TJ Trinidad

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Fenstad and the surname or paternal family name is Trinidad.

Raul "TJ" Fenstad Trinidad Jr. (born January 22, 1976) is a Filipino actor and businessman.

TJ Trinidad
Born	Raul Fenstad Trinidad Jr. (1976-01-22) January 22, 1976 (age 49) Calatagan, Batangas, Philippines
Occupation(s)	Actor, singer, model
Years active	2003–2019
Spouse	Margarita Valdes ​ (m. 2011)​
Relatives	P.J. Trinidad (cousin) J.R. Trinidad (cousin)

Early life

Trindad graduated high school from Colegio de San Agustin and studied marketing at De La Salle University.^[1] As a student, Trinidad joined two rock bands as a vocalist and also participated in school plays. Trinidad was also a member of a parish youth theater group in Alabang, mostly doing fundraising plays for the holiday seasons.^[1]

As a child, Trinidad appeared in more than a dozen TV commercials for brands such as San Miguel Beer and Swatch.

After graduation, Trinidad worked nine-to-five jobs in several marketing firms until a friend encouraged him to join an audition for a soap drama at ABS-CBN.^[2]

Career

Trinidad's acting career began when he was accepted for a supporting role in the 2003 primetime TV series Basta't Kasama Kita, which starred Judy Ann Santos. In 2004, Trinidad also played supporting roles in the film Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita and in the sci-fi fantasy series Krystala, both of which also starred Santos. In later interviews, Trinidad credited Santos for helping him further hone his acting skills.^[3]

In 2006, Trinidad landed a breakout role when he was cast in the lead role of Cardin" Medel opposite Kristine Hermosa in the 2006 drama series Gulong ng Palad,

In 2008, Trinidad moved to GMA Network at the suggestion of Eddie Gutierrez who was a good friend of Trinidad's father. Gutierrez's wife Annabelle Rama also became Trinidad's manager.^[2]

At GMA, he was cast as the antagonist Ramon Pelaez in the 2009 adaptation of Zorro, as Tristan Aragon in the Philippine adaptation of Stairway to Heaven, as Gregor Javier or "Metal Man" in Captain Barbell: Ang Pagbabalik, as Gabriel Tanchingco The Rich Man's Daughter, and as the sidekick Greco in Mulawin vs Ravena.^[4]

Trinidad made his directorial debut in 2010 when his indie film Mga Kinahinatnan ng Aking Kabalbalan was featured in the 2010 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.^[5]

Trinidad starred as Robert Naval in Jerrold Tarog's 2013 Cinemalaya film Sana Dati, for which he won his first acting award as Best Supporting Actor.^[6] Trinidad and Tarog would continue to collaborate in the 2017 psychological thriller film Bliss and in the 2019 historical epic Goyo: The Boy General where he portrayed the older version of President Manuel L. Quezon in the epilogue.

He has also starred in other indie productions such as the 2015 film Sleepless and the 2016 hybrid animated film Saving Sally.

Trinidad played the role of Bruce Niles, a closeted gay man, in the Philippine staging of the off-Broadway play The Normal Heart in its 2015 run.^[7][8]

In 2019, Trinidad made his last television appearance in The Gift as a guest star.^[4] Since then, he was worked as an executive in the aviation sector.^[9]

Personal life

Trinidad married businesswoman Margarita Valdes in a private ceremony in Tagaytay in 2011.^[10] They have two children.^[11]

In 2013, Trinidad ran for the position of 1st district councilor during the 2013 Pasay local elections but was not elected.^[12]

Business ventures

Trinidad has been involved in the aviation industry since 2018, when he became the director of business development for aviation at International Container Terminal Services. In 2019, he became the vice president of Aviation Concepts Technical Services, an aerospace company based in Subic Bay.^[4]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source
2003	Keka	Arvin Cortez
2004	Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita	Antonio
	I Will Survive	Rudy
2005	Uno
	Miss Pinoy
2006	Shake, Rattle and Roll 8	Teacher Mel	Segment: "Yaya"
2007	The Promise	Anton
	Tiyanaks	Professor Earl/Erl
	A Love Story	Rick Montes
	Desperadas	Richard
	Resiklo	Jerson
2008	SEB: Cyber Game of Love	Andrew
	100	Rod
	For the First Time	Greg Sandoval
	Mag-ingat ka sa Kulam	Dave
	Desperadas 2	Richard
2009	The Rapture of Fe	Arturo
	Patient X	Alfred Molina
2011	Deadline: The Reign of Impunity	Ross Rivera
	The Road	Luis
2012	Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako	Byron
2013	Sana Dati	Robert Naval
2015	Felix Manalo	Pastor Emiliano Quijano
	Buy Now, Die Later	Santi
	Sleepless	Vince
2016	Always Be My Maybe	Carlo
	Working Beks	Tommy
	Saving Sally	Nick
2017	Bliss	Carlo		[13]
Smaller and Smaller Circles	Deputy Jake Valdez
2018	Sin Island	Stephen
	The Eternity Between Seconds
	Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral	Manuel L. Quezon
2019	My Letters to Happy	Albert

