All he had was the glow of a computer screen in a small computer shop, a pen and paper by his side, a small amount of money in his pocket, and a face that looked like someone else’s.
All he had were ten memorized lines in a language he barely spoke.
But who would have thought that these would become the foundation of his long-awaited journey?
Just as vampires and werewolves never truly die and can appear out of nowhere, opportunities can surface just as unexpectedly.
Twelve years later, on another ordinary day in 2025, he heard the very lines he once tried to forget–“What hafen, Vella? Why you cryin’ again? I know, vamfyr, right? Vamfyr will feyt to me.”
Cristopher Diwata, who was trying to make a living as a fish dealer in Orion, Bataan, joined ABS-CBN’s ‘It’s Showtime’ segment ‘Kalokalike Face 2‘ in 2013, portraying Hollywood actor Taylor Lautner in his character as Jacob Black in the popular film series ‘The Twilight Saga.’
“I joined because my classmates kept teasing me that I looked like Jacob,” Diwata said in an interview via Instagram call. “I didn’t watch the ‘Kalokalike‘ segment before because I was focused on my studies. But when I searched for the character, I immediately saw the resemblance. Even in terms of actions, it was similar, so I decided to try. I immediately went to Manila to audition,” he added, laughing.
Once a 23-year-old who only had small gigs and little exposure, the now 35-year-old Cristopher seemed to have finally caught a break as brands and collaborations began reaching out to him.
But what happened to Diwata before he got to where he is now?
It all started here
From an early age, Mr. Diwata enjoyed entertaining people. He would turn the stairs into a runway and call her mom to watch as he pretended to be a model. Even before joining the ‘Kalokalike‘ competition, he entered small local contests that allowed him to act, model, and sing.
But his greatest dream was to become an action star. Eddie Garcia, Fernando Poe Jr. and John Regala were among the figures he looks up to and aspires to be.
His exposure from ‘Kalokalike Face 2‘ opened the door to the entertainment industry he had always dreamt of entering. Mr. Diwata landed a minor role in ‘Confession of a Torpe,’ a 2014 TV series starring Ogie Alcasid. He also appeared in reenactments for SOCO and took on other gigs he could no longer recall.
But the momentum was short-lived. What he had was not a breakthrough but only a sneak peek into the industry.
The 3rd-year college student, who paused his studies to pursue his acting career, tried going back to the university since the acting opportunities dwindled. However, stars did not seem to align in his favor, once again, as the curriculum had changed and his previous credits were no longer recognized. Faced with starting over, he decided to stop studying altogether.
To make ends meet, Mr. Diwata returned to his family’s fish dealership. He would deliver bulk orders from his province Bataan to other hubs like Dagupan City, Pangasinan. Still, even as he carried crates instead of scripts, his burning passion for acting never left him. It may be set aside, but never extinguished.
To be loved is to be seen
Along the way, this passion also led him to find his mate. His own “Bella.”
Much like the unexpected encounters in the ‘The Twilight Saga,’ Diwata immediately fell for Ronalyn when she appeared in their indie film ‘Paghihiganti,’ where she was part of the scriptwriting team.
“He was the lead star in the indie film we created, and I was part of the staff,” she said, trying to recall how they met. “I was also getting to know my co-worker at that time. I didn’t really have any interest in him, and my two friends were the ones who liked him. But we ended up together. I don’t know why,” she added while laughing.
Little did she know, Diwata had already fallen for her the first time he laid eyes on her.
“We were young at that time. I was really caught by her beauty. Masungit style. But I courted her,” Diwata shared.
Earning almost P2000 in his early career, Diwata did not stop himself from pursuing Ronalyn. By consistently showing his interest and trying his best to provide for their needs, the two became a couple in 2015. In 2017, they tied the knot and were eventually blessed with two children, Jacob Zachary and Quinn Shantal.
But love has always had its ups and downs.
When they were just starting out together, they admitted that their business suffered financial losses, especially during the pandemic, when the quality of their fish products declined and transporting them to faraway places became difficult. Mrs. Diwata was the one working, while Mr. Diwata stayed at home to take care of the children and occasionally took on work. However, it was not nearly enough.
“Before, my kids wanted taho, but I couldn’t give it to them. It was just a simple request,” Mr. Diwata said in a 2025 interview with ‘Rated K.’
Despite those difficulties, Mrs. Diwata never doubted her husband’s potential to be in the spotlight. She said she always wished that he would finally receive the breakthrough he had long been waiting for in the field he truly loved.
When the opportunity arose, Mrs. Diwata had little reaction, as she had already seen her husband working as a talent before. But after years of waiting for the right timing, she said she felt happy that it had finally arrived. Meanwhile, Mr. Diwata did not pay much attention to the growing popularity until Mang Inasal reached out to him to create a short promotional video for its nearest branch in Orion, Bataan.
