Piolo Pascual feels the weight of success

Karen Valeza
Piolo Pascual feels pressured to come up with a move that will equal, or surpass the box office success of “Starting Over Again,” his movie with Toni Gonzaga/NPPA Images

Piolo Pascual feels pressured to come up with a movie that will equal, or surpass the box office success of “Starting Over Again,” his movie with Toni Gonzaga.

It reportedly earned P400 million when it was shown in local cinemas last February.

“Sabi ko konsepto, konsepto ang importante. Sa dami ng nagawa nating pelikula, it's important na bago. Mahirap sundan yung “Starting Over Again” and yung record ni Sarah, (Geronimo, his co-star in an upcoming movie) nakaka-intimidate,” he said at the farewell press conference of “Hawak-Kamay” last Thursday, November 13.

Excited to work with Sarah

Piolo is looking forward to working in a movie with Sarah after “Hawak Kamay” ends on Friday, November 21. And he hopes their project is a romantic-comedy with a good story.

“Star Cinema is known for rom-com, bakit ka pa lalayo, di ba? I’ve done “OTJ,” I’ve done “Manila,” I’ve done films na hindi mainstream. So, when you say Star Cinema and you say Sarah, it has to be rom-com.”

Sarah’s rom-com movies, including “A Very Special Love,” “You Changed My Life” and Maybe This Time” raked hundreds of millions in the box office.

Does Piolo think his team-up with Sarah will work despite their 12-year-age gap?

Doing his job

“For me, I’m just doing my job. Kasi alam n'yo naman ang Star Cinema, kapag alam nilang hindi magwo-work, bakit pa nila ipe-pair ‘di ba? So I think they know better, so pupunta na lang ako doon para magtrabaho. I will just give my best.”

Piolo reveals that the movie will be shown in February 2015, after Valentine’s Day.

And although they are pressed for time, Piolo doesn’t want to sacrifice quality just to meet the playdate deadline.

“I’d rather prioritize na matapos nang maayos kaysa may deadline. Ayaw kong nagmamadali sa pelikula kasi nakaka-stress, nakaka-pressure. Magsa-suffer ang quality, not for anything, but mas maganda na yung napapaganda pa na may oras ka. So kung hindi na umabot, it’s not about the playdate anyway. Basta may maganda kang pelikula, it doesn’t matter kalian ipapalabas.”

Piolo thinks John Lloyd Cruz, Sarah’s on screen partner won’t mind if she does a movie with him (Piolo) before working on a follow-up to the highly-successful “It Takes a Man and a Woman.”

Inspiring story

“No, it’s not up to us. Just like what I said, trabahador lang din kami, mga artista lang kami. Kung meron mang nirerequest, labas naman kami doon and I don’t think Lloydie (John Lloyd) will feel bad if I'm paired with Sarah. Maraming beses na rin silang nagkapares, same thing with him and Toni.  So maliit lang ang mundo, we have to share,"

He’s happy working on “Hawak Kamay” because of its inspiring story.

“Totoong nag-hawak-kamay kami dito para mabigyan ng kakaibang mapapanood ang mga tao. We hope na may kakapulutan silang aral, na hindi kailangan ng patayan at sabugan para makabuo ng magandang istorya. We’re all proud to be part of this show.”

“Hawak Kamay” also stars Iza Calzado, Zaijian Jaranilla, Xyriel Manabat, Andrea Brillantes and Yesha Camile.