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Network	Source
2003–2004	Basta't Kasama Kita	John Paul		ABS-CBN
2003–2009	ASAP	Himself / co-host / Performer
2004–2005	Krystala	Gino Salvador
2006–2007	Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko	Pantas
2006	Gulong ng Palad	Carding Medel
	Your Song	Marco	Episode: "Kung Paano"
2007	Sineserye Presents: Hiram na Mukha	Dr. Hugo Roldan
	Rounin	Xander
	Walang Kapalit	Dr. Victor Hizon
2007–2008	Prinsesa ng Banyera	Eric Fragante
2008	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Jordan	Episode: "Cellphone"
	Your Song	Aris	Episode: "I'll Take Care of You"
	GMA Network
2009		Zorro	Captain Ramon Pelaez
		SRO Cinemaserye: Rowena Joy	Gino
		Stairway to Heaven	Tristan Aragon / Charlie Matias	Originally by Korean actor Shin Hyun-joon
2009–2010		Sana Ngayong Pasko	Stephen Dionisio
2010		Dear Friend	Rommel	Episode: "Almost a Love Story"
		Diva	Martin Valencia
		Claudine	Lemuel	Episode: "Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas"
2010–2011		Beauty Queen	Marc Sandoval
2011		Captain Barbell: Ang Pagbabalik	Gregor Javier / Metal Man	Supporting Cast / Antagonist
		Spooky Nights	Stephen Lee	Episode: "Nuno sa Feng Shui"
			Hector	Episode: "Sanggol"
2011–2012		Ruben Marcelino's Kokak	Carl Lorenzo
2012		Spooky Valentine	Nestor	Episode: "Maestra"
		Makapiling Kang Muli	Javier Lagdameo
2012–2013		Aso ni San Roque	Police C / Insp. Mateo Salvador
2013		Magpakailanman	Prolen	Episode: "The Prolen Banacua Story"
		One Day, Isang Araw	Orly	Episode: "Gamer Girl"
		Genesis	Paolo De Guzman†	Main Cast / Antagonist
2014		The Borrowed Wife	Earl Villaraza†
		Magpakailanman	Rommel	Episode: "A Mother's Sacrifice"
2014–2015		Strawberry Lane	Jonathan "Jun" Morales
2015		The Rich Man's Daughter	Gabriel Tanchingco		[14]
		Magpakailanman	Lester	Episode: "Sex Slave: Anak, Pinabayaan ng Ina?"	[15]
			Samuel	Episode: "Ang Batang Isinilang Sa Bilangguan"
			Haruko	Episode: "Binihag na Kasambahay" (Supporting Cast / Antagonist)
2016		Wish I May	Lance Delgado
	Magpakailanman	Pau	Episode: "Nang Mawala ang Langit"
	Karelasyon	Jack	Episode: "Duwende"
	FPJ's Ang Probinsyano	Attorney Patrick		ABS-CBN
	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Pablo	Episode: "Rehas"
2017	A Love to Last	Ben Avelino			[16]
	Magpakailanman	Egay	Episode: "Ang Munting Bayani"	GMA Network
	Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin	Young Roman Dela Vega	Special Participation	ABS-CBN
	Mulawin vs. Ravena	Greco		GMA Network
2018	Ngayon at Kailanman	Rodrigo Cortes†		ABS-CBN
2019	The Gift	Gener	Special Participation	GMA Network

Theater

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source
2015	The Normal Heart	Bruce Niles	Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza	[14]

Awards and nominations

Year	Work	Award	Category	Result	Source
2013	Sana Dati	Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival	Best Supporting Actor	Won	[3]
2015	Buy Now, Die Later	Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Supporting Actor	Nominated	[17]