An interview with Piolo Pascual

What is a good morning to you?

"Waking up early to a sunny day, seeing the sun. I try to think of the things I have to do for the day. And then I pray; I have my devotional. I linger a bit in the shower and then I take breakfast, usually delivered by Max’s (Roces Ave.) which is just a stone’s throw from my place."

How long does it take you to fix yourself, from showering to dressing up?

"Very fast, especially if I have to go somewhere. Like this morning, my call time was 9:45. I woke up at 9 o’clock and I was out of the shower at 9:20. It took me only 15 minutes to get dressed. I got here in 10 minutes. Fast, ‘no?"

Do you follow a certain sequence as most everybody does?

"I fix myself in the bathroom and then I dress up in the closet. The whole time, naka-towel lang ako. Wala akong maraming seremonyas sa umaga. Sometimes, when I’m running late for work, I can fix myself in seconds. For example, I have to leave at 10 and I wake up at 9:45, in 10 minutes I’m all dressed and out of the house. I spray myself with cologne sa car na."

What do you usually wear to bed?

"Boxer shorts and loose shirt."

Never in the nude?

"Never!"

You live alone in your pad and you sleep alone, don’t you?

"I easily get cold, that’s why ‘yung shirt na maluwag at medyo luma is perfect as sleep wear."

Do you sleep with the air-con in full blast?

"Not really. Mga 23 degrees is good enough, para medyo warm. But sometimes, when I want to sleep longer, I turn it down to 16 or 17 degrees, especially now that it’s hot."

How many hours of sleep do you get per night?

"Eight hours. It has to be eight hours."

Otherwise...?

"Then I sleep on the set between takes. Like yesterday, I slept for only six hours, so I felt sleepy the whole day. I tried to catch up by taking power naps between takes. Sleep is very important to me...to everybody." (Note: Asked in separate interviews in US TV shows what their "beauty secret" was, Elizabeth Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio answered, "Sleep. Lots of sleep!")

What is your shoe size?

"Size 10."

What kind of cologne do you use?

"I don’t want something with a strong scent; I prefer one with a subtle fragrance. Ayoko ng fruity ang smell. I want something na hindi malakas ang dating. Actually, I’m not fond of perfumes."

What’s your most sensitive spot (kiliti)?

"None! Others have their kiliti on their side. I have none. Boring, ‘no?"

When did you have your first kiss?

"When I was in Grade 5."

Who was the lucky girl?

"My neighbor."

In California (where he spent part of his teenage years)?

"No. Here in Manila."

She must be married by now.

"Yeah, she is — with two children."

Which part of her body did you kiss?

"I don’t remember now."

And you, where do you want to be kissed?

"It depends. Pag friend, on the cheek is good enough. But of course, if somebody you love, it has to be somewhere else."

Are you, ehem, good in bed?

"Oh yes, I am. As soon as I hit the pillow, I’m asleep. I really love sleeping. I’m a heavy sleeper; hindi ako basta-basta nagigising. I sleep spread-out in bed. I have a huge bed. Sometimes, I stay on just one side. But when I really want to get a good sleep, hayun, naka-spread-out ako, occupying the whole bed."

Are you a pillow person?

"I have four pillows — one under my head, one on top of me, one on my side and one I hug."

Do you fantasize before you sleep?

"Not really fantasy but more of dreams. Anything can happen in your dreams so I look forward to sleeping and therefore to dreaming. When I wake up, I try to analyze what my dreams mean."

Are you vain?

"I am — to a certain extent. I have to check myself in the mirror every now and then baka mamaya may dumi ang mukha ko. I think it’s not being vain but being presentable because, you know, I appear on TV. But lately, low maintenance na ako. I just wash my face with soap and water; I don’t even apply moisturizer."

How do you maintain your flawless complexion?

"Sleep talaga. Lots of sleep! Sleep lang ang panglaban ko sa aging."

Do you get indecent proposals from girls?

"No way because I don’t go out that much. Sometimes, I get naughty text messages. I wonder how those crank texters get my number. Siguro, by chance and maybe they don’t even know that it’s my cell phone."

What about when you travel abroad?

"When I travel kasi I’m a bit scared, so palagi akong nakayuko; I don’t look at people straight in the eye."

Why not?

"So I won’t be misinterpreted. If I know the person, of course I look at him straight in the eye. Or else, I just look down so as not to invite any untoward incident. I do that even in the malls. I look at where I’m going but not at the people."

What’s your biggest indulgence?

"Clothes! They are a good investment. Kailangan sa trabaho ko. I don’t scrimp on clothes."

Do you recycle clothes?

"Yes, I do."

How often?

"If, for example, I wear a shirt on ASAP ’07, I wear it again maybe to another event and then that’s it. The public keeps track of what you’re wearing. Then, I send my used clothes to my sister in the States and she sends me a boxful of new ones in exchange."

How do you pamper yourself?

"By sleeping."

Aside from sleeping?

"With good food and a good pedicure and manicure. Gusto ko palaging malinis ang mga kuko ko. Or I work out in the gym. When you do something to your body, when you exercise and have a good pedicure/manicure, you’re actually pampering yourself, right?"

What about massage?

"Not much. I’m not fond of massage. Sometimes, I ask my PA (production assistant) to massage my feet para matanggal ang stress and that’s it."

How’s your love child?

"My son is okay. He’s turning 10. Ang hilig namin ngayon ay carting. We go to Speed Zone at The Fort at doon kami nagka-carting. We go to the mall and watch movies. We go to the arcade; we have collected more than 5,000 tickets na sa arcade. We both love Japanese food. He has a big appetite, twice mine."

You’re again working with Claudine. What can you say about her?

"Clau is very caring. If your resistance is weak, talagang tataba ka because she loves pampering people. Para siyang lalake; siya pa ang bibili ng pagkain at siya pa ang nanlilibre. She’s very affectionate, napaka-sweet niya, para siyang bata. Masarap siyang magmahal because she gives her all. That’s why Raymart (Santiago) is really fortunate to have a wife like Clau. What people don’t know is that if she cares for you, Clau will really fight for you."

What about Regine (Velasquez)? You’ve started shooting your first movie together (untitled just yet, co-produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films).

"I never thought that she’s that professional. Now I know why she has remained at the top. She really has the passion. When she wants something, when she has to do something, she’ll really put her heart and soul into it. She really loves her work. I have a high respect for her."

Regine also has many detractors, like you.

"All part of the business."

Pictures have been "doctored" to make it appear that you’re holding hands with Sam Milby or, in another, that Erik Santos is riding your back.

"I don’t let that affect me. I have such strong faith in God; God is my Protector. Sabi nga, if God is with you and you’re with God, you can never go wrong. I look that this way: With the blessings coming my way, I prefer not to dwell on the negative. I’d rather have a positive outlook. I just pray for people trying to destroy me." (Adding in jest) "At least my detractors are keeping me active sa intriga, so I don’t have to call a presscon to be talked about."

Doesn’t this obvious smear campaign affect your friendship with Sam?

"Sam is a good-natured guy and he also has a positive outlook in life. If we were affected by the rumors, our concert together, Heartthrobs, wouldn’t have happened. Like me, hindi siya praning."

What about Erik Santos?

"We just laugh it off. We even make fun of it on ASAP ’07. We would tell each other, ‘Pare, sakay ka naman sa likod ko, o!’"

What’s the worst intrigue against you?

"The sex video, without any doubt. That was painful, that was foul."

How do you take all this?

"I leave it all up to Him."

FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo
The Philippine Star 04/12/2007