Ang pagbabalik niya sa Pilipinas sa edad na 21 ang itinuturing ni Piolo Pascual na pinakatamang desisyong ginawa niya sa kanyang personal at propesyunal na buhay.
Binalikan ni Piolo ang nakaraan nang makausap siya ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment) sa set ng The Kingdom, ang pelikulang pinangungunahan nila ni Vic Sotto.
Ang The Kingdom ay opisyal na kalahok sa 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) na mag-uumpisa sa Disyembre 25, 2024.
Read: Vic Sotto, hindi nakipag-bonding kay Piolo Pascual sa shooting
“Yung umuwi ako sa Pilipinas,” sagot ni Piolo sa tanong ng PEP.ph tungkol sa pinakamahalaga at tamang pasya na ginawa niya noon para sa sarili.
“I was 21 when I told my mom in the States... kasi I never broke out. I was in That’s Entertainment, I was in Star Circle, I was in ATBP, so I was considered a theater actor."
Ang That's Entertainment ang popular youth-oriented show ng GMA-7 na umere mula 1986 hanggang 1997.
Ang Star Circle ang dating pangalan ng Star Magic, ang talent management arm ng ABS-CBN.
Ang ATBP: Awit, Titik, Bilang na Pambata ang dating educational children's program ng ABS-CBN na umere mula 1994 hanggang 1998.
Lahad pa ni Piolo: “But when I was 21, I told my mom, sabi ko, ‘Ma, uuwi ako ng Pilipinas because gusto ko talagang mag-artista.
"'Let me just try it one last time and If I don’t make it, at least, I know I tried my best for the last time.’
“If I did, at least, I can say to myself na hindi ko hinayaan yung dream ko na hindi matuloy, and I didn’t wanna have to look back thirty years and say na sana ginawa ko.
“It was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life and professionally, when I didn’t turn my back in showbiz after Starting Over Again became a big hit.
"Pero otherwise, magsisisi ako."
Read: Piolo Pascual admits being drunk in FAMAS best actor speech
STARTING OVER AGAIN
Ang Starting Over Again ang blockbuster movie ng Star Cinema na ipinalabas sa mga sinehan noong Pebrero 12, 2014. Pinagbidahan ito nina Piolo, Iza Calzado, at Toni Gonzaga.
Ang Starting Over Again ang isa sa mga proyektong malapit sa puso ni Piolo dahil ang pelikulang ito ang rason kaya hindi niya itinuloy ang planong talikuran ang entertainment industry, sampung taon na ang nakalilipas.
“Ten years ago, when I thought I was gonna quit showbiz, because I was already contemplating on retiring or shifting to another job or going back to the States.
"But when Starting Over Again happened, I had to shift gears again and just stay,” sabi ni Piolo.
Kung natuloy ang pagtalikod niya noon sa showbiz, ano kaya ang trabaho niya ngayon?
“Ahhh... real estate siguro. I’ve been doing real estate in the States," pagsisiwalat ni Piolo.
“I don’t think I will leave showbiz totally kasi ito talaga ang passion ko.
"Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to act, I’ve always wanted to do something different, role play.
"So I guess I was just being stupid and dumb when I thought of retiring.”
Read: Piolo Pascual, na-challenge sa triple-character role niya sa Mallari
HIGHLIGHTS OF PIOLO'S ACTING CAREER
Ano ang mga itinuturing ni Piolo na highlights ng kanyang career bilang aktor?
Sagot niya, “First, I guess, is Dekada ’70 and then Lagarista; my loveteam with Juday because that made me become mainstream.
“And signing up with ABS-CBN, because I was able to do more work and grow as an artist, as an actor, as a performer and being able to not just act but sing as well.”
Ang Dekada '70 ay ang 2002 movie na tinampukan ni Piolo, kasama sina Vilma Santos at Christopher de Leon at idinirek ni Chito Roño.
Dahil sa kanyang pagganap sa pelikulang ito ay naka-grand slam si Piolo bilang best supporting actor sa award-giving bodies: MMFF, Gawad Urian, Star Awards, FAP, FAMAS, at iba pa.
