Making time for Piolo Pascual

I’m so into Piolo Pascual! Even if he’s like my long-lost relative. Whatever! Anyway, even if we always bump into each other at ABS-CBN (my new part-time office; I’m a hidden talent there), Piolo’s schedule is so busy, full of tapings, rehearsals and appearances, we don’t really get a chance to sit down and talk. I was glad to have caught up with him at this shoot for his new Timex campaign.

He had just finished work on Sa Piling Mo with Judy Ann Santos, and just came from a taping that finished at 4 a.m. We greeted each other and Piolo asked me what I’ve been up to. For someone who barely had any sleep, Piolo still looked good. Then again, Piolo always looks good. To be young and handsome, talaga! He came in dressed in a comfy tee, blue jeans and a well-worn pair of white leather boots. Later on, he changed into a long-sleeved, patterned shirt, dark jeans and black leather shoes.

He has a fondness for boots. Earlier, he showed me his pair of white leather boots. "This is one of my favorite pairs," he said. "I like them looking old and really worn, not bago." He wears them mostly with jeans and likes the way they add flair to his overall getup. So does he have a collection of boots to rival Madame’s (that’s Madame Imelda to the rest) shoe closet? "You’d be surprised," he answered, flashing that lady-killing smile. "I only have a few pairs, but I really use them a lot."

Aside from boots, his collection of jackets, mostly bought from his trips abroad, are his favorites. "I have different kinds in different fabrics," he revealed. He likes mixing and matching them with his jeans and boots to come up with a different look every time.

When it comes to fashion, Piolo is all for being unique. He admitted that as an artist, he’s in a position to start fashion trends, which is why he’d rather be a trendsetter than a follower – just more proof that we’re also related – after all, I like starting trends also. "Of course, I keep track of what’s the latest in fashion and all, but I always aim for a look that’s all my own and not a copy of some other celebrity," he said matter-of-factly. "My first rule when it comes to fashion is comfort."

In between his hosting stints on ASAP and guesting on various TV shows, this guy still manages to find some quiet time for prayer and reading the Bible. More important is spending some quality time with his son Iñigo whose growing up years are something that Piolo doesn’t ever want to miss. Wow, that’s so nice.

His newfound faith plays a big factor in how he views life these days. In his answers to our Proust Questionnaire, he said "Being able to share my faith" was his idea of happiness and cited Jesus, the late Mother Teresa, and his own mom as his heroes in life. I definitely could see that this has changed Piolo a lot. No more nightlife for this guy! "I’d rather spend the time watching movies at home," he admitted. That and being with his family and son, of course.

At the mention of time, I comment on the gorgeous watch he’s wearing. "Timex, of course," he said proudly. His successful team-up with the equally stunning showbiz "It" girl Angel Locsin to endorse this global watch brand has taken the market by storm, just as fierce as "Milenyo." In fact, the names Piolo and Angel are now synonymous with Timex. And with their legions of fans, of course, every little aspect of their fashion style is noticed. I heard that in an Internet forum, one fan raved about the watch Piolo was wearing during the last episode of Sa Piling Mo. That’s how avid they can get about this hunk!

Piolo laughed out loud when I mentioned this little tidbit. "I’m so identified with Timex that people always ask me what style I’m wearing and I think that’s really good for the brand, right?" He gets tons of watches from Timex, of course, but he has his own favorites as well. He showed me the watch he was wearing – an Automatic, one of Timex’s top sellers. "I wore this for a majority of my scenes in Sa Piling Mo. It went well with my character’s fashion style and is really versatile when it comes to looks. Hindi mahirap bagayan."

I can also say the same about Piolo –hindi mahirap bagayan. It’s so easy to get along with him simply because he’s humble and down-to-earth. He makes every second spent with him so worth it. And that smile! He melted Judy Ann’s heart and now, he’s making time with Angel Locsin and yours truly for this interview. What more could I ask for?

Your name: Piolo Jose Nonato Pascual

Your chief characteristic: Faithfulness.

Your favorite qualities in a man: Wisdom and humility.

Your favorite qualities in a woman: Strong faith, womanliness, honesty and strong sense of conviction.

Your favorite qualities in friends: Openness and trustworthiness.

Your biggest flaw: Sometimes I take things for granted.

Your favorite occupation: Servant of God.

Your idea of happiness: Being able to share my faith.

Your idea of misery: Not being productive with my ministry.

If not yourself, who would you be? The President.

Where would you like to live? Manila!

Your favorite color and flower: Anything blue; roses.

Your favorite heroes in fiction: Superman.

Your favorite painters: B. Villanueva.

Your favorite heroes in real life: Jesus Christ.

Your favorite heroines in history: Mother Teresa and my mom.

Your favorite names: Daniel, Zechariah, Bartholomew, Seth.

What characters in history do you most dislike? Those responsible for killing and poverty.

What gift from nature would you like to have? Rain forest.

How would you like to die? Peacefully.

What is your present state of mind? Steady.

Your favorite motto: Let it go, let God.

How do you make time for yourself? No nightlife, I’d rather spend it watching movies!

Where and when was your favorite trip? Every time I’m abroad with loved ones.

Name the place and exact time when you felt happiest: Always, especially when I’m praying.

Your favorite time of the day: Daytime.

What do you think was the best time in your life so far? My ever-blessed career.

The one thing I would rescue first in case of a calamity: My Bible.

I wish I had more time to: Spend with my son.

If I’m not too busy, I always spend time with: My family.

If you could revisit a time in history, when would it be? Hitler’s time.

What do you like to spend your money on? Food, food, food!

Your biggest extravagance: Trips abroad.

Your favorite accessory: Timex watches, of course.

– Based on The Marcel Proust Questionnaire