A Winner in More Ways Than One

And the winner is...

You could never have guessed it.

No, the winner for the Best Supporting Actor award during the just-concluded 2004 Metro Filmfest was not one of the veterans but a newcomer (not to be confused with a "greenhorn") who never thought he stood a chance against his worthy opponents (just like how Best Supporting Actress winner Rebecca Lusterio, another newcomer, for Panaghoy sa Suba, felt).

Dennis Trillo, 22, (who won for his role as a cross-dresser in the war drama Aishite Imasu 1941, only his first movie; another Metro Filmfest entry, Mano Po 3: My Love, where he plays a small role, is his second) is a winner in more ways than one.

"Things have been happening so fast," said the wholesome dude aptly described as "silent water runs deep" because he’s so quiet and sometimes so stingy with words that you wonder how he could be so effective in his winning role. "I still couldn’t believe that all these things are happening to me, all these blessings," he added. "I pinch myself and ask, ‘Totoo ba ’to?’ God is good."

A member of the ABS-CBN Talent Center’s Star Circle Batch 10 (along with, among nine others, Bea Alonzo and Alfred Vargas), Dennis for a while languished in guest TV roles and made heads turn only after he was cast as Gabriel, childhood friend of Alwina (played by Angel Locsin), in the top-rated GMA fantaserye Mulawin (with Richard Gutierrez in the title role).

Things seemed to come easy for Dennis after that.

Born Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho, he comes from a well-to-do family (his father is half-Chinese). He never dreamed of landing in showbiz, aiming only for a job perhaps at the Department of Foreign Service or abroad. That’s why he took up International Studies.

"It’s fate," said Dennis.

Like his landing the "comfort gay" role in Aishite Imasu, a no-no role as far as other (less gifted? less secure?) actors are concerned because they worry that such roles could mean the end of their careers. An unfounded fear, actually. In Hollywood, the likes of Johnny Depp (Before Night Falls) and Tom Hanks (Philadelphia) tackle such "risky" roles with no qualms and became even more versatile thespians.

"I am secure with myself," said Dennis. "If I want to be a good actor, then I should try everything."

How did you feel the morning after the Gabi ng Parangal?

"Overwhelmed. Sobrang thrilled siempre. Honestly, I didn’t expect any award. I was already happy reading and hearing good reviews."

But you were a favorite, predicted to be "it" right at the start of the Metro Filmfest.

"I was hoping but not really expecting."

Who did you think would win?

"Jay Manalo (also for Aishite Imasu where he played a Japanese officer)."

You were convincing and credible in your role as a "comfort gay," considering the fact that you are straight. How did you do it? How did you prepare for it?

"I watched movies na may ganoong theme, like Before Night Falls (where Johnny Depp played a cross-dresser) and Too Wong Foo. I also observed how women moved and acted because my character believed that he’s a woman and not gay."

When you learned that you were going to play a gay, how did you react? Other actors stay away from such roles because they are afraid gay roles might "stigmatize" them.

"At first, I must admit I was a bit apprehensive. But I thought it was a role of a lifetime kaya sayang naman kung palalampasin mo. I might regret it later on. Besides, I wasn’t afraid to be typecast. You see it once only in a movie, unlike if you do it on TV every day na talagang magma-marka sa isip ng tao."

It’s good that you’re secure with your sexuality.

"Of course, I am!"

How did you feel during your love (kissing) scene with Jay (as his lover)?

"It was hyped up talaga. Actually, my love scene with Jay was cut short; mahaba talaga ’yon. I think the whole scene will be included when the movie is released on DVD. That scene was shot during the last shooting day. Lahat ng nervousness ko naipon and I was tense. There were a lot of press people watching the scene on the monitor and I became nervous all the more."

Was it the first time you ever kissed another guy?

"On screen? Yeah, the first. But I did a ‘lip-smack’ scene for an episode on Magpakailanman (about Diego Lorrico, the gay comedian in Bubble Gang). It was my first time to kiss another guy on the lips. Mas grabe ‘yung amin ni Jay."

Being the more experienced, Jay, I suppose, guided you well during the shooting of that scene.

"Direk Joel (Lamangan) told me that I should feel like a woman. Direk was good at motivating."

How did you prepare for your kissing scene with Jay?

"I brushed and flossed my teeth and I gargled Listerine."

Did you request Jay to do the same?

"Nakakahiya naman if I asked him, di ba? Siempre, Jay Manalo ’yan, ano! I was starstruck by him."

Did you have any acting experience before you joined showbiz?

"Hardly. But I did a few commercials (Globe, Jollibee, Close-Up, etc.). I was in Grade Six at Ateneo (where he also finished high school) when I started making commercials during summer breaks."

Didn’t you join any acting group in Ateneo (like Tanghalang Ateneo)?

"No, I didn’t. Sayang nga, e. I should have. Maganda ang discipline sa theater sabi nila. That’s what I want to explore later on – theater."

You shot Aishite Imasu and Mano Po 3 at the same time...

