seth also revisits Star Magic’s advice every time he encounters a drop. “Kailangan mong tumayo, kailangan mong tumindig talaga,” he emphasizes. “’Yun ’yung tinuro sa’kin ng Star Magic—na ‘Seth, kailangan mong kumilos. Nasa sa’yo ’yan.’” While Seth depends on Star Magic for enlightenment and direction, his ever-present spirit powers him up. He speaks to himself. “Kailangan, sa sarili mo, alam mo ’yan—alam mo ’yung pinasok mo, alam mo ’yung ginagawa mo.”

“Sobrang laki ng pasensya at haba ng pasensya ng Star Magic, sa lahat ng artista. Naiintindihan nila at ipaparamdam nila na hindi lang siya trabaho na ‘Hoy Seth, gagawin ko lang ’to kasi dito kami sinasahuran ni Star Magic,’” Seth reveals, pertaining to the talent management’s heads, handlers and road managers. “Family ang mayro’n ang bahay ni Star Magic at sa family, nagtutulungan. ’Pag may problema ang isa, nagdadamayan. Sasabihin nila sa’yo ’yung mga nakabubuti sa’yo at mga nakasasama sa’yo.”

“’Yun ’yung pinaka-thankful ako at pinaka-love ko sa Star Magic—na mayro’n akong mga tao [na] naka-surround sa’kin habang tinutupad ko [’yung] mga pangarap ko—mga totoong tao.” Since Star Magic always steers its talents to the right track, Seth is focused these days on brushing up on his acting abilities. “Natututo pa rin ako hanggang ngayon. Lahat, sineseryoso ko, so lahat ’yan, mahirap. Walang madali,” he points out. When asked what his most challenging acting chop was so far, he mulls over and answers: “Kadenang Ginto! ’Yun ’yung pinaka-challenge sa’kin dahil first time ko siyang gawin and the rest, naging challenge pa rin kasi I’m learning pa.”

“Siyempre, natutupad ko ’yung pangarap ko dahil sa trabaho—pangarap ko sa sarili ko, pangarap ko sa pamilya ko,” Seth savors in return, harvesting the fruit of his hard work and steel-solid will.

Seth is not one to back out from bumps at all, and he is never stopping until he strikes his aim. “Gusto ko pa mag-invest sa kaya kong ibigay sa trabahong ’to. Gustong-gusto ko magbigay, gusto ko mag-explore sa maraming bagay,” he hungrily aspires, closing the conversation with the sweetest remark: “Love ko—love ko ’tong trabaho [ko].”

Photography by Dookie Ducay

Creative direction by Eldzs Mejia

Art direction by Raff Colmenar

Sittings editor: Grace Libero-Cruz

Grooming by Aimee Grey

Styling by David Milan

Interviewer: Grace Diez

Shoot coordination: Red Dimaandal and Kate Paras-Santiago