Piolo: I just want to protect myself
What does Piolo Pascual run after and what does he run away from?
These were just some of the questions inspired by the upcoming run-for-a-cause that the Kapamilya actor is headlining in partnership with Sunlife Financial, of which he’s been celebrity ambassador for four years now.
“I run after a healthy lifestyle. You run away from I guess, the things that make you feel bad or sad — things that are negative — to be able to keep a positive vibe,” Piolo said during the presscon for the Nov. 24 SunPIOLOgy sunset run, which will be capped with the Star Magic Gives Back Concert.
And why does Piolo seem to be always running away from the press?
Piolo has always been hard to pin down, most if not always unavailable for follow-up interviews or ushered immediately out of venues after presscons, especially after his controversial break-up with KC Concepcion late last year, perceived as one of the biggest issues faced by the actor in his 15 years in showbiz.
But after the SunPIOLOgy presscon, Piolo finally took the time to sit down with some writers and explained, “I just don’t want to be misquoted. Mahirap magsalita any time. Sometimes whatever you say may be taken against you, may be taken in a different context.”
Asked if he felt traumatized by the things that came out following the issue on the split, he admitted that yes, he got “traumatized because there are so many things that have been taken in a different context. Sometimes I just want to choose the right words to say, para di ka ma- judge. But tao lang tayo, nasasaktan din tayo, sometimes ako na mismo… I back off to be able to protect myself.”
If such actions make him appear reclusive, he said, “It’s for me, whatever I give yung lang naman yun. Di naman ako showbiz na tao. Trabaho ko to, mahal ko trabaho ko and whatever I give, it’s from the heart.”
Nevertheless, Piolo does feel he’s “under attack” “lagi (at) kahit sino. Not the press. Some people. We don’t want to name names. You know, you can’t please everyone. So, you just live your life. Ngayon lang ako nag-re- react on text, on Facebook, on Instagram, I block (them). Ganun talaga. Ang masama lang di ka nila (kilala). So I wish they knew me better. But I won’t give them that benefit because I respect myself better.”
How badly hurt was he by the issue, which happened almost a year ago and hasn’t died down yet? “I’m hurt for my family. Okay ako, trabaho ko yun, that’s a trade-off. You got to be resilient, but sometimes I feel bad for my mom, my siblings and for my son. They are not showbiz, but they get hurt and they don’t deserve it. But it’s part of life, we can’t do anything about it; it’s part of the contract I signed.”
Is there or was there ever anger? “Wala po. Sadness (yes). Madness, no. I don’t hold any grudge against anyone. Hindi ako nagtatanim ng sama ng loob. Sadness because you wished it was better, you wished maging okay, at the same time, may mga taong masama ang tingin sa’yo. Sana they knew better, yun lang pero (that’s) human nature.”
Referring to KC’s mom, megastar Sharon Cuneta, who have had said her piece, in media interviews and by way of her Twitter account, Piolo said, half-laughing, “Di po ako nagbabasa eh, para di ako masaktan, you know you wanna spare yourself of feeling mad or feeling bad, so I’m just helping myself and walang problema sa akin, whatever people say, whatever people do, it’s their opinion, I just shrug my shoulders and move on.”
But has he truly moved on? Piolo gave out a laugh before saying, “It’s hard to say I’ve moved on. Positive living ako eh, I don’t dwell on the negative, so mahirap siya sagutin. When you say move on, it would seem nothing happened, right? But I’m happy with my life and that’s it.”
He’s not ruling out the possibility that all will be well. “For sure, time will come, na mag-uusap din kami ( with KC), napakaliit ng mundo ng showbiz.”
For all the challenges that come with being in the limelight, giving up his career is the farthest thing on his mind.
“Showbiz is my life. I won’t turn my back on it. I have to live with (the issues). Showbiz has been more than good to me.”
Piolo admitted that negotiations did occur for him to transfer to another network last year, but he decided to remain with ABS-CBN’s Star Magic. “I’m super blessed with ABS. If ever I would retire, I want to end with ABS. Where can you get the kind of support from the bosses down to your road managers? They’re always there, to protect you like a mother, a father, a guardian.”
When asked if he feels threatened by the network’s younger breed of top leading men like Coco Martin, Paulo Avelino and John Lloyd Cruz, Piolo said, “Wala akong problema dun. I’m happy for other people. I’m not a selfish person and they deserve their success. I’ve also enjoyed a lot of successes in life that I couldn’t ask for more.
“If there’s any insecurity, it’s just with myself. I’ve always competed with myself, I’ve never competed with anyone in this business. So, ano man ang meron ako, ang kapal naman ng mukha ko para umangal ako.
“As much successes and blessings I’ve received in life, I’m not going to linger or dwell on that, and you wanna just be able to share (and give back).”
And giving back is what the SunPIOLOGY Run and Star Magic concert are all about, he said.
The run is a given event because Piolo is an active marathoner. The concert is his brainchild, which he thought of after the devastation caused by Ondoy. It is also a follow-up to what Star Magic held late last year that collected over half a million pesos, benefiting such charities as ABSCBN’s Sagip Kapamilya, Reception and Study Center for Children, Sanctuary Center and Piolo’s own Hebreo Foundation. The run and concert on Nov. 24, which begins and ends at the Venice Piazza Mall, McKinley Hill will benefit the same charities. Star Magic talents will be coming in full force.
Piolo said, “For one night, we all perform for free. We want to share whatever we have at the same time, raise awareness on healthy living.”
For details, check out sunpiology.com.