September 3, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — For others, working nonstop can be a source of stress and signs of aging, but for Piolo Pascual, it seems to be the secret to maintaining his youthful appearance at 47.
“I work every day. It’s become routine for me to look presentable because of the work that I do, especially for this one (‘Pamilya Sagrado’), with ‘The Kingdom’ with Bossing Vic Sotto,” Piolo told broadsheet press during the recent media junket for the Book 2 of his ongoing primetime drama “Pamilya Sagrado.”
“My director asked me about that, plus with my endorsements, that’s why I always stay fit. It comes with the territory. I feel good; I’m in good shape. I don’t get sick because, as my director told me, ‘Wag daw ako magkakasakit.’ So I just try to take care of myself.”
Piolo believes that peace of mind, a positive outlook on life and self-care contribute to his overall health status.
“When you have peace and your outlook in life is positive, it follows. I sleep a lot. I drink a lot of water. And (I practice) self-love ba. I want to maximize my potential in whatever field and business I am in. I take care of myself.”
When it comes to his diet, Piolo doesn’t limit his food choices. “Hindi ako nagda-diet. I do OMAD (one meal a day) on some days. One big meal. I don’t eat in the morning. I just eat late. I don’t cut down or limit myself. When I eat, I just eat,” he said.
In terms of his career, Piolo is experiencing a renewed sense of energy and excitement.
“When I was turning 40, I wanted to quit. I wanted to leave while I was still on top of my game. I was humbled by the Lord — ang dami pang projects — how can I dare refuse or resist work that comes my way? You can be a conduit or a vessel of some projects that can help people,” he shared.
“Nagkaroon ako ng renewed excitement because during the pandemic, ang boring pala nung wala kang ginagawa. ‘Di ko pala kaya walang ginagawa sa buhay. I don’t want to be unproductive, and since the start of the pandemic, nung nag-loosen na siya (restrictions), ‘di na talaga ako tumigil.
Photos courtesy of Dreamscape
“I did four movies during the pandemic and kept doing stuff left and right. And work hasn’t stopped since then. It’s really about trying to bring my A-game every time so I don’t compromise or feel regret after.”
Piolo is already looking forward to what’s next after “Pamilya Sagrado,” where he plays the morally questionable politician Rafael Sagrado who rises to become president of the country.
“In all honesty, I’ve never been this invested in a show. When I said I was done with soaps, (the late) Deo (Endrinal, Dreamscape boss) pitched this to me last year and said, it’s a good project to have. You know, you’re a voice in society, and you get to play a character that you can say is not just challenging but a milestone for my career.
“I watched it from Day 1,” he said. “I’m just really proud that I became part of the show.”
He continued, “I don’t think I’m gonna stop after ‘Flower of Evil,’ after ‘Pamilya Sagrado,’ or anything with Dreamscape or ABS for that matter. I’m already excited for another one.
“I’ve found renewed excitement for content and giving life to diverse characters. We have more choices and access to different platforms now, so I’ll never stop creating content that makes me feel productive while offering something new. I always try to think of new concepts that can serve our audiences and that they can be proud of.”
Aside from “Pamilya Sagrado,” which now has a new timeslot at 9:30 p.m. on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z and TV5, Piolo is filming his Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 entry “The Kingdom” with Vic Sotto. His film “Real Life Fiction,” which delves into the psyche of an actor, blurring lines between fiction and reality, is still showing in cinemas.
Asked about the extent he could relate to his character in the Paul Soriano-directed movie, Piolo said, “It was haunting, to a certain extent, because it really delves into the psyche of a person so close to me — me mirroring myself. It was so close to home that I really had to shake it off, more than with ‘Mallari,’” referring to his MMFF 2023 horror thriller that won him acting awards.
“In ‘Mallari,’ I had an acting coach for three roles at the same time, but with ‘Real Life Fiction,’ it was so close to home that I really had to detach myself right away after. It was like dealing with your demons; those things haunt you and leave a mark. They’re just there in the back.”
The perennial leading man added with a laugh, “I get scared when I watch it. That’s not something I want to do anytime soon again.”
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