Piolo’s new passion
Dressed in a fitted polo shirt, jeans and aviators, Piolo Pascual is as good-looking in person as he is on TV. The well-spoken actor, who is so busy with work it took a major amount of pencil pushing with his scheduling people (yes, he has people devoted solely to getting him from point A to B) to find time to sit him down for an interview, is adding another post to his already-full plate. A new menswear line for Bench, called It Just Gets Better, and a Bench perfume, appropriately labeled Piolo’s Passion, are just part and parcel of the matinee idol’s attempts to diversify.
The STAR gets some face time with the A-list actor and a first look at his new apparel line.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR: First things first. Why weren’t you at Bench Blackout?
PIOLO PASCUAL: It was agreed before I even signed a contract with Bench that I could be taken out — or not be part of the show — because of my personal convictions. It was my personal decision not to attend the event.
Not attend or not participate?
Both. It was something I’d decided on early this year. I asked at the very start if I could pass on the event.
What personal convictions, exactly?
It’s an underwear show, no matter how you put it. It’s something I’m not comfortable doing. I wouldn’t want to do the ramp, showing my body.
You just finished Lobo, a TV show.
Which ran for six months.
Now you’re doing this two-part film.
It’s called
And you’re co-producing the film. That makes you a first-time producer, right?
Yes. The film is in black and white. It’s a retelling of two classic stories from the ‘80s by Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. We’re paying tribute to their films — it’s not necessarily a remake.
Is this a deliberate career move? To shift from mainstream films to something darker?
When my business manager, Tita Malou, the head of Star Cinema, asked me if I wanted to do more edgy roles, I told her I’d love to do something like Lagarista, but since business-wise it would be risky for the production outfit, she suggested I try indie films to fulfill my artistic hunger.
And she’s right. There are some young directors and producers who take more risks in indie films.
It’s not something I did as a career move. For me, it’s a different facet (of my work). People can see a different side of Piolo, not the usual matinee idol type in movies or TV shows that I usually do.
I also did it to help out other people who want to be in the business. Young filmmakers who have so much talent. There are lots of stories you can tell in independent films.
It’s a breather for me, too. On a soap, you’re limited. You can only do so much. And most of the films I do are commercial. That’s why I opted to do an independent film.
When did you realize you needed a break from mainstream fare?
After Dekada. It’s not that I was being typecast but a lot of the movies I was doing were the love-team type. Love stories. I wanted to do away with that.
Those kinds of films are the safest thing, and you need commercial success. I needed that in order to be visible. But I was always asking the station for something meatier, more challenging than you can do on TV. But primetime shows are limiting, because kids watch it.
With independent films, you can take risks, you know? The sky’s the limit.
Was this what you had in mind all along?
You want to offer your audience something different. To reinvent yourself. Star Cinema makes safe, commercial films. I don’t want to say that there’s no growth in our station but I can see myself doing movies that challenge me.
With independent films, I don’t have to worry about profit. Or if it’s accepted. If you want to learn, if you want to grow, you gotta try something different.
You’re taking on a lot of new titles lately. You’re like a multi-multi-hyphenate: model, actor, endorser, now co-producer. And you’ve recently taken on the title of designer.
I’m trying to do as much as I can while I’m still young. Anything I can do to grow as a person, as a business, I’ll try. Anything that I can think of that will make me more successful and more accessible, I’ll do it.
I’ve been in the business for quite some time. I just want to enjoy. I want to be able to do stuff that will excite me.
So when were you struck by the designer bug?
I love wearing and buying clothes. One thing that struck me was that I want to wear clothes I’m comfortable wearing. Which led me to think: why don’t I design my own clothes? Since some of the clothes I wear are expensive, I figured I could make my own stuff that was just as comfy but at a much cheaper price.
I brought up the idea with Keren (Pascual, Piolo’s publicist for Bench) and Mr. Ben Chan (head honcho of Bench). And they were open to it. I love looking at clothes whenever I travel and seeing how the designer expressed himself through his garments.
Since not a lot of people get to travel abroad, I get to bring them designs from different parts of the world — what’s new, what’s in — and share them with locals. That’s one of the things I want to accomplish as a designer, so consumers don’t have limited choices.
You mentioned that you’re a fan of expensive designer apparel. Exactly how expensive are we talking about here?
Not necessarily expensive. I’m not after the brand. I look for comfort when I choose clothes. And I never pick anything too flashy. I wouldn’t call myself adventurous — fashion-wise — but I’d say I was experimental.
Where do you shop when you’re abroad?
(Laughs) Well, I don’t go to shops that empty my pocket.
Even if it’s a very large pocket?
No, naman. (Laughs) I’m a practical buyer. But I don’t necessarily go to Ross (a discount store) to get cheap deals.
Who are the local designers who dress you up for those big occasions?
I have the privilege of wearing clothes by different designers, but ever since I started in the business I’ve been wearing Inno (Sotto). For everything else, I usually just shop abroad, because as an actor it’s my responsibility to be different from the others. That’s also why I came up with my own line.
You need to have your own style. Like when I’m on ASAP, the last thing I want is to turn to my left and see someone next to me wearing the same shirt.
How would you define your style?
I’m a safe dresser. I love wearing clothes that aren’t flashy. But I try to keep up with the trends.
How does that translate to your designs?
If you want to be adventurous — but not too out there — then you should try my line. I keep the cuts classic, well-fitted.
Exactly how hands-on are you as a designer?
Basically all the designs are from my own closet. I showed Bench the kind of styles I wanted based on the clothes I already own.
So you rifle through your closet, pick a couple of shirts and voila?
I pick the right designs, the right cuts that suit the market. From there we try to vary the styles and at the same time modify it to fit Filipino measurements. Since I get clothes from different parts of the world — like
There are a lot of printed shirts with bold graphics.
It’s been popular in the States for a long time. I just wanted to make the prints more localized. In the States, they’re really into graphics, but sometimes you don’t understand what it means.
There was this one sweater that I bought with really cool graphics and at the bottom it said “Hell- bound” and I didn’t notice. Eventually someone asked me, “Do you know what that means?” and I said, “No.” (Laughs) I just really liked the design.
I’m guessing you’ve retired that sweater from your wardrobe.
(Laughs) It’s still in my closet. Somewhere in the back.
How big is your closet, by the way?
It’s not as big as you think. I can say it’s full, but it’s pretty small.
The name of your label, It Just Gets Better, is pretty unusual.
I was in
It just dawned on me that if you look at life in a positive way, life improves. No matter what.
How did the cologne come about?
Ben Chan approached me and I was very interested in putting it out there.
Have you always been a big fan of fragrances? What kind do you wear?
I’m very safe. I’m always after something not too noticeable. Because you’re in the business of being noticed, people are after you all the time, looking at you, sizing you up.
What scent turns you on?
Nothing too strong or overpowering. Not too fruity. Something that arouses your senses. Yet it doesn’t detract attention from the person. I still want to be able to smell that person, not the cologne she’s wearing.
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Uncover Piolo’s Passion as Bench launches its newest clothing line and scent, to be held on Aug. 16, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia’s Music Hall at
