"Life is not short," he declared, in a soft-spoken manner, with American accent, when I commented about wearing too many hats at the age of 19 - singing, studying, and then possessing that one desire of starring in a motion picture, among several other activities, and dreams. Too many to mention, in fact, but he is not in a hurry to achieve everything all at once.

Too young to deal with the harsh realities of life, but David Jones "DJ" Cua stands by his belief that everybody has still the opportunity to live once, either to reform one's mistakes, or to pursue one's dreams.

Click here for Election 2010 updates

"If you would think that life is short, you'd think that there's no tomorrow. Truth is, we still have chances," he continued.

True to his words, DJ has indeed taken things slowly. While finishing his degree at the Center for International Education, he is hooked up with his first love - that unstoppable yearning to perform on stage. He's performed in several school productions, both acting and singing.

Pump up the beat, and he'll give you his version of pop music, the genre he's most interested in. The question is then asked, "Would DJ give Justin Timberlake a good run for his money?"

"I like pop music because there's a hidden message behind it. It is a little predictable, but if you'd listen closely there's depth," he continued.

But he can easily adjust his music from pop to Broadway because apart from talent and passion, versatility is an essential tool in pleasing the crowd. In comparison, Broadway music requires skill in acting out the lyrics, mainly because the songs revolve around a plot.

So, it would not be a surprise if he'd pull off an LL Cool J on the dance floor and in the next minute, turn pensive in his favorite pieces from Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story.

Or how about shifting gears from ballroom to pop jazz for example?

To help him with his singing, he is currently taking lessons from a sought-after voice coach in Cebu.

And it would not be a surprise to also see him on not-so-mainstream entertainment. "I want to be part of an indie (independent) film. I would like to play a role that has never been done before because I've observed roles are recurring, and I want to make a little change."

"I want to be the antagonist; the protagonist seems to be too perfect," DJ said.

He is too eager, in fact, that the worst intrigues would probably not matter.

"It's an open book. I have completely understood that once I enter showbiz, I don't belong to myself any more," DJ concludes.