THE ACTOR says he is thankful that his son Iñigo is a good teenager. Rodel Rotoni
ABS-CBN contract artist Piolo Pascual said at a recent media gathering organized by E! News Asia that he had been “scolded by someone of authority” for publicly declaring that he wanted to quit show biz.
“I was advised to stop talking about retirement anymore. Eventually, I realized that I should be grateful for what I have. I am still offered different projects, which I should welcome,” said Piolo.
“I’m very candid in all my interviews. I guess that’s why I sometimes get in trouble. I don’t exactly plan what to say. This is because I’ve dealt with local writers for so long that they’ve already become my friends,” the actor explained. “I simply answer questions that I’m asked. At this point in my career, what else is there to keep hidden?”
Piolo said he was going through a tough time at work and was feeling drained when that eventful press interview took place. “Like most people, I was going through a certain phase in my life then. Being an actor can sometimes be overwhelming, but I should no longer say I’m tired of my profession,” he pointed out.
“I’m currently tackling a father role. Then there’s another film being developed for me and a concert.”
Piolo told the Inquirer that he wanted to be a better father to his son Iñigo, 17, whom he finally allowed to join show biz. “I’d like to spend more time with him. He wants me to stay with him in the United States, where he is based, but I want him here. I guess it’s just time management. We’re going to have to come up with a compromise.”
Asked whether it was tough being dad to a teenager, the 37-year-old replied: “I used to think it would be hard, but it’s not, actually. Not now, when we get to talk more. We are able to discuss serious subjects. I’m thankful that he is a good kid.”
30-minute feature
Piolo will be featured in a 30-minute TV special to be aired on E! on Sept. 28, 9 p.m. A story on Australian-Filipino actress and TV host Anne Curtis was aired on the same cable channel in 2013. A reality series featuring the Gutierrez family, “It Takes Gutz to be a Gutierrez” debuted in June and will have a new season starting October.
According to NBC Universal country manager Liza Latinazo, choosing a subject for these specials is “not easy.” She explained: “A lot of research goes into it; it’s a very thorough process. We’d like to think that the feature is an acknowledgment of the achievements of the celebrity’s life and career.”
Very reserved
Latinazo added: “Anne has the most number of followers on social media websites, and lives a very public life [but] Piolo is different. Although he’s been in the spotlight for almost two decades, he is very reserved. He is private, naturally quiet and shy. Because of this, there’s always a mystery about him. and so he continues to intrigue us.”
She said the feature on Piolo will delve “deeper into his life and try to elicit a better understanding of the man himself, and his relationship with his son.” A camera crew followed Piolo around for five days—to his home, workplace, even to the gym.
Intimate
“We developed a pretty good and intimate relationship with him,” Latinazo stressed. “We spoke with his closest friends, people who know him best. This is a tell-all, show-all and definitely a must-watch.”
Piolo said he didn’t remember much about his interview with E! “I said a mouthful. I don’t know what to expect. In the beginning, it felt like I was part of a reality show. After a while, I became less conscious of the cameras, and my actions became more spontaneous,” he recalled.
Actresses Toni Gonzaga, Iza Calzado and Maja Salvador, as well as some of Piolo’s closest relatives were interviewed about the actor.
Piolo saw the program as “a great opportunity to share my story with the [Asian] region.” He stressed, “They will see that Filipino artists are well-rounded. Here, actors can also perform, host TV shows, become producers of his or her own movies or TV programs, and even do business on the side.”
(mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)