VULKAN November 2020 | VOLUME 02
Piolo Pascual Photography LESTER VILLARAMA
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04 PIOLO PASCUAL 16 Monologue 20 Autumn Caprice 28 Waves 34 The Witch 40 Twilight 48 Black Widow
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November 2020
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Volume 02
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PIOLO PASCUAL AND THE ROLLER COASTER CALLED LIFE
FULL LOOK ZARA MAN SHOES YSL
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November 2020
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Live to you from the Philippines, actor and singer Piolo Pascual embodies what it means to truly work hard for your success. From one audition to the next, he found himself balancing schooling and acting as he aimed to find his place in the entertainment world. As he put it laughingly, “I literally had to climb up the ladder.” He started off as a commercial model which was followed by booking roles here and there. He went to the United States and then went back home in 1998 where “I started to really work really hard and nonstop,” Pascual exclaimed. Once back, he started as a supporting actor “until I was paired with a lead actress for a film and the rest is history,” he shared happily. Television and film have always played an important part in Pascual’s life. In the afternoon, he would watch old and classic movies in awe. As he admitted, “It was something so elegant, so classic, something only beautiful people get to do. TV for me was a fantasy.” There was no way he could be part of that world. Or was there? You see, once a boy filled with dreams of conquering the world of film and television, Pascual found himself taking on Los Angeles, “coming from the Philippines, coming from Asia, you can do anything there [in LA]. Sky’s the limit as they say.” Not too long after his arrival, it was clear this wasn’t the city for him. As he put it, “In the States, it’s cutthroat. It’s different. I guess it’s the reason I went back home”; the level of intensity can be overwhelming, especially when you come from a place where “There’s room for improvement, there’s room to relax.” Living in Los Angeles was not just about acting but for Pascual, it was the experience that redirected him to his true destiny and on the road to happiness. Sometimes, our mind narrows and we forget that the simple things in life are crucial to our person as a whole from our well-being to our success, and more. For 5
Pascual, moving back home proved to be the best decision he made for all aspects of his life. It was then that his success as an actor finally took off, his clarity on life was enlightened, and his heart was warmed by his love for life and his family. Having worked on a variety of projects, there were two in particular that stood out to the talented actor. One being what gave Pascual the hope and push he needed to believe he could make it in this business and one that saved him from walking away from it all. Dekada ‘70 was a period film he did about twenty years ago with one of the most prolific actresses in the Philippines, Vilma Santos. He admitted he was given validation from this especially after winning fifteen awards for it but it went beyond that, you see. “I felt validated. That I could actually be in this business and use it as a livelihood, and just keep on growing,” opened up Pascual. “My thinking shifted and I thought maybe there was something for me here in this business. That was a milestone in my life that really changed the course of my life.” His childhood fantasy was suddenly a reality. But just like many things in life, sometimes it must come to an end--or does it? Pascual was turning forty, burnt out, and prepping for his quiet exit of the film industry. He expressed, “I was totally done - physically, mentally I was exhausted. I was like a machine. I just felt like, okay it’s time to rest. Smell the flowers and enjoy the fruits of my hard work.” Well, ironically, this all changed with the filming of Starting Over Again. As he was slowly moving his things away, the film came out and became his most successful film to date, bringing him a wave of hope and the boost he needed to stay in the business. He said warm heartedly, “that would give me this much validation once again after twenty years. That’s why I’m still here”; he had to stay.
Volume 02
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