Before finding success in showbiz, Wilbert Ross said he survived on a ₱1,500 weekly allowance, lived with his cousin who worked as a construction worker, and relied on reality show auditions in hopes of getting his big break.
Speaking on Philippine Star's Real Talk with Nathalie Tomada, Wilbert recalled that auditions were his only opportunity to enter the entertainment industry because he had no relatives or connections in Manila.
“Nag-audition ako. Dati kasi, walang social media—hindi ganu'n kalakas. So parang the only chance for a probinsyano na walang kapamilya sa Manila, na walang connection sa Manila, at wala ring sapat na pera para gumastos at mag-invest sa Manila is to audition sa mga reality shows. 'Yun lang talaga ang chance,” he said.
Wilbert said he auditioned four times for Pinoy Big Brother and was shortlisted in each attempt. He also joined Tawag ng Tanghalan, where he made his first television appearance on It's Showtime, before competing in Pinoy Boyband Superstar.
Despite falling short in the said competitions, Wilbert shared that the failures did not stop him from pursuing his dream.
“Grabe 'yung iyak ko nu'n. As in malala. Sabi ko, 'I've tried a lot of things. Sa isang taon, dalawang beses ako natalo sa TV.'"
After Pinoy Boyband Superstar, Wilbert decided to leave school and move to Manila after several people promised to introduce him to industry contacts.
He said he lived on a ₱1,500 weekly allowance from his parents, who were also experiencing financial difficulties, and stayed with his cousin Chad in Novaliches.
“Nagkaroon ako ng lakas ng loob na tumigil sa pag-aaral at lumipad sa Manila with my dreams and hopes. With my 1,500 a week allowance. And nakikitira ako sa pinsan ko sa Novaliches na construction worker."
To save money, Wilbert said he walked part of the journey from Quezon Avenue to ABS-CBN after taking a bus from Novaliches.
“Isipin mo from Novaliches to ABS, lakad, tricycle, lakad sa palengke, bus, then para makatipid, Quezon Avenue to ABS, nilalakad ko na lang 'yun."
However, the people who had promised to help him eventually stopped responding.
“'Yung mga nag-promise sa akin, hindi na ma-contact. Parang alam mo 'yun, tutulungan ako. Hindi ko na ma-contact."
With no opportunities materializing, Wilbert enrolled in a Star Magic workshop. He admitted that he enrolled so he would have something to show his classmates back home.
“And parang sabi ko talaga, 'Nakakahiya naman walang nangyayari sa akin dito. Mag-enroll ako sa Star Magic workshop. Pero public din 'yun. Kumbaga, magbabayad kami. Pero may pampa-post ako na kunwari may nangyayari sa akin sa Manila,” he said.
“Para hindi masyadong nakakahiya sa mga classmates ko du'n. Para sabihin nila, 'Ay nasa Star Magic siya.' Ganu'n lang. So ayun, nag-Hashtags ako. Tapos unti-unting tumataas ang rank ko," he added.
Wilbert also met Boy Abunda through an introduction arranged by Philip Rojas, but the meeting did not lead to any projects.
“Tapos si Sir Philip Rojas, siya ‘yung nag-promise sa akin one time sa Pinoy Boyband Superstar na ipapakilala kita Kay Tito Boy. Pero no promises. Ipapakilala kita. Pero di ko ipa-promise na may mangyayari sa’yo after. So ayun lang. Ipapa-meet kita. Ayun na-meet ko si Tito Boy and I don’t know, siguro walang effect, so nawala na rin. Wala nang callback and all,” he said.
During the Hashtags auditions, Wilbert went back on the day he was told to return, only to find that almost everyone else had been individually texted either a confirmation or a rejection. He had received neither. His number was not called. He was not on any list.
"Nangyari 'yung Hashtags. Isa sa mga sobrang crazy niyang story sa career ko. Para siyang sinulat sa libro. Fate, legit ha? Siguro nasa mga thousands 'yung nag-audition. After ng audition ko, na-callback ako sa next round. And sa next round, nag-photoshoot kami. Mga hundreds na lang. Kumbaga, ang dami nang natanggal. And then after nun, sabi sa aming lahat noong araw na 'yun, bumalik kayong lahat bukas. So, nasa utak ko, babalik ako bukas,” he said,
He went on, “Pagbalik ko kinabukasan, nagtaka ako na sobrang konti na lang. Parang less than a hundred na lang ang bumalik. Ngayon, sabi ng katabi ko, tinext sila na 'Congratulations, sa next round babalik ka.' Ang nangyari pala, tinext pala isa-isa. 'Babalik ka o sorry, 'wag ka na bumalik tomorrow.' Ako wala akong na-receive na text. Meron lang akong verbal na 'Oh bumalik kayo tomorrow.' Kaya ako bumalik.
“So, isa-isang tinawag ang mga number. Numerical eh. Last number, wala talaga 'yung number ko. So sabi ko, 'Oh my God, wala ako. Bakit ako nandito?' So nahihiya ako. Nandun ako. Nakaupo ako eh," he continued.
He approached contestant coordinator Bing Ramos and explained that he had never received a rejection text. She went through the files. His name was in the rejected pile. But instead of turning him away, she let him stay.
"Ngayon, lumapit ako kay Ma'am Bing Ramos, 'yung contestant coordinator. Sabi ko, 'Ma'am Bing, hindi po ako natawag.' Tapos inisa-isa niya 'yung accepted na papers. Tapos sabi niya, 'Sige ano 'yung number mo?' Sabi ko, '008.' Tapos panipis nang panipis 'yung iniisa-isa niya. Kinakabahan ako. Hanggang sa wala talaga. Ibig sabihin, I was really not accepted for the next round,” he said.
He added: “Tapos sabi ko, 'Ma'am Bing, wala po talaga akong na-receive na text. Ito po 'yung phone ko oh. Kasi kung alam ko lang po, kung may na-receive po ako, bakit po ako babalik ngayon? Hindi naman po ako babalik. Wala po akong alam talaga.' Si Ma'am Bing nag-isip. Ang ginawa niya, kinuha niya 'yung isang buong file. Rejected.
“Hinahanap niya 'yung number ko. Sabi niya, 'Huwag ka na lang maingay.' 'Yun 'yun. So that was like the third round of Hashtags. Parang ang tanong, nasaan napunta 'yung text na rejected na ako. So parang pangit ba 'yung sulat ko o mali ba 'yung nalagay ko?" he continued.
Wilbert described the incident as a defining moment in his career.
"Parang sinulat sa libro. Fate, legit."
He added that although he was given another chance in that round, he still had to prove himself in the succeeding stages of the competition.
"If you're talking about pinagbigyan lang ako sa third round, ang question is, bakit ko siya ginapang sa 4th, 5th, at 6th rounds nang walang ganun?"