Rabin Angeles has watched “Meet Joe Black” many times.

Despite premiering in 1998, you can still comb through the latest Letterboxd reviews for the sleeper hit top-billed by Brad Pitt, Claire Forlani, and Anthony Hopkins. It’s one-part romance, one-part fantasy, but ultimately a story about mortality. The 20-year-old actor tells me, “Palagi kong inaaral si Brad Pitt”—who, by the way, played Death in the movie.

Gen Zs have this chronic tendency to squeeze humor out of humans’ limited lifespan. It is often chalked up to being a collective coping mechanism given the catastrophe young people have to deal with but did not cause. “The horrors persist, but so do I,” declares one of the most shareable photos people love to dump at the tail end of their monthly Instagram life updates. Indeed, memes have become the conduit for very, very ugly feelings.

“Lumaki ako nang walang wala. Walang wala kami. Sakto lang pangkain namin, hindi kami nakakapunta kung saan saan,” Rabin Angeles describes his childhood in Pampanga

Angeles has had his share of horrors. However, when we unpack them after wrapping his Scout cover shoot on a sunny Monday, I don’t feel his urge to soften their harshness. Perhaps because he recalls these in an earnest—and not in a defeated—manner.

“Lumaki ako nang walang wala. Walang wala kami. Sakto lang pangkain namin, hindi kami nakakapunta kung saan saan,” he describes his childhood in Pampanga. If you’ve come across Angeles’ previous interviews, chances are you have an idea of how his early life played out: At age four, he directly witnessed his father, who used to work overseas, passing away.

Angeles, as a kid, would eventually be encouraged by his mother to audition for television commercials—but it’s not like he was forced to. Besides, how could he be when inspiration was as near as his family’s sacred space? “No’ng bata ako, palagi akong nanonood ng teleserye kasi sina lola’t [lolo] ko, parang palagi silang may inaabangan. So ako, gusto ko talagang maging artista,” he fondly tells me.

Dream detours

While there was no problem in the inspiration department, obstacles existed on the way to the audition room itself, also considering the travel time from his hometown to the city. “Hindi na ako umaabot kasi nagsusuka-suka ako sa biyahe dati. Parang, ’pag may final casting na, hindi ko na mapupuntahan. So pinabayaan na namin, nag-aral na lang ako.”

Things didn’t stay the same for long, though. Attribute it to his textbook Scorpio stubbornness or just sheer resilience: High schooler Rabin wanted to revisit the trail. “Sabi ko kay mommy, ‘Stop muna ako mag-aral, mommy. Gusto ko talagang maging artista. Subukan ko lang.’ Ayun, pinayagan naman niya ako, sinuportahan niya ako […] Talagang hindi ako nagsawang [mag-audition] kasi gusto ko talaga ’yong ginagawa ko.”

“Sabi ko kay mommy, ‘Stop muna ako mag-aral, mommy. Gusto ko talagang maging artista. Subukan ko lang.’ Ayun, pinayagan naman niya ako, sinuportahan niya ako […] Talagang hindi ako nagsawang [mag-audition] kasi gusto ko talaga ’yong ginagawa ko”

This love for acting gets more underscored when you realize this isn’t Angeles’ only dream, anyway. It’s not the only thing he holds out hope for. He can someday drop his setcard, go back to school, and pursue his healthcare dreams if the odds will be in his favor.

Rabin Josh Angeles, Attending Neurologist, reads the tiny nameplate of a keychain hanging on his backpack. It’s his lab coat-clad crochet form. I spot this during the video phase of our cover shoot, where he’s plopped on a king size bed, effortlessly wooing the camera with gentle eye contact—no wonder he’s one of today’s internet boyfriends. His audience’s “mata-mata acting” comments make sense. “Gift siya ng isang fan,” Angeles reveals the bag charm’s origins.

“Grey’s Anatomy” episodes and operating room visits with his mother sparked his interest in neurology. But the actual flame seems to come from a heightened sense of empathy.

“’Yong pagiging neurologist, dream ’yon ng mother ko. Nung bata ako, nakapagtapos siya ng nursing board exams, tapos sabi sa kaniya na parang, huwag muna siyang mag-aral. Huwag na niyang ituloy ’yong pagiging doktor, kasi mag-aaral na ’yong kapatid niya. Parang pangarap ’yon ng mommy ko na hindi natupad, kaya ako, parang gusto ko siyang tuparin,” he says.

This love for acting gets more underscored when you realize this isn’t Angeles’ only dream, anyway. It’s not the only thing he holds out hope for. He can someday drop his setcard, go back to school, and pursue his healthcare dreams if the odds will be in his favor

“Siguro after—” he pauses to correct himself. “Isasabay ko siya sa showbiz, mag-aaral din ako soon.”

