Rocco wants to put up an aesthetic clinic

Rocco Nacino knows life in showbiz is touch and go. So he doesn’t let the big bucks from his movies, teleseryes, endorsements and others, carry him away. He’d rather make hay while the proverbial sun shines.

The enterprising Rocco runs a host of food businesses like Rufo’s, Timog branch. The successful restaurants allow him to make as many indies as he wants (seven for 2016 alone), even if, as everyone knows, the talent fee is not as attractive as that in mainstream films.

Rocco’s most recent indie, writer-director Kip Oebanda’s barkada movie Bar Boys, casts him in a role moviegoers hasn’t seen him play so far — that of a wisecracking law student.

As with most indies, the role gives Rocco a lot more freedom to interpret his character the way he wants to. As such, direk Kip gave Rocco a lot of space in improvising his character.

The new director was glad he did. He notes that Rocco brought a lot of ideas and emotions to the table. No wonder he included many of Rocco’s choices in the final film.

“These made his character richer,” explains direk Kip.

Giving more depth and color to his cocky character was a big challenge for Rocco. Off-cam, Rocco is the total opposite of his overconfident character who thinks he holds the key to everything.

That’s why he admits playing a guy who thinks he’s God’s gift to his barkada is no walk in the park.

In the end, Rocco found himself seeing lawyers in a different light.

“I had a newfound respect for them,” he states.

Despite this, Rocco’s heart still belongs to the nursing profession and acting, of course. Nursing is an extension of Rocco’s original plan of becoming a pediatrician whose love for children comes naturally.

He wanted to go to medical school. But showbiz came along, so Rocco said goodbye to his dream of becoming a doctor and took up nursing instead.

Rocco may not be practicing his profession as a registered nurse, but he plans to merge his academic background with his current work someday. That’s why he enrolled in a Master of Arts course in Nursing, with Aesthetics as field of specialization.

”I want to balance nursing and acting,” he explains.

Rocco can spot many potential clients among the showbiz friends he has gained through the years. At the same time, he can finally practice what took him years to complete in school.

“It’s my fallback position,” he explains.

Rocco likens taking up masteral studies to going back to a fitness program after years of setting it aside.

“You need a period of adjustment. I want to deal with it (this kind of challenge) myself.”

After completing the course, Rocco sees himself sitting on his desk and receiving clients with a smile in his aesthetic clinic. He’d also love sharing his knowledge with the future generation by teaching basic courses like the Foundation of Nursing.

Before that though, the loveless Rocco looks forward to a happy Christmas with family and friends.

“I’m single, but I do go out on dates,” he smiles.

Loveless, he adds, doesn’t mean lonely.

There are many other things he can focus on next year besides love.

The Encantadia star is excited for his upcoming film with Aljur Abrenica. The athletic Rocco is just as happy he will compete in jujitsu tournaments.

The sport not only makes Rocco stay fit. It’s also a good way of letting off steam when he’s feeling a little “blah.”
It’s this pursuit of happiness and excellence that keeps Rocco going — with or without a love life. — With reports from Almed Garcia and Julian Mauricio