Having built a stellar career as a model, he admits that stepping into the world of reality shows was a refreshing experiece for him.
As the regional reality series Wingman nears the end of its run, Trendrod was able to have an exclusive conversation with one of the show’s cast members, Filipino model and content creator, L.A Aguinaldo.
The 33-year-old is part of the 12-episode series based in Singapore, where a group of singles and their best friends — who were designated as their wingmen — from around Southeast Asia live inside a villa for weeks as they try to couple up and score dates through different challenges.
Before the show began, L.A was looking to find a connection beyond the show-business scene, as being a part of the entertainment industry led him to keeping his past relationships private that led to his former partners feeling hidden.
Staying by his side as his wingman throughout the show is his best friend, Richard Juan, who is a model, actor and media entrepreneur.
Thus, we first asked L.A about how he was cast in the program and how Richard became his companion.
“Initially, it was Richard that told me about the show!” the model-influencer revealed. “His sister actually saw the casting call on Mediacorp and told Richard about it. Richard then called me saying we should at least try to audition because we were just in a sort of ‘go go go’ mentality.”
He also noted that they were in separate parts of the world at that time, with Richard being thousand miles away in London, while L.A was in Manila. “So, we taped our auditions separately and I edited it and submitted it to Mediacorp all in one day,” L.A also shared.
The single man inside the Wingman villa then noted that their more than a decade-long friendship also played a part in them being game to do the show together.
“I guess our 12 year plus friendship really solidified our bond and brotherhood and there’s no one I’d rather do this with than Richard!” he told us.
In the first episode of the show, he was introduced by his best friend as a “regular in various fashion shows” and L.A’s social media presence proves all that. But, being a reality show participant is also an entire thing of its own.
Hence, we asked L.A about how different is this experience for him.
“Being able to attend international fashion weeks and being on a reality show are definitely two different things,” he admitted. “Being in fashion week, I’m used to things being predictable and being on schedule. My outfits are planned, the venues are set, and it’s something I’m already very attuned with.”
However, being on Wingman is totally an “opposite” experience for him.
According to L.A, “Everyday, you wake up and you don’t know what is going to happen to you. An hour can feel like a day because so many things can happen! We were only there for a few weeks, but it definitely felt like we were there for half a year.”
Being far away from his home, since the show was filmed entirely in the “Lion City,” we also posed the question if that setup allowed him to shed his inhibitions and truly enjoy the journey.
L.A responded to us, “With Wingman and filming in Singapore, I told myself I’m just going to feel every emotion that comes. If I’m happy, I’ll really embrace my happiness and if I’m sad, I’d really feel it out.”
“I told myself (that) if I ever do feel a feeling of connection and love, then it’s something I owe myself to really dive in and feel it. I learned to be vulnerable even if it’s scary,” he added.
For those who are tuned in to the show, it is already an open fact by now that L.A has connected and officially coupled up with Thai participant Frayya. But early on in the series, she already caught his attention, with the gentleman getting captivated by the lady’s eyes.
Asked if that first impression served as the spark that led to his feelings developing in recent episodes, he replied: “Her (Frayya) eyes definitely caught my attention at the very beginning, but what truly made me appreciate her is the way she makes those around her feel. She is very caring.”
Towards the middle of the season, a love triangle also momentarily brewed as fellow Filipino celebrity, Marco Gallo, took Frayya on a date. Within that specific series of events, the 25-year-old star tagged L.A as “Mr. Good Boy,” one that we could not help but wonder if this is something he gets often from other people.
“Haha! This is a good one. All love to Marco though,” L.A said first. “I think, I can’t help but to spread good energy to people, because that’s also the energy I think the world needs more of. The world can feel divisive at times and I think the world needs more kindness and being in tune with one’s emotions.”
As follow-up, we also asked if this is something that he treats as a compliment, or one that actually repels ladies?
“I think people veer away from this sometimes because it makes them seem weak and vulnerable, but I think the opposite. Kindness stems from a place of strength and understanding,” he answered.
On a more general level, we consulted with L.A to give pieces of advice for anyone stepping into a first date.
“For a first date? Just literally relax and treat is as if you’re hanging out with a new friend. At the end of the day, we just want to know each other a bit more and you can’t do that if you’re too uptight,” he shared.
Furthermore, L.A also stressed to not forget the following: “Just enjoy the moment and make sure you shower and put on cologne before the date. And bring a handkerchief too!”
As to what can a woman do on their first meeting that will instantly enchant him, L.A revealed to us: “A woman can instantly steal my heart if she’s really genuine in getting to know me too, and not the date being just one sided. Like that’s a major intellectual turn-on too, because it means she wants to engage in a meaningful conversation to get to know each other better.
With the show’s title being Wingman, we also learned about his views on having one in the real-world setting.
On whether to approach someone on their own, or relying on a wingman to help you win someone’s heart, L.A said that while the latter presents some advantages, bulk of the work still remains with the single person.
“I think having a wingman is great! But don’t rely fully on your wingman. The wingman’s job is to remind you of who you are, encourage you, and help put you on the right headspace – be the wind beneath your wings. As the Single, it’s still your job to fly,” he said.
On whether a dashing/charming wingman is advantageous to score a date, or one that might just end up overshadowing the single—after all, the wingman could also be a competition—L.A said that it is a shared responsibility for both sides.
“For me this is 50-50 haha. The wingman should know their limitations also! Haha,” he pointed out. “But I think, if you fear your wingman will overshadow you, then I guess that says more about you than your wingman. So, step up your game too.”
As the show approaches its final week, L.A also teased what fans and viewers can expect in Wingman. “As we get more comfortable with each other, I think people can expect more drama, more heightened emotions, and more games to be played (both in and out the villa),” he said.
He continued, “The thing is, everything people see is REAL, so expect the unexpected that can come only from reality.“
Episodes of Wingman are streaming on Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube channel and on the mewatch app, with two new episodes dropping every Thursday until the finale on October 8. Viewing is free and available globally on both platforms.
The winning couple will receive SGD20,000, while the winning wingman takes home SGD10,000.