It’s just the tip of the iceberg. Moments before we talked about this—while Angeles casually sits in an empty bathtub of our shoot’s hotel room—I learned about how “sacrifice” is really embedded in his DNA.

“Ngayon, medyo may kinikita tayo sa work. [Pero] hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin mabilhan ’yong sarili ko ng kahit ano. Kapag may bibilhin ako, dapat para sa pamilya ko kasi pasasalamat ko [’yon] sa kanila palagi. Palagi akong nagpapasalamat sa nanay ko, mga kapatid ko, palagi [silang] nandiyan para sa akin. Kasi dati, sila ’yong meron, so dapat mabalik ko sa kanila ’yon. Kaya next time na ’yong sarili ko,” he says.

Not-so-overnight success

His choice of words wouldn’t make you think he’s Rabin Angeles, whose face graces makeshift photocards and a newly-propped up LED billboard in South Korea, and whose early acting chops were seen in shows like “The Ship Show” (2023) and “Penduko” (2023). He has raked in almost five million TikTok followers since the pandemic. Meanwhile on Instagram (even if he’s rather inactive compared to his contemporaries), almost two million people have decided to get updated, whether it’s a fresh endorsement or a new photo off the set of Wattpad-based coming-of-age-romance series “Ang Mutya ng Section E,” (2024) where he scored breakout star status.

“Ngayon, medyo may kinikita tayo sa work. [Pero] hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin mabilhan ’yong sarili ko ng kahit ano. Kapag may bibilhin ako, dapat para sa pamilya ko kasi pasasalamat ko [’yon] sa kanila palagi. Palagi akong nagpapasalamat sa nanay ko, mga kapatid ko, palagi [silang] nandiyan para sa akin. Kasi dati, sila ’yong meron, so dapat mabalik ko sa kanila ’yon. Kaya next time na ’yong sarili ko,” he says

Flaming red hair, soft features, and a mysteriously mischievous demeanor. When Angeles’ Yuri Hanamitchi enters the frame, viewers instinctively weave TikTok edits and make their case for second lead syndrome. Once, I got trapped in the “AMNSE” side of YouTube Shorts, and realized the background audio I’m listening to is Indian pop music.

Fans from Thailand, Iran, Kazakhstan, and more Asian countries flock to the actor’s Instagram, sometimes commenting using their own writing system. Spot an “I love you, Rabin!” if you make an effort to translate—which the actor actually does sometimes. “Nakakatuwa kasi kahit sa ibang bansa napapansin tayo,” he says.

And don’t worry, this isn’t to romanticize Yuri. Angeles himself identifies the red flags: “[Ang decision ni Yuri na hindi ako agree] siguro ’yong ginawa niya kay Jay-Jay [Mariano] (played by Ashtine Olviga) talaga. ’Yong nagpa-fixed marriage siya. Hindi talaga ko agree. Kung ako ’yon, hindi ko gagawin.”

These differences probably made it easy for Angeles to shake off Yuri—the role that pushed him to public consciousness—by the time he needed to. It’s not uncommon for actors to struggle in disconnecting with certain roles, especially when it took a lot of space in their life.

“Hindi naman ako nahirapan [mag-disconnect]. Kasi ako, nakasanayan ko [na] kapag papunta na ako sa set, ako na ’tong character na ’to. Kapag tapos na sa set, wala na, bitaw.”

“Hindi naman ako nahirapan [mag-disconnect]. Kasi ako, nakasanayan ko [na] kapag papunta na ako sa set, ako na ’tong character na ’to. Kapag tapos na sa set, wala na, bitaw”

But that doesn’t mean he didn’t revere the opportunity itself.

“Ibang-iba,” Angeles shakes his head in disbelief. “Sobrang iba [nung headspace ko while preparing for Yuri]. Kasi dati, makikita ka lang sa mga mga one-minute scene. Meron pa nga ako no’n, no’ng nag-ta-talent ako, nakita ’yong likod ko, sabi ko, ‘Ma! Likod ko yan!’ Talagang pinagmamalaki ko pa ’yon sa nanay ko. Sobrang masaya na ako. Kaya no’ng dumating ’yung ‘AMNSE,’ talagang pinaghandaan ko siya.”