"...Yeah, I did. That was hectic because I was also taping for Mulawin."

You don’t play a winged creature in Mulawin...

"...eventually, I will. Soon."

Mulawin is not your first TV show, is it?

"In ABS-CBN, I did a few ‘guestings.’ When my contract with ABS-CBN expired, I got myself a manager (Popoy Karitativa) who got me into GMA. I was cast in the soap Kahit Kailan and then Mulawin."

How did you get into Star Circle?

"When I was doing commercials, I had an agent who happened to be the manager of Ryan Agoncillo. He showed my pictures to the guys at ABS-CBN and I was asked to audition. I was then taking up International Studies at Miriam College."

Have you ever dreamed of becoming an actor?

"No. My dad being Chinese... parang di okay sa kanya ’yung idea."

Do you speak Chinese?

"No, I don’t. But my dad does, a little bit."

You’re not related to the Trillos in sports, are you?

"I’m not sure if I am. Trillo is my mom’s maiden name."

What kind of family do you come from, a well-to-do family?

"Well, modesty aside, I can say that. We have our own businesses, such as carpet-manufacturing and making Vulca Seal. I’m the eldest among three children; I have two sisters."

Still living with your family?

"Yes, in Marikina."

Now that you’re earning well, don’t you plan to live independently?

"Eventually, I think I will. But in the meantime, it’s practical for me to stay with my family. But I do plan to rent a pad as my halfway place because Marikina is a bit far from where I usually work."

What kind of childhood did you have?

"It was a perfect childhood. ‘Yung family ko is sobrang perfect at wala ka nang hihingin o hahanapin pa. We are a regular family. We travel together, we hear Mass together on Sunday, we eat out every now and then, except that these days, since I’m busy, I can’t always go out with them. Sobrang tight ang family bonding namin."

Having come from a happy family, how do you "internalize" for a sad scene?

"Honestly, I find it hard to do sad or crying scenes. But a good director can always give you the right motivation. Actually, tsamba lang ’yung ibang scenes ko in Aishite Imasu where I had to cry. Direk Joel should get the credit for that."

Are you a movie buff?

"Oh, yes, I am. Mahilig na mahilig. I prefer classic movies, like those of Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino. I just don’t enjoy watching them, I learn by observing them. I also like reading biographies of actors."

Have you taken up any acting lessons?

"In ABS-CBN, I did – during the Star Circle days. I also enrolled in the Acting Workshop Foundation of Leo Martinez."

Vilma Santos, your Mano Po 3 co-star, recalled that she noticed you to be so shy during a shoot in Beijing that she had to embrace you and encourage you to talk.

"I guess until now I haven’t really absorbed the impact of all the good things that have been happening to me."

Have you always been like that, very shy and withdrawn?

"I guess so."

What’s your zodiac sign ba?

"Taurus. May 12."

Are you also shy with girls?

"Not all the time."

Do you have a girlfriend?

"Now? None. Before, yes."

What do you do during your spare time?

"Stay home. I’m really a homebody. Luckily, everything that I love to do is found at home, such as a home theater. Lahat nang gusto kong gawin nasa bahay na namin. I spend a lot of time in my home theater and on my collection of DVDs."

Are you generous with your sisters?

"Oh, yes, I am."

Since your family doesn’t need any financial help from you, what do you do with your earnings?

"I save. Sometimes, I do volunteer to contribute to the household expenses. Or I give my parents and my sisters balato."

Don’t you have any barkada?

"I have, mostly non-showbiz. But they’re also busy with their work so we hardly have time to go out."

Your role in Aishite Imasu is markado. Your next should be even more so since, after your award, people will be expecting much from you. Natsa-challenge ka ba?

"Of course, I am. Sana my next role will be as good, if not better."

More gay roles maybe?

"Siguro I won’t be doing any gay roles na muna. Iba naman. Maybe a bad-boy role."

Opposite of what you are in real life?

"Yeah, the exact opposite."

How much of a good boy are you?

"Well, I’m God-fearing."

An angel?

"Not exactly. Siempre mayroon din akong kalokohan, just like any boy my age. But I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t take drugs. I’m clean-living."

So anong kaligayahan mo sa buhay?

"I really want to improve my craft to make my family proud of me. Marami pa akong gustong patunayan sa sarili ko."

Aside from those you have mentioned, who are your role models?

"Christopher de Leon. Joel Torre. Sayang I didn’t have a scene with Christopher in Mano Po 3. I also admire Jay Manalo."

What did you learn from Jay aside from kissing another man?

"Jay is a dedicated actor. He’s focused; he’s a consistent actor. He taught me the right blocking, guiding me to the right markers. Even during the shooting, Jay would gently push me to the right marker."

Where did you put your trophy?

"In my room. I keep looking at it."

Hasn’t all this gone to your head?

"Not at all. For me, this is just a job that I have to do well. I don’t want showbiz to affect what I’ve always loved to do, like going to the mall na naka-sandals or naka-slippers lang. Showbiz is not forever, so why let it go to your head?"

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