PIOLO GRATEFUL FOR LOVE TEAM WITH JUDAY: THAT MADE ME BECOME MAINSTREAM

In the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) official entry “The Kingdom,” Piolo Pascual essays the role of an outcast farmer who is shunned by society but becomes an unlikely hero in the kingdom's quest for change.

- By CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG

He stars along with Vic Sotto who plays Lakan Makisig, a ruler wrestling with his own legacy while his kingdom faces upheaval. The family action-drama is directed by Mike Tuviera and produced by MQuest Ventures Inc, M-ZET TV Productions, and APT Entertainment Inc.

In an earlier interview with select press, Piolo disclosed that although he didn’t feel like an “outcast” when he was just starting out in showbiz, he did feel insecure because he “wasn’t favored.”

“I mean you could say that (outcast) back in ‘96. When I was launched in Star Circle Batch 3, I didn’t necessarily feel like an outcast but I felt that it wasn’t yet my time. I was insecure. I know I wasn’t favored because mas nabigyan ng break yung iba,” he recalled.

But he was persistent. He went to the United States to further hone his craft, underwent acting workshops and did weight training.

“So when I came back, ABS-(CBN) signed me up, mas iba na yung pakiramdam because, you know, I have a home. Since then, since ’98, I’ve never looked back. ‘Di ko na naramdaman na outcast ako because laging may project eh,” he said.