He walks me through his way of studying his script: “Binabasa ko talaga ’yong story. Pero pagdating ko sa set, hindi talaga ako masyadong nag-aaral, kumbaga. On the spot ko siyang… Halimbawa, kung mag-te-take na, dun ko siya titingnan na parang, ‘Oh game, i-me-memorize ko na.’ ‘Itong scene na ’to ’yong kukunan mo.’ ‘Okay po, wait lang,’ Dapat mabilis, dapat agad-agad kasi hindi puwedeng maghintay.” He adds cheekily, “Mas gusto ko ’yong na-ra-rattle.”

Initially, Angeles and his fellow “AMNSE” auditionees—each holding a one-page script in their hands—were present for the role of Mark Kiefer Watson (played by Andres Muhlach).

“Actually no’ng nag-audition ako, akala ko hindi na ako nakuha. Late na na-send sa ’kin ’yong Yuri Hanamitchi, tapos no’ng sinend sakin, hindi ko pa alam na isa siya sa lead, kaya mas kinabahan ako”

“Actually no’ng nag-audition ako, akala ko hindi na ako nakuha. Late na na-send sa ’kin ’yong Yuri Hanamitchi, tapos no’ng sinend sakin, hindi ko pa alam na isa siya sa lead, kaya mas kinabahan ako. No’ng nabasa ko na, madami pala siyang scenes; nasanay kasi ako na parang konti lang. Inaral ko siya, nagpakulay ako ng buhok. As in, lumayo muna ako sa mga kaibigan ko sa Pampanga. Pumunta ako ng Manila, nag-stay ako dito sa Manila for six months para mag-taping, para mag-workshop, parang nagbalik-loob ulit ako sa acting,” he recalls.

The waiting season

Come to think of it, all roads did not lead to acting. Before his “AMNSE” era, Angeles was in a limbo, rethinking if this career was even worth it. It was a costly venture, after all—a gamble, if you may, sans the safety net.

“Sobrang hirap. Halos isang taon akong walang project. Umuwi na akong Pampanga, pasuko na ako. Nagagalit na mother ko nun: ‘Mag-aral ka na lang, anak. Huwag mo nang ituloy kasi sayang ’yong panahon. Wala ka namang ginagawa.’ One year na kasi akong walang ginagawa. Tapos sabi ko, ‘Ma, hindi ako susuko. Mag-wo-workshop ako.’”

“Sobrang hirap. Halos isang taon akong walang project. Umuwi na akong Pampanga, pasuko na ako”

Instead of sulking, Angeles took matters into his own hands by sending his road manager a message: “‘Ms. Jen, bigyan mo naman akong workshop. Kahit malayo ’yan, babiyahe ako.’”

And he did. Even if it meant needing to borrow money from his friends just so he could travel to Pasig from Pampanga and sustain himself. He used to have a place to stay in Tomas Morato, Quezon City but not anymore. Suddenly, this was a tougher barrier than little Rabin’s nauseousness.

Luckily, it wasn’t total deja vu. He would make it to the workshop rooms. Beginner, intermediate, then advanced stages he would finish. Then, he would head back to Pampanga and endure another waiting season, until the red-head character finally made him stay in Manila.

Now, meet Drake Palma

The present Rabin, although in an obviously better disposition, is undergoing another evolution. The Wattpad Cinematic Universe wants him back—this time as the titular character of “Seducing Drake Palma.” Premiering on June 15, the series adaptation is expected to zero in on Drake, the smart and popular guy in school everyone is head over heels for, and how Alys Perez would extinguish this flame. “Ang galing, wala nang audition,” Angeles thought to himself.

The present Rabin, although in an obviously better disposition, is undergoing another evolution. The Wattpad Cinematic Universe wants him back—this time as the titular character of “Seducing Drake Palma”

“Nagulat na lang ako,” he says. “Nasanay ako na dati, ’pag may project ako, sobrang konti lang ng exposure ko do’n, tapos maghihintay ako ng another six months bago magkaroon ulit ng bagong exposure, so sanay ako na ganun[…] Kaya nagulat ako sa ‘Drake Palma,’ agad agad meron.”

When asked about how he’s warming up with his character, Angeles says it’s somehow easy with Palma.

“Sobrang tahimik lang niya. Masungit. Excited na ako kung paano ko gaganapan ’yong pagka… masama din siya eh. Excited na ako kung paano ko gagawin ’yon,” he quips. By the time you read this story, he will have probably peeled more of the character’s enigmatic layers.

Rabin the actor is moving from one classroom (Hanamitchi’s) to another (Palma’s), and Rabin the former real-life student would do the same but for a different reason.

“Palagi akong nagpapatawa. Marami akong kaibigan—sobrang dami kong kaibigan sa school. Parang kahit saan akong pumuntang room, may kaibigan ako,” he reminisces.