“This is it!” Mr. Diwata said to his wife when they noticed that many brands were already reaching out to him.
He grabbed the opportunity, marking a turning point in their lives. From simply being hopeful, their dreams began to come true when they least expected them.
“When he immediately grabbed that breakthrough, I was able to take a break from work and stay at home,” Mrs. Diwata said. “He now gives me the things I used to only wish for and I deserve,” she added, her tone hinting at a sign of relief.
As for their children, he was also able to give them the things they wanted. They are now going to places they had never been before and spending time together through activities like camping, things they once only dreamed of.
For Mr. Diwata, Mrs. Diwata was the “Bella” of his life.
“She’s a warrior and a survivor of the challenges that life gave us,” he said.
In loving her, he saw himself not just as Jacob but also as Edward, saying he fought for her and once he had her, loved her wholeheartedly.
“I hope she stays happy while handling our business,” he shared when asked about his wishes for his wife. “As for my children, I promise that I will love you and do my best to make sure you’ll finish your education,” he added.
Mr. Diwata said his goal has always been to achieve kaginhawaan for his family. That is why, when opportunities came his way, he promised to accept brand offers except those related to gambling.
If it’s meant for you, it will find its way
Given a second chance in the entertainment industry, Mr. Diwata acknowledged that this fame would be fleeting, a lesson learned from experience. This time, he was committed to making the most of it, hoping to not only provide for his family but also to settle their debt.
What the Diwata couple initially thought would be a one-month trend stretched far beyond their expectations, taking the Filipino for-you-page for more than four months.
“We were like, ‘Oh? There’s more?’ We are surprised that there’s more because we only expected it to last for one month…We are ready even if it stops anytime,” Mrs. Diwata recalled.
Surprisingly, Mr. Diwata had not watched his audition piece in ‘Kalokalike‘ ever since it was posted online.
“I don’t want to remember [It’s] Showtime,” he jokingly said. “When my friends make fun of me and I suddenly hear my voice, I’d say “That’s me,” and I feel shy. But because of that, I became famous,” he added.
To make hay while the sun shines, Mr. Diwata accepted almost every brand collaboration that came his way. At one point, he handled four endorsements in a single day. With steady work, Mr. Diwata was able to buy a car to travel and spend at least two days a week with his family.
Anticipating the spotlight to dim at any moment, the Diwata family built more stable sources of income. They launched their car rental business, named Twilight Saga Bataan Car Rental. Mrs. Diwata’s idea to open different food stalls also came to life. From unli wings and takoyaki to fried noodles and coffee, she manages the businesses they ventured into.
Soon enough, they found themselves saving more than expected, aside from being free from debt.
What happened now, Cristopher Diwata?
Despite being grateful for many different endorsements, Mr. Diwata’s dream remains unchanged.
“Happy,” he said while smiling when asked about his reaction to the resurfacing of his ‘Kalokalike‘ piece. “Of course, even if I were not that active on social media, I still really like acting. It still lives in my heart. I really like being in front of the camera.”
Mr. Diwata, who has always been fond of being in the limelight, needed to stop chasing his dreams for a while for his family.
As his wife put it, “No matter how far you are, if it’s for you, it’s really for you. Look at him, after 12 years, he’s at it again.”
The aspiration to be an action star may not come just yet to Mr. Diwata, who always wears a leather jacket in his interviews. And if there’s one thing he hopes people remember, it would not be the resemblance nor the viral lines, but his own name: Cristopher Diwata. Still, he is grateful to the Jacob Black ‘Kalokalike‘ 12 years ago.
“Thank you because if it were not for the courage you showed, I would not be able to taste the ease of life now,” he said.
As time passed, his popularity may not always be in line, but Mr. Diwata remains content with what he has achieved and he hopes to accomplish more in the future. He shared that new projects are lined up this year, giving him another chance to step into the spotlight and hopefully, continue earning the support of his audience.
“Cristopher Diwata is happy now,” he said while smiling when asked what had happened to him.
The man who had only an almost five-minute appearance on the ‘Kalokalike‘ segment has transformed that brief moment into a career. One that allows him to be seen not only on personal devices but also in the computer shops where it all began.
A place where those ten lines first came to life.
*****
19 year-old Mariella Ortega and 20 year-old Haleyah Fangonil are second-year BA Communication students at University of the Philippines Baguio.
They wrote about Mr. Diwata because they wanted to provide a life update about the internet personality as he rose to popularity last year with his famous line, “What hafen, Vella?”
In hindsight, they shared that Mr. Diwata’s popularity reminded them of Ian Mark Kamangkang, better known as “Pitik Queen” of TikTok and how the internet should continue to provide platform for kind and humble personalities.
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