Carlo Aquino’s advice to his younger self

Carlo Aquino

If he could turn back the hands of time, actor Carlo Aquino would like to revisit the carefree days of his youth, when he was just starting out as a child star on “Ang TV.”

Time traveling is the theme of Carlo’s latest movie, Joseph Teoxon’s “Throwback Today,” which is currently showing in select SM Cinemas as part of Cine Lokal.

In the Cinema One film, Carlo plays a young artist who gets the chance to correct past personal and professional mistakes with the help of a magical computer glitch.

“If I could go back in time, I’d choose those days when my dad was still working in a motor shop in Makati,” the 32-year-old actor told the Inquirer.

Carlo recalled that he and his parents would leave their home in Parañaque at 4 a.m., to beat the traffic. “We’d stay in my father’s workplace. Then, at 10 a.m., my dad would take me and my mom to the ABS-CBN studios in Quezon City for the taping of ‘Ang TV.’”

Back in the 1990s, life was not as complicated.

If he could give a piece of advice to his younger self, Carlo would tell himself: “Don’t be afraid of the unknown. Be brave and face your fears. If you fail, be proud that you tried.”

He may not be a box-office star, but he’s content. “I’m very happy. Not everyone can last this long in the industry. Not everyone is given the chance. I’m just thankful that people don’t get tired of giving me a break.”

He can’t ask for anything more. “I’m very pleased with what’s happening in my life and career right now.”

After “Meet Me in St. Gallen” and “Throwback Today,” he has Jerrold Tarog’s “Goyo” in the works.

He is also doing a web series, “Love at First Spell,” for D5 Studio. “I am also discussing with Ivory the possibility of releasing an album of original songs,” he related.

Carlo explained that he’s always stoked to act in edgy movies directed by young filmmakers—like “Throwback Today.”

He described the shoot as “very spontaneous and organic.”

At first, we were feeling our way through, but in the end, everything fell into place,” he recalled. “Nag-swak lahat. What was great about (director) Teox was that he was collaborative. He just gave us little notes on what he wanted to see in our performances.”

Collaborating with castmates Empress Schuck, Annicka Dolonius, Kat Galang, Benj Manalo and Alan Paule was a blast, as well.

“It was fun. It didn’t feel like work,” he recounted.

Speaking of revisiting the past, Carlo is reportedly reuniting with former flame Angelica Panganiban in a coming Star Cinema movie.

Is he looking forward to acting with Angelica again?

“Always,” Carlo quipped.