Award-winning actor Piolo Pascual has not only made up for the over two years of limited work during the pandemic but has also marked 2023 as a stellar year with a diverse range of projects. From his compelling portrayal as “Ibarra” in theater to captivating performances on concert stages both locally and abroad, as well as his involvement in various series and movies, Piolo has truly soared this year.
He caps off the remarkable year with his involvement in the highly anticipated Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “Mallari,” where he skillfully brings to life not just one, but three characters related to the first documented serial killer in the Philippines. Piolo received the loudest applause during the film’s premiere at SM Megamall on Wednesday. However, the award-winning actor deflected all the praise as he acknowledged the effort of his director Derick Cabrido, writer Enrico Santos, Mentorque’s leader John Bryan Diamante, and the entire cast, emphasizing the collective effort that brought “Mallari” to fruition.
“Parang meron akong na achieve, but it’s a collective effort. I can’t take credit for it,” he said, “I was just really happy everyone sat all throughout the film. I was really amazed. Walang nag phone. Tapos you’ve got a packed cinema, so parang bumalik ‘yung dati. May mga sumisigaw, nag-re-react, so nakakataba ng puso. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na makita ‘yung producer ko nag e-enjoy.”
Piolo expressed his awe at the cinematic experience, acknowledging that it exceeded his expectations as he became a spectator, marveling at the impressive performances and considering it a showcase of talent.
“It was more than what I expected. I became a spectator. I just watched in awe of everyone’s performance. It was a showcase, to say the least,” Piolo revealed.
Buoyed by the positive reception, the actor remains unfazed by brewing controversies surrounding the movie. In the aftermath of the screening, he expressed, “If I may say my very honest opinion, basking in the glory of what just happened, we’re just on a high, so the rumors, demolition job, whatever, I cannot deal with that because I just want to enjoy the moment with my team.”
Mentorque CEO John Bryan Diamante shared his joy at the screams and cheers of the audiences. He revealed that the number of cinemas for “Mallari” increased by 100% after showcasing it to theater owners. Despite the controversies, he remains focused on the positive aspects, stating, “For me, just to be honest, I’m just happy they are talking about it. I just don’t know about the intention.”