Summer breaks weren’t exactly eventful, but at least it involved his main love language (quality time). “Sa bahay lang ako kasi, gaya ng sabi ko kanina, wala naman talaga kaming pambakasyon. Basta kasama ko ’yong family ko.” (But if he were to choose anywhere for a future vacation, it would be Amsterdam.)

Summer breaks, luckily, also meant basketball—with friends nearby to boot. A self-proclaimed Devin Booker fan, Angeles still makes it a point to hit the court when he’s an actor off-duty.

Warming up with stardom

After all, attention is a double-edged sword—and the sudden magnitude of attention thrown his way is no joke. Given the responsibilities he has both in his personal life and career, does he feel the pressure to be perfect?

“Oo. Parang… ang hirap, ’di ba? Bawal kang magkamali.”

I instantly know what he’s pertaining to: In April, the actor received backlash after sharing what his “ideal girl” is like. Criticisms pointed out how it reeks of misogyny, while others argued it was simply an expression of preferences. Ultimately, this was something Angeles already apologized for.

“Pinaka[iniisip] ko na talaga siya kasi nagkamali ako no’n eh. Parang kapag masyadong maraming camera, natataranta ako. Kaya dapat, maayos lagi. Hindi naman perfect—imposibleng maging perfect—pero kailangan naaayos ko ’yong sarili ko.”

“Pinaka[iniisip] ko na talaga siya kasi nagkamali ako no’n eh. Parang kapag masyadong maraming camera, natataranta ako. Kaya dapat, maayos lagi. Hindi naman perfect—imposibleng maging perfect—pero kailangan naaayos ko ’yong sarili ko”

Speaking carefully is also something he wishes to work on in his personal relationships.

“Ang in-unlearn ko siguro [recently ay] mag-share ng too much information sa friends. Dapat talaga pipiliin mo ’yong mga kasama mo kasi hindi lahat totoo[…] Until now, hindi naman ako nagbabago, [I consider myself vulnerable]. Pero kailangan kong baguhin ’yon kasi [kung] palagi, minsan namamasama nila ’yong sinasabi ko, kasi sobrang daldal ko[…] ’Pag komportable kasi ako sa isang tao, hindi ko na iniisip kung ano ’yong sinasabi ko. Minsan pala, nakaka-offend na pala ’pag nagbibiro ako,” he admits.

Angeles has learned so much from “AMNSE” that he hopes to bring to his “Seducing Drake Palma” chapter—especially how he builds relationships with co-actors.

“’Yong relationship, work kasi. Dati, mahirap para sa akin ’yon. Hindi ko kayang mauna makiusap sa mga tao,” he says. “Nahihiya ako palagi, lalong lalo na sa showbiz kasi hanggang ngayon, na-fe-feel ko, ‘Parang hindi ako belong dito, ang gwapo nila.’ Nakaka-appreciate ako palagi ng mga mukha ng mga tao. ‘Ang ga-gwapo nila, ang gaganda, nahihiya ako. Parang hindi ako bagay dito.’”

Brewing confidence

But as his career also requires facing the public a lot—TV guestings and mall shows included—Angeles tries to boost his self-confidence through self-care.

“Unang una, dapat mabango ako. Kahit wala akong ayos masyado, okay lang. Basta mabango ako. Hindi dahil perfume brand ko ’to; favorite ko talaga siya. ’Yong Bin Perfume. Sobrang solid talaga no’ng amoy,” he says.

But as his career also requires facing the public a lot—TV guestings and mall shows included—Angeles tries to boost his self-confidence through self-care

“Ang mga lalaki kasi, hindi sila ma-skincare, hindi sila nag-me-makeup, ligo lang, puwede na ’yan. Ganun ako dati eh. Minsan ganun pa rin ako kasi tamad akong maghilamos minsan. Pero nung binigyan nila ako ng Green Flavonoid (from The Lab by Blanc Doux PH) talaga, pina-try nila sakin [no’ng] nag-breakout ako, ang ganda ng results. Alagaan mo talaga sarili mo. Dapat every day na-i-improve mo ’yong sarili mo.”

Of course, the inner confidence work for the long haul is a different story. One of his faces of authenticity? Admitting when the nerves get to him, as seen in quick backstage interviews (and during our chat itself). Unlike other performance-heavy artists, Angeles doesn’t have a clear-cut calming ritual. But he does hold onto something.

