IT’S CONFIRMED: Popular Hollywood actor Ian Somerhalder, who plays the dashing vampire Damon Salvatore in the hit show “The Vampire Diaries” is now somewhere mid-flight on his way to Manila.

This piece of good news was relayed to us by PR Asia Worldwide’s lead publicist, Joyce A. Ramirez in an official statement: “We are pleased to confirm that actor Ian Somerhalder has accepted our offer and is now (officially) part of PENSHOPPE “All Stars.”

“Ian is now en route to Manila, Philippines joining the all star cast of Team PENSHOPPE.”

“PENSHOPPE is very excited to work with Ian and our team is doing everything to make this a truly memorable visit for him. He will be staying in the Philippines for a week to shoot his campaign at an environmental-friendly resort as well as participate in a press conference to be held in Manila.”

Ramirez adds: “Hopefully, Ian gets a chance to meet his adoring Filipino fans who have supported him in The Vampire Diaries for the last two top rating seasons. Fans can also look forward to as Ian visits a flagship PENSHOPPE store.”

The popular TV star now joins a stellar list of leading men for PENSHOPPE including Ed Westwick (who plays Chuck Bass in the popular series Gossip Girl), Thai superstar Mario Maurer (now in the Philippines shooting his first Filipino film under Star Cinema called ‘Suddenly Its Magic’) and A-list Hollywood movie star Zac Efron (star of High School Musical series, whose recent film ‘The Lucky One’ registered box office returns of more than U$76 Million worldwide).

For this special assignment, PENSHOPPE has once again secured the expertise of Hollywood A-List photographer, Darren Tieste, author of ‘The Beauty Book’ featuring some of the world’s biggest stars led by actress Scarlett Johansson on the cover to shoot the actor’s 2012/13 campaign for the leading local apparel brand.

Ian currently stars in the CW’s “The Vampire Diaries” opposite Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev. The show is returning for its third season in mid-September 2012. Based on the books by L.J. Smith the show centers around Elena Gilber, a high school girl torn between two vampire brothers. He plays Damon Salvatore, the elder and far more dangerous of the two brothers who share a long and bitter history.

The first season of the show premiered to the CW’s highest ratings and won the 2010 People’s Choice Award for “Favorite New TV Drama.” Ian won the 2010 Teen Choice Award for “Choice TV Villain” for his portrayal of Damon on the show. At the 2011 Teen Choice Awards, “The Vampire Diaries” was the winner for the Choice Sci-Fi TV Show.
Ian is also well known for his role as ‘Boone’ on J.J. Abrams’ critically acclaimed drama “Lost” (aired regionally on AXN Asia) from 2004 to 2010. Ian won the 2005 SAG Award as part of “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series” and “Lost” won the 2005 Emmy Award for “Best Television Series – Drama.” The show was also nominated for the 2004 Golden Globe Award and the 2004 People’s Choice Award. He later returned to the show for it’s final season in 2010.

It is the actor’s first trip to the Philippines.

OTHER NOTABLE WORKS:

Ian recently starred in the Sci Fi Channel’s TV movie “Lost City Raiders” opposite James Brolin. “Lost City Raiders” premiered to record ratings and was the Sci Fi Channel’s 5th watched movie event of 2008. He also starred in the Hallmark Channel’s miniseries “Marco Polo” where he played the title character of Marco Polo opposite Brian Dennehy and B.D Wong. Written by Ron Hutchinson, the film traces the Venetian adventurer’s journey to Mongolia where he was an envoy to the court of Kublai Khan.

His other film credits include starring in Ellen Kanor‘s “The Wake” opposite Bijou Phillips; Aaron Wiederspahn‘s “Sensation of Sight” opposite David Strathairn and Jane Adams; Jim Sonzero‘s “Pulse” opposite Kristen Bell and Christina Milian; Roger Avary‘s “The Rules of Attraction” opposite James Van Der Beek, Kate Bosworth, Kip Pardue and Jessica Biel; Irwin Winkler‘s “Life as a House” opposite Hayden Christensen, Kevin Kline and Kristen Scott Thomas; Martin Guigui‘s “Changing Hearts” opposite Lauren Holly and Faye Dunaway; and Tony Giglio‘s “In Enemy Hands” opposite William H. Macy, Jeremy Sisto, and Scott Caan.

On stage, Ian starred Off Broadway in Trip Cullman‘s ensemble, “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” an “unauthorized parody” that follows the travails of “Charlie Brown,” America’s most hapless cartoon character, all grown up. The spoof of the Charles Schulz comic strip “Peanuts” follows the original gang a decade later as their beloved beagle companion dies. Ian co-starred with Eddie Kaye Thomas, Eliza Dushku, America Ferrera, Ari Gaynor, Logan Marshall-Green, Keith Nobbs and Kelli Garner.

Meanwhile his other television credits includes HBO’s “Tell Me You Love Me”, the made for TV movie “Anatomy of a Hate Crime,” “CSI” , “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” and “Smallville” and WB’s “Young Americans.

He currently resides in between Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles.