Piolo Pascual on ‘passing the baton,’ being his own competition

MANILA, Philippines — As Piolo Pascual nears the big 5-0, he finds himself looking at his place in show business a little differently.

There are younger artists coming in, and after decades in the industry, the actor sees that part of this stage in his career is also about “passing the baton.”

“Siyempre may mga bago nang mga bata and, you know, as much as you don’t wanna mentor them, (you also) groom them to follow in the footsteps. Or at least, the good things you’ve done you’ve shared in this business and hopefully they get to do the same thing,” he told The STAR in an interview post-presscon at the Nobu Restaurant of City of Dreams Manila.

Piolo with Cornerstone executives and his team as they gear up for Papa P’s series of major projects and events.

But “passing the baton” doesn’t mean he’s ready to step aside. If anything, Piolo has been active more than ever as an actor, singer and producer, and appears to be no longer concerned about keeping up with anyone else.

Asked by this paper about the pressure of staying on top, Piolo said he has learned not to measure his career against another artist’s success.

“I’m my own competition, so I compete with myself. The moment I compare myself to another person’s success, that would be my downfall,” he said.

He continued, “I’m good knowing that I have projects that I can be busy with. But once I think that, you know, mas maraming project ito kaysa sa akin, that will be my demise. I don’t think I will ever be okay comparing myself to another person’s success story.”

Such mindset has become even more pronouncedl as he turns, as mentioned earlier, 50 years old.

“Aging-wise, I embrace it. Whenever I see my son (Inigo), who’s freaking 29 years old, I’m reminded of my age, so kailangan mong umayos, ‘di ba? Alangan naman ganoon pa rin ang attitude mo in front of your kid,” he said.

He added that getting older is something one eventually has to acknowledge, especially when people begin to see you differently even as you still feel young.

For the perennial leading man, however, this stage of life doesn’t translate to slowing down.”I don’t see myself retiring anytime soon... As long as there are offers, as long as there are new grounds to break, as long as there are things that I can still do as a performer, as an artist, as a producer, I won’t stop,” he said.

“Ano’ng gagawin ko? ‘Di ba? Mas gusto kong busy.”

He continued, “The retirement happened 10 years ago hahaha! As I turned a leaf again, wala na talaga siya sa horizon.”

In fact, before the year ends, he has three major projects lined up: a new album under Star Music, a self-published coffee-table book titled “In Transit” and a gala concert at City of Dreams Manila.

The album, produced by veteran music producer Jonathan Manalo, has been five years in the making and is targeted for release later this year.

Singing remains important to Piolo, alongside acting.

“Singing for me is close to my heart, same as acting, and it’s a nice way to celebrate, you know, the milestones in your life and just to carry on,” he said.

His coffee-table book, meanwhile, brings together photos taken during his travels over seven years, from 2019 to 2026, covering destinations in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and France, as well as different parts of the United States.

The title, “In Transit,” could define how he views his own life.

“Like in my book, In Transit, we’re always moving, you’re always evolving and you’re always growing,” he said.

Then on Nov. 24, Piolo will headline a self-titled gala concert at the Grand Ballroom of City of

Dreams Manila, directed by veteran star-maker Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan, with Niño Salazar as musical director.

The concert will benefit Hebreo Foundation, the non-profit organization Piolo founded in 2008 to help provide educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

He stressed that education has always been the real purpose behind the foundation.

“I really am for education and there are a lot of people born in poverty na hindi mabigyan ng chance. So I feel so good about this because I get to do something that would make another person’s life better and give them a chance for a better, better future,” he said.

The foundation has already supported more than 100 scholars, according to Piolo, with some of its earliest beneficiaries now working as pilots, accountants, nurses and doctors.

He hopes the foundation gets to support more scholars with sales from the upcoming coffee table book.

“Sabi ko mas maganda naman ‘yung gumawa ka ng something and then ang sarap ng pakiramdam na ‘yung kikitain mo, ‘yung proceeds, mapupunta para sa education ng mga bata,” he said.

“That means mas marami kaming mapag-aaral kasi maraming lumalapit (for help).”

Along with intentionally going for “more meaningful” projects, Piolo said he now enjoys a better work-life balance.

“Mas napipili ko ‘yung mga ginagawa ko. I mean, I have a slave driver for a manager, but okay naman ‘yung trabaho because na-co-compartmentalize namin lahat,” he said.

His schedules are also being planned three to six months ahead that’s why “mas may oras na ako sa sarili ko unlike before.”