Piolo open to working with Villar’s AMBS network though still a busy contract artist of ABS-CBN

Piolo Pascual (left) and leading lady Pia Wurtzbach on the set of “My Papa Pi”

I’m open to it,” said Kapamilya actor Piolo Pascual when asked whether he would be willing to produce projects for Manny Villar’s new broadcasting company AMBS, which has acquired ABS-CBN channels.

Piolo, a contract artist of ABS-CBN, has also been providing content for TV5 via his production company Spring Films.

AMBS, or Advanced Media Broadcasting System, has recently been given provisional authority to use the Channel 2 frequency, which was previously owned by Kapamilya network before its shut down in 2020.

However, Piolo was quick to add: “As long as there’s no conflict [with the other things I’m currently doing], I don’t think it’s going to matter—as long as the concept is good, too. But I think I’m going to pass on that offer first because my work in ABS-CBN is good. I’m working on a lot of projects right now. I don’t think I’ll have the time for that in the near future.”

Different concepts

Rightly so, Piolo is currently part of two programs for the Kapamilya channel: The Filipino adaptation of the Korean series “Flight of Evil,” alongside Lovi Poe; and the sitcom “My Papa Pi,” with 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach.

As its producer, Piolo announced the family-oriented series “Nina Nino,” starring Maja Salvador and Noel Comia Jr., is currently in production for another season.

“Another project, which we will line produce, is also in the drawing board. You see, there’s a demand for different concepts so we don’t limit ourselves to just one particular platform. I think it’s better that we are able to provide more,” Piolo told reporters during a recent virtual meet to promote Cathy Garcia-Molina’s “My Papa Pi,” which is scheduled for release on March 5.

“I’m happy to be coming back to my roots. This is my home,” said Piolo, who hasn’t been seen by his Kapamilya supporters in a regular show since the series of pandemic lockdowns in 2020. “It’s still different if you’re in a project that your home network is producing. I’m happy here. I’m excited to be back. I’m like a kid again, learning new things. Also, this is a welcome change, a break from my routine. If I’m not at work I’m just in my farm tending to my plants. Nothing much in me has changed. I just have more friends now and am part of a fun set.”

Piolo, however, said juggling two shows, which are both in production, is not easy. “The two shows were pitched to me almost at the same period. I said ‘yes’ to both right away, not thinking of what I’m getting into,” he explained. “When they said I’d be portraying the twin of (comedian) Pepe Herrera in ‘My Papa Pi,’ I said it’s a walk in the park. But with ‘Flower of Evil,’ there are just so many heavy drama scenes.

“After I had my first day of shoot (in ‘My Papa Pi’), I now find it hard to let it go. I’ve embraced it now. It’s like the things you can’t do on normal days on a drama set, I am able to do here—‘kulitan,’ being creative and thinking out-of-the-box, and just growing as a performer,” the actor said.

Twisted

Piolo added that he is bracing himself for hard work he is expected to do for “Flower of Evil.” “My character there is something else. He is kind of twisted. I’m worried that by the end of the year, you will need to put me on mental rehab,” he quipped. “Seriously, I guess that’s really part of being an actor. You get to portray different roles—mahirap na masarap at masaya, especially when you’re with this kind of family (in ‘My Papa Pi’). It’s like we don’t want to leave the set even it’s already been packed up for the day.”

Meanwhile, Piolo said he was equally thrilled to be given the chance to work with Pia. “She’s a revelation in this show. We were worried about how she would adjust because we already had a day of taping when she came in, but she went straight to her character,” said Piolo. “We would often get so amazed by her, napapapalakpak kami! She is so game even though she’s Miss Universe. She really let her hair down. I enjoy doing scenes with her.”

“Papa Pi” is everybody’s term of endearment for Piolo. He admitted to feeling awkward answering to it in the beginning. “If a girl or a younger person calls me Papa Pi, I don’t mind. But it came to a point when even our burly cameramen in ABS-CBN would call me such. I’d say, ‘pati ba naman kayo?’” he recalled. “Out of respect to people, I just let them. I’ve decided to embrace it. I’m so amazed that it has turned into a TV show.”

You can watch “My Papa Pi” starting March 5, at 7 p.m., on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, iWantTFC and TFC.