Bea Alonzo (left) and Dennis Trillo behind the scenes of “Love Before Sunrise”
Unbeknownst to many, it was actually Dennis Trillo—not John Lloyd Cruz— who became Bea Alonzo’s very first leading man.
Dennis and Bea, who were both launched as part of Star Circle (now, Magic) Batch 10, first worked together in the short-lived, youth-oriented TV series “K2BU” back in 2002. Then, they went their separate ways: Bea remained at ABS-CBN, Dennis transferred to GMA 7, where they became big stars on their respective networks.
Because of network exclusivity, a reunion project wasn’t in the cards for years. But after Bea’s transfer to GMA 7 in 2021, that prospect has finally turned into reality via the upcoming drama series, “Love Before Sunrise.”
“At last! After 20 years, we were able to work again—and on a great project, too.” Dennis told the Inquirer at his recent contract signing as the endorser of a beauty brand. “That’s a big thing for us.”
Over the years, Dennis and Bea have proven themselves as two of the best actors of their generation. And that they got to work together at this stage in their careers is “perfect timing.”
“I’m happy that we saw each other again after a long time. We started out in show biz almost at the same time. Now, we’re more trained. With everything we have experienced on television and film, I think it’s perfect timing to pair us together. We’re better equipped with the skills we need to deliver good scenes,” Dennis said.
Building chemistry wasn’t an issue, the 42-year-old actor said, because Bea is still the same person he met two decades ago.
“It wasn’t difficult because we already know each other. After about three taping days, we were already comfortable with each other. The camaraderie is there. Kung anong pagkakakilala ko sa kanya, ganun pa rin s’ya ngayon—mas sumikat at mas yumaman lang,” he said, laughing. “Masaya!”
Aside from “Love Before Sunrise,” Dennis is also set to topbill “Severino,” an eight-part international series about Juan Sevino Mallari, a Spanish colonial-era priest who’s also the first documented Filipino serial killer.
Dennis Trillo and Bea Alonzo
‘Love what you do’
“I’m very happy. It’s very different from what people have seen from me,” he said. “I feel super blessed with projects that I love to do. It’s important to love what you do so you can give your best. I’m grateful to be surrounded with people who help me do the things I want to do.”
For Dennis, there’s no such thing as a big or small project. “I feel challenged … every time. I still get nervous when I do my scenes, no matter how big or small the scene. Because that’s the stage where you have to give your best,” he said.
While most of the conversations around Dennis center on his acting and his relationship with his wife, Jennylyn Mercado, not a few people have been seeing Dennis in a different light. Thanks to his TikTok account, fans are now realizing that Dennis has a wacky and silly side to him, and is not always the serious actor he appears to be.
“It’s so funny. Sometimes, I even laugh at myself when I see the videos I post. Seeing people’s comments and reactions makes me want to upload more. It’s a great feeling knowing that you make someone laugh. Some people would say, ‘Kanina malungkot ako. Pero ngayon muntik ko na maibuga ang tubig ko,’” he related.
“It makes my day and makes me happy,” he added. “I get surprised with how many views my videos are getting. I just post what I feel like doing. Or sometimes, I check out what the kids are doing on the app.”
For most of his life, Dennis showed his fun side only to his loved ones. “It was Jen and my management who convinced me to open a TikTok account. At first, it was awkward. And people were surprised that I had this side to me. But I’m happy to be able to show that now,” he said.
Trillo hamming it up on TikTok
Hands-on dad
While Dennis and Jennylyn are now busy taping their respective shows, they make sure to spend as much time as possible with their 1-year-old daughter, Dylan.
“It’s tough these days. She tapes Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays; I tape Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. We see each other only at night. When I wake up, she goes out for work. But we maximize our free days. And we wouldn’t be able to do it if [it weren’t for our family and support system],” he said.
Dennis has an older son, Calix, with ex-girlfriend Carlene Aguilar; Jennlyn has an older son, Jazz, with ex-boyfriend Patrick Garica. “Our sons are very caring and excited because they have never had a sister,” he said.
As for Dennis, he said he has never been more hands-on as a father. “I wasn’t able to do that with my first kid. So now, I enjoy every hour, every day with Dylan. I enjoy taking care of her and watching her grow up,” he said.