Ang Lagarista ay ang launching movie ni Piolo bilang lead star noong 2000.
Ang tinutukoy namang "Juday" ni Piolo ay ang kanyang dating perennial leading lady na si Judy Ann Santos.
Kabilang sa blockbuster movies nina Judy Ann at Piolo ay Esperanza: The Movie (1999), Kahit Isang Saglit (2000), Bakit ‘Di Totohanin (2001), Till There Was You (2003), at Don’t Give Up On Us (2006).
Nagkasama rin sila sa mga teleseryeng Mara Clara (1995-1997), Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako (1998), Esperanza (1999), Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka (2001-2003), at Sa Piling Mo (2006).
Sumang-ayon si Piolo nang sabihin ng PEP.ph na naging mabuti sa kanya ang entertainment industry, na mahal na mahal at hindi niya magawang talikuran.
“Sobra!” bulalas ng aktor.
“That’s why I am so humbled by all the things that come my way. Being able to last long in this business and still stay active is such a blessing.
"But it entails a lot of hardwork and humility rin. And commitment.
"I’ve been committed to my job ever since I started so it always comes first. So I just try to give my best kasi nga it’s been good to me."
Read: Piolo Pascual tags himself "Most Promising Old Actor" for saying "yes" to all offers
STAYING HUMBLE
Sa kabila ng tinatamasang popularidad, nananatiling mapagkumbaba si Piolo.
Isa rin siya sa mga itinuturing na mabait na artista sa entertainment industry.
Kahit lapitin ng mga kontrobersiya, hindi siya nagpapaapekto at hindi nariringgang nagsasalita ng masakit laban sa kapwa.
Ayon kay Piolo, ang kanyang malakas na pananampalataya sa Panginoong Diyos ang dahilan kaya nananatili siyang mapagkumbaba.
Saad niya: “Faith! Faith kay God.
"I guess the way I was raised and also the mere fact... the mere thought na all these things come from Above, He can always take it away from us. I know it’s just borrowed.
"So, all these things that come my way or given my way, I am grateful for it. But at the same time, hindi naman yung pinanghahawakan na materyal.
“I am just happy because I get to enjoy the blessings of the Lord and being able to share it.”
Ilang taon si Piolo nang mapagtanto niyang isa siyang sikat na aktor?
Paglilinaw niya: “I think it’s a constant effort for validation and relevance.
"The moment you put it in your head, it will be the end of you. Dun ka na yayabang.
“I am just happy because I get to do lead roles that I never thought I would be able to do. I started as a contravida, support, and then napunta na sa loveteam.
“I don’t wanna say that I’ve reached the peak of my career. I would say na it’s a constant climb.
"Yun naman yun, e. You never rest in your laurels, and I don’t think it will end here.
“When you think big star ka na, yun na yon. No, kasi you will feel entitled, so ayokong isipin yon.
“I am just happy because I get to do the job, get to do the work that I love and get paid doing it.
"And also, I guess, you wanna protect your testimony as well, when there are people who look up to you, you want to set a good example as well.”
Ilang taon siya nang ma-realize na mahal niya ang acting profession?
“Nung kumikita na ako, real talk!” sagot ni Piolo kasunod ang malakas na tawa.
“I love what I do. When I was in the States, ang trabaho ko, naka-time in ka pa. Naka-time card ka.
“And then, I hated my job because I was a clerk. Not for anything, but sabi ko, this is not the kind of life I want.
"So, when I came back and I started getting breaks, sabi ko, 'Ang sarap naman nito!'
"Because you get to do something that you enjoy doing and get paid doing it.
"So, that’s when I realized that this is my passion because I really enjoy, not just because of the money but because of the kind of fulfillment it gives me every time I do something different, and I surprised myself as well.
“That’s why it’s a constant learning for me to always make sure na I step out of the box. So I don’t think so much of myself para mas makita ko naman na my growth ako.”
Read: Piolo Pascual, tinanggap ang 'Mallari' dahil sa "take it or leave it" asking price