Piolo on fatherhood movie ‘Northern Lights’: ‘It happened to me in real life’

Piolo Pascual and Iñigo Pascual. Image: Screen grab from Piolo Pascual’s Instagram account

Piolo Pascual’s latest movie offering from Star Cinema, “Northern Lights: A Journey to Love”, is not just an ordinary project for Piolo Pascual, as this father and son movie hits close to home.

In the blog con for the movie last March 14, the actor wholeheartedly admitted that the film’s plot is reminiscent of his real life experience as a father.

Piolo plays Charlie, a young man who flew to Alaska, leaving his pregnant girlfriend in the Philippines. He, however, promised to return, but just as he did, he was slapped with news that the mother of his kid was already in a relationship with another man. The boy was then sent to live with him in Alaska, but because the father and son only knew each other for the first time, both had to endure the repercussions of accepting each other into their lives.

The 40-year-old hunk said it was easier for him to act in the scenes, as he himself endured similar experiences.

“Napagdaanan ko kasi yun eh, that’s why it was easier for me to act because alam ko ‘yung ga’nong emotion, ‘yung feeling na hindi mo alam kung pa’no ka magiging tatay sa harap ng anak mo,” he said.  

(I went through that, that’s why it was easier for me to act because I know the emotion, the feeling of not knowing how to be a father to your kid.)

Finally meeting his son in real life

He admits that there were some scenes in the movie that almost exactly mirrored some events in his life. He likewise did not end up with the mother of his son and only knew of him when they were introduced to each other.

His son is 19-year-old singer-actor Iñigo Pascual.

“I came from the States. Nung dumating ako, nandito na ‘yung anak ko, wala ako dito (when I came back, he was already here, I wasn’t here) when he was born. It was hard for me as well,” he said. 

Like any first-time father who did not know his child from birth, he also went through a roller coaster of emotions.

“Mahirap po talaga eh, it’s beyond words, hindi ko siya mai-explain, mixed emotions, wala kasing lukso ng dugo eh, then down the line, there’s this one day I realized, kamukha ko talaga ‘yung anak ko,” he said. 

(It’s really hard. It was beyond words, I could not even explain, I felt mixed emotions, there was no leap of blood. Then down the line there’s this one day I realized, “My son really looks like me.”)

Even at the risk of jeopardizing his stardom, Piolo did not hesitate to give his son due recognition.

“It wasn’t hard for me. Hindi mo pwedeng ipagkait sa bata ‘yung karapatan na magkaron ng magulang. Hindi ko inisip ‘yung mangyayari sa buhay ko, sa career ko (You can’t deprive a child of his right to have a parent. I did not think about what will happen to my life or career), I just had to give him that right, to have a father,” he said. 

“Northern Lights” will be showing on March 29 in cinemas nationwide. JB