There was no hesitation whatsoever when Piolo Pascual was offered the role in Dreamscape Entertainment’s “Pamilya Sagrado,” Kapamilya’s latest series premiering on June 17.
More than taking a delicious bite into a devious character, it was the trust in him and the belief in his talent by the late head of Dreamscape, Deo Edrinal, that pushed Piolo to accept the role. Before his death last February 3, Deo was very much on top of “Pamilya Sagrado.”
“If I turned it down, it would be the biggest regret in my life after what happened to Tito Deo,” said Piolo at the press conference of “Pamilya Sagrado” after a special screening of its first few episodes at Gateway 2 last Saturday. The actor, a best actor winner many times over, is also interested in the redemption arc of his character, Rafael Sagrado, a politician whose family is deeply embedded in corruption and crime. For his highly-anticipated TV comeback this 2024, Piolo wants to show the viewers something new, while also treating them to the evolution and unfolding of a complex character.
“Responsibilidad ng artista to do something na sa tingin nila, hindi pa napanood ng tao,” he explained. “When this was offered, it wasn’t about being a bad guy or painting a different picture for people, but it’s all about redemption. He’s not all bad throughout. “Through the course of time, makikita mo ang pagbabago niya bilang tao, not just as a politician or a father. ‘Yun talaga nagustuhan ko sa kanya. Wow! Nung sinabi sa akin ni Tito Deo na baka maging presidente ako ng Pilipinas dito, sabi ko, ‘Ako? Presidente? Ang bata-bata ko.’ Sabi niya, ‘Why not?’”
Piolo was assured by Deo’s words. He remembers telling the Dreamscape head, “If you believe, if you think I can do it. That’s when I realized, let’s see. It’s quite challenging, so why not do it?”
Playing the vile Rafael Sagrado, a sly, corrupt politician and a father basking in the glory of his family’s power and greed in the political drama, requires a balancing act, Piolo said.
“Playing a corrupt politician is something I have not done before. So it’s like walking on eggshells because you don’t want people to think you’re targeting someone specific. It’s fictional, so we’re trying to be careful, but at the same time, we really want to mirror society as if it’s happening nowadays,” he explained. “And at the end of the day, I’m just an artist, I’m a talent, and I want to be able to personify a certain character.”
A big come-on also is to be able to be part of a star-studded cast. “Pamilya Sagrado” has over thirty stars, all coming together to honor the late Deo Endrinal with their talents. It features a roster of acting stalwarts such as Rosanna Roces, Aiko Melendez, Shaina Magdayao, and the “three heartthrobs” – as they call themselves – Tirso Cruz III, Volpi winner John Arcilla and Joel Torre. There is also a bevy of young stars, including the good-looking and talented Beaver Magtalas who belongs to the story’s frat boys. It’s also Piolo’s first time working with Mylene Dizon, who plays his wife. Playing their son is Grae Fernandez, who, in real life, is the son of actor Mark Anthony Fernandez and the grandson of Alma Moreno and the late Rudy Fernandez. Kyle Echarri plays Grae’s poor best friend.
It also didn’t hurt, Piolo disclosed, that the highly-anticipated project, set to premiere on June 17, will run for 100 episodes.
“Kasi nung sinabi sa akin ni Tito Deo na hundred episodes, nagbilang ako ng taping days and sabi ko, ‘Let’s go’,” he said.
After playing a murderous priest in the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Mallari” and a two-faced serial killer in the Tagalog adaptation of the Korean hit series “Flower of Evil,” Piolo takes on the role of a corrupt politician in the biggest family drama of 2024.
“Pamilya Sagrado” is directed by Rico Navarro, Lawrence Fajardo, and Andoy Ranay.
