Piolo Pascual is content with the 16-week run of Dahil Sa Pag-ibig, his last teleserye, which he topbilled with Jericho Rosales, Cristine Reyes, and Maricar Reyes. The primetime soap which started airing on March 12 and ended on June 29 this year did not see an extended airing time.

“It was really meant for it,” Piolo initially explained in an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last night, July 7, at an ASAP rehearsal at Studio 10, ELJ Building, ABS-CBN network, Quezon City.

“Honestly, I wanted it to end right away because we didn't want it to drag. The concept of the story is really going to run for a certain period of time.

Piolo thought it was best that the soap “ended on a high note.”

“Masaya ako kasi everything was resolved and at the same time, lahat nabigyan ng highlight. So, happy ako. Happy ako sa outcome.”

APOY SA DAGAT. Piolo is busy yet again with an upcoming teleserye which he began working on early this month. A romantic-drama, Apoy sa Dagat stars the 35-year-old heartthrob with Angelica Panganiban, Diether Ocampo, and Angel Aquino. It will be directed by Eric Reyes who was also behind the primetime soaps Lobo and Maging Sino Ka Man.

“I’m already training for Apoy sa Dagat with Angelica, Diether, and Angel,” said Piolo.

“So, it’s going to start taping next week. We’re going to be airing within the year, that’s why they’re rushing everything. Yesterday we had a story conference… On Monday, we’re going to start training naman.”

Apoy sa Dagat is another love story, but according to Piolo, the soap has a “water” element to it.

“Just the same, ABS[-CBN] always comes up with fresh ideas…

“It involves the sea, kaya nga Apoy sa Dagat.”

ANGELICA PANGANIBAN. It was only in May this year that Piolo and Angelica’s romantic-comedy, Every Breath You Take, hit the cinemas nationwide. As their on-screen romantic pairing leaps to Apoy sa Dagat, Piolo, by now has grown comfortable around the sexy actress.

“We’re so excited,” he said.

“We worked for one year for Every Breath You Take and this time around, after Mangarap Ka,  I think, para kaming nag-full circle kasi she was 17 [years old] then when we did Mangarap Ka.”

Piolo and Angelica acted alongside each other in the 2004 soap, Mangarap Ka.