“Sa totoo lang, ‘pag kinakabahan ako—’pag pinaka-kinakabahan ako—[like] interviews, mag-pe-perform, or TV guestings, [ang] ginagawa ko… meron akong rosary na binigay ng friend ko. Binigay niya sa ’kin ’yon no’ng first time kong mag-pe-perform sa harap ng maraming tao. Hanggang ngayon, ’pag haharap ako sa maraming tao, magdadasal ako, tapos ’yong rosary na ’yon, nakabulsa lang sa ’kin palagi. Promise, nung binigay niya sa ‘kin ’yon, parang nawala lahat ng kaba ko, nakaharap ako sa maraming tao. Di ko na binitawan ’yong rosary.”

There’s also been a shift in his treatment of social media. “Dati, post lang ako nang post. Ngayon sa sobrang busy ko, di na ako makapag-post [or] makapag-shoot ng quality videos. ‘Pag nag-pi-picture ako, hindi na ako kasing confident ng dati kasi gusto ko palagi, mas naaayos ko ’yong sarili ko[…] Parang nakukulangan ako sa sarili ko. Kaya hindi ko na-u-upload.”

“Ayoko naman na puro fame lang. Sabi nga nung ibang mga direktor, magkaiba ang celebrity sa aktor. Gusto kong ipakita na kaya kong maging aktor”

However, fame isn’t something he really thinks about—or intentionally wants to, at least. “Hindi ko siya iniisip eh. Although kapag lumalabas ako, may nakakakilala sa ’kin, natutuwa ako, pero ayoko talaga siyang isipin. Kasi hindi pa ’to eh, hindi pa ’to ’yung gusto kong maabot. Malayo pa ako. Marami pa akong kakaining kanin bago ko marating ’yun. Tsaka gusto kong mapakita kung paano ako makakaarte nang maayos. Ayoko naman na puro fame lang. Sabi nga nung ibang mga direktor, magkaiba ang celebrity sa aktor. Gusto kong ipakita na kaya kong maging aktor.”

If anything’s possible, Angeles aspires to take on challenging and complex roles akin to the characters of Leonardo DiCaprio in “Basketball Diaries” (1995) (a high school basketball player who struggles with addiction) and Elijah Canlas in “Keys To The Heart” (2023) (a pianist with autism).

The rising star’s North Star

It’s no secret that fame has shapeshifted. Deloitte reveals that 56 percent of Gen Zs see social media content more relevant than traditional media, like shows and films. Overnight stardom can be achieved through a 30-second video—and sometimes, fading into obscurity is just as quick. Still, there’s no distinct formula to playing the industry’s long game. Does this transience scare the rising Gen Z actor, or is he up for the challenge?

“Siguro, hindi ako natatakot. Hindi ako natatakot na mawala sa akin, kasi ginagawa ko naman ’yong best ko kada may binibigay sila sa akin. Kaya sa tingin ko, hindi siya aalisin sakin ni Lord. Sa tingin ko, pinanganak ako dito ni Lord para dito, kaya hindi ako natatakot,” he says.

“Hindi magandang lumalaki ang ulo. Naging lesson sa ’kin ’yon, binigyan Niya ako ulit ng second chance, ’yon ’yong dahilan siguro kung bakit hindi ko ma-feel ’yong fame pa din, kasi natatakot ako lumaki ’yong ulo ko”

He continues, “Kung mawala man siya sa ’kin—huwag naman sana—pero kung mawala man siya sa ’kin, siguro after five years, after 10 years, plano pa rin ng Diyos ’yon, di ba? Parang, challenge lang ’yon para sa ’yo. Kasi nung nawala sa ’kin ’yon, feeling ko, kaya inalis sa ’kin, kasi lumalaki ulo ko. Hindi magandang lumalaki ang ulo. Naging lesson sa ’kin ’yon, binigyan Niya ako ulit ng second chance, ’yon ’yong dahilan siguro kung bakit hindi ko ma-feel ’yong fame pa din, kasi natatakot ako lumaki ’yong ulo ko.”

After all, we’re all mortals—stars or not. When we gather for lunch in our hotel room’s dining area, Angeles spontaneously joins our random role-playing and singing of “Happy Birthday” in admiration of the feast on the table. The next time he overthinks the future, I hope he knows he’s always on cue.

Story by Jelou Galang
Photos by JL Javier, assisted by Marga Magalong
Creative direction by Eric Nicole Salta and Angela Nicca Chen
Styling by Quayn Pedroso
Grooming by Mycke Arcano, assisted by Jam Jacobe
Hair by Jhed de Leon
Shoot assistants Pauline Miranda and Ella Lambio
Produced by Eric Nicole Salta
Shot at The Westin Manila
Special thanks to Meg Hernandez of The Westin Manila and Caryl Paraico and Jennie Navoa of Viva Artists Agency