David: I don’t want to leave my fans with nothing

American Idol finalist David Archuleta admits going on a two-year hiatus for his religious mission is a “hard decision to make," but he made sure he has his music and TV drama for fans to remember him by while he’s away from the public eye.

“It’s always a scary thing to do because you never know what’s going to happen,” David said at the press conference recently.

Worth it

But he insists his next journey is worth it and he has to follow his gut feel, the way he did when he joined “American Idol.”

“Am I crazy? It is something I have thought in a couple of years and finally about to make it happen. Even though it’s a scary thing to do, I know it will be worth it because I’ve learned to trust that feeling in my life,” he said.

Aside from his OPM album, David will be doing some recording in the US.

“I’ll be gone for two years, so I don’t wanna leave my fans with nothing. After everything they’ve done to support me, I wanna make sure that I have songs while I’m gone. I still want my music there,” David added.

The newbie actor only has good words for his “Nandito Ako” leading ladies Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Eula Caballero.

“They’re both beautiful inside and out. They’re different in the characters they portray and also different in real life. They’re both nice.”

Eula and Jasmine

David compares Eula with Jasmine: “Jasmine has her Australian attitude in her. Eula has more of that Filipino attitude. It’s nice to see people who are as young as them come out mature and have that much respect for other people.”

After spending more than a month in the Philippines, David revealed he will miss the people he has worked with since they have become his new family.

“It has become like a family here, with TV5 and the “Nandito Ako” cast and crew. They’ve been like a family and they always make me comfortable.”

He admits dramatic acting is a big challenge, and he is thankful to the cast and crew who helped him.

“Even though I’m not a good actor, they have been so patient with me and always so supportive. It helped me to do better to make the series as best as I could in my participation with it,” he said.

The support of Filipino fans has made David want to return to the country.

“I plan to come back. I cannot not come back. I had a great, great time here.”

“Nandito Ako,” directed by Mac Alejandre, airs every weeknights after “Wil Time, Big Time.” It also stars Gelli de Belen, Aiko Melendez, G Tongi and Ana Feleo.

By Karen Valeza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom