In defense of Piolo
The Hunks Online
Jet Setter
Jet Valle
I'VE said it once and I'll say it again: Piolo Pascual is a gentle
soul who knows how to treasure a friendship.
Although I haven't seen him for the longest time, Piolo remains to be
a friend to me. I'll never forget the times we spent together hanging
out during tapings of Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka, the ABS-CBN soap opera he
headlined with Judy Ann Santos a few years back. My alaga Belinda
Panelo (who left for the US two years ago when she was accepted in a
prestigious acting school founded by award-winning actor William H.
Macy and award-winning screenwriter and playwright David Mamet; she was
one of only 20 they accepted from all over the world) was a regular of
the soap opera.
Belinda played Isabel, the scheming ex-girlfriend of Piolo's
character who, according to the script, "owns the streets of
Davao." But, of course, Isabel was a contravida and she had no chance
in hell to snag Piolo. Piolo, of course, ended up with Patricia, Judy
Ann's character.
Anyway, Belinda joined the soap opera four months after it first aired,
so everyone already knew each other. Thus, during our first shooting
day, Belinda and I minded our own business. We never expected to make
any friends but the affable Jose Javier Reyes, the director of the
soap, received us like we were his long-lost daughters. The other
actors welcomed us, too, including Piolo, who gave us a warm smile and
introduced himself to Belinda. He gave me a nod since we'd met
before.
>From that moment of introduction, Piolo would always hang out with us.
He would read magazines and books with us in the waiting room. He would
ride in Belinda's car and make his chauffeur drive his BMW SUV behind
us. He would bring us chocolates. Yes, he was that sweet.
So when Belinda was offered a role in 9 Mornings, a Piolo-Donita Rose
starrer from Star Cinema, she grabbed the chance knowing that she'd
be working with family. Joey Reyes was the director, Donita was a
fellow MTV VJ, Dominic Ochoa was her kapatid from Backroom Inc. and, of
course, Piolo was headlining it. During lunch and dinner breaks,
Belinda, Piolo and I-sometimes along with Donita or Dominic-would
sneak out and grab something from a nearby fast-food restaurant.
That was more than two years ago. Since then, I've rarely seen Piolo.
But we'd text each other once in a while or bump into each other in
the hallways of ABS-CBN. And whenever he sees me, he'd make time to
greet me and try to catch up. But those moments are fleeting as Piolo
is always on the run for a shoot or a pictorial or whatever. I don't
mind. Piolo is a good friend and I know that he's always just a text
or call away.
Lately, Piolo is being hit left, right, up and below the belt with so
many negative writeups that stemmed from his latest movie outing,
Dreamboy, from Star Cinema. Just a few points:
While Dreamboy's competitor Let the Love Begin is making more moolah,
I think the nasty adjectives that have been attached to Piolo are quite
unfair since I know for a fact that the movie wasn't a bomb. It still
is in theaters and people are still watching it. He may not have
knocked off Richard Gutierrez but it doesn't mean Dreamboy tanked.
And so what if Dreamboy was a dud? Brad, Russel, Arnold, the two Toms
(Cruise and Hanks) have had their own share of box-office bombs. But no
one can deny their stellar power. Again, I'm not saying that Dreamboy
is a bomb because, according to my sources, it's doing okay. But once
in awhile, every actor comes across a flop. There's nothing wrong
with that. It's just a bitter lesson to learn but still, a lesson
worth cherishing.
Contrary to what others have said, I don't think Piolo is a has-been.
Let's not forget that for 2004, Piolo starred in Milan, one of the
top-grossing films last year, and filled up the Araneta Coliseum. 2004
was a banner year for Piolo and I'm sure 2005 would be just as kind.
While people may say that Richard Gutierrez is more handsome, fresher,
younger and so on, Piolo can boast of his grand-slam victory for Best
Supporting Actor for Dekada '70. While I see in Richard a lot of
potential, Piolo has been there and done that. Let's just give credit
where credit is due.
And in fairness to Piolo, he never wished for the competing movie to
tank in the box office. In all of his interviews for Dreamboy, he never
made a snide remark against Richard, Angel Locsin and the rest who make
up Let the Love Begin.
This Valentine movie showdown is actually a good sign of things to
come. Healthy competition is what's needed to revive the dying movie
industry. Both movies made money; that's what matters. It made movie
stars out of Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin and I'm so happy for
that because they are also very nice to me. It also marked the return
of GMA Films in making movies and based on its track record (it was
behind Jose Rizal, Sa Pusod ng Dagat, Muro-Ami and Deathrow), I have
every reason to look forward to its upcoming outings.
Piolo, hold your head up high. You deserve all the blessings that
you've been receiving lately. I'll never forget what you told me
when I was down: "Jet, everything would get better. I'll pray for
that."
And now, Piolo, I'm praying for your happiness in return.