BREAKING GLASS

He is this generation's male superstar and after 25 years, Piolo Pascual is still not content as he reaches for global domination

- -Maritess Garcia Reyes

I first met Piolo Pascual in the early 2000s, when I was a sophomore at the University of Santo Tomas, where he was also a student-but that's not how we exactly met. As a communication arts student, I  frequently visited my cousin at the ABS-CBN Talent Center, where she worked as one of Pascual's road managers. We were briefly introduced on a number of occasions, and often, my cousin would let me sneak into the studio to observe the taping of the variety show ASAP, primarily for educational purposes but partly for fun. Pascual was a regular performer in that show alongside Jericho Rosales, Diether Ocampo, Carlos Agassi and Bernard Palanca, a group collectively known as The Hunks. Even in his early 20s, Pascual stood out for the versatility he displayed: he could sing, dance, host and act. On top of his many talents, he is also humble and very personable on and off camera. In short, he is a rare find.

The industry recognised his gift. Around the same time, he swept all the Best Supporting Actor trophies from Gawad Urian to Famas to Metro Manila Film Festival, plus five more-for his portrayal of activist Jules Bartolome in the 2003 film Dekada '70. Several TV shows, movies and albums later, the talented actor and singer continues to rake in the accolades: just last month, he was awarded the Aliw Awards for Best Lead Actor in a musical and 2023 entertainer of the year.

When I spoke to him at the Tatler cover shoot, I was struck by how much this man had achieved over the last two decades and, more so, how he has managed to evolve and stay relevant even with the vast changes in the entertainment landscape. His secret? Equal parts hard work, gratitude and faith.