Why Piolo Pascual isn’t feeling burnout anymore even with nonstop work
MANILA, Philippines — Piolo Pascual is just a year shy from turning 50. He officially turned 49 last Jan. 12, a personal milestone that came with giant billboards for a clothing brand that showcased his fitness and seemingly ageless looks.
The actor received an advanced birthday moment at the recent script reading and storycon for his latest project, the APT Entertainment and MediaQuest produced series “The Kingdom: Magkabilang Mundo.
During an interview with this paper, he reflected about turning a year older, still wanting to do more and not slowing down anytime soon.
“Dami nga nagsasabi sa akin, pahinga ka muna sa pelikula this year, kasi parang binugbog ko yung 2025 — ‘The Ride,’ ‘Meet, Greet & Bye,’ ‘Manila’s Finest’ — pati ako nagsawa sa sarili ko. Sabi ko sige, pahinga po. Series muna tayo.”
Still, rest has never really been his default. “I wake up every day thinking that I have something to do. I always wanna be productive. I want to do something that helps me grow not only as a person but as an artist,” he said.
“Being on the set is like being in a playground for me, if I take on a character, I live it. Hindi ko inuuwi yung character, I don’t do method, but I take it as parang pumapasok ako sa school. Bayad nga lang ako, pero nag-e-enjoy ako.”
Even vacations, he admitted, are a challenge. “Even when I go on vacation, I get bored. I think it stems from the pandemic. Sobrang bored ako noon sa bahay. I realized I cannot stay home.”
Looking back, Piolo said he once feared burnout, but not anymore. “Before I turned 40, it happened to me. I felt burned out. I wasn’t raring to turn 40. Then after I turned 40, excited ako mag-50. Now I’m turning 50 and I am not feeling (burnout) anymore.”
That perspective has shaped how he now approaches life and work. “What’s the purpose of life, if you’re not doing anything? I’d rather be productive than idle. I really just cherish the blessings and make sure I give my best. Kung dadating ang love life, saka na natin pag-usapan yun.”
What will keep him busy this year is “The Kingdom: Magkabilang Mundo,” the continuation but series version of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 entry “The Kingdom,” which reimagines the Philippines as a monarchy. It topbilled Vic Sotto as Lakan Makisig Nandula, the ruler of the Kingdom of Kalayaan. Piolo, on the other hand, will reprise his character, Sulayman “Sulo” Tagum, a Tinatwa (outcast) and a farmer, who is also a son of a disgraced Kalasag Royal Guard. The project is still going to be directed by Mike Tuviera.
“In 2024, right away after the movie ‘The Kingdom’ was shown, direk Mike approached me in January (2025), saying, ‘We’re gonna do a series, and then after that we might do a film,’” Piolo recalled. “So from the get-go, I already knew that there were plans to continue with the series because it’s such a big story. Kumbaga, kinom-press lang namin to introduce ‘The Kingdom,’ the monarchy, the alternate universe.”
With the series now moving forward, Piolo said he had to reacquaint himself with the film’s mythology and rewatched “The Kingdom” on Netflix.
The response to the film, which became the No. 1 most streamed title for two weeks on Netflix when it premiered recently, has been encouraging. “I’m really excited because now we’re able to remind the viewers about the story, and now we’re getting more people to watch — the ones that were able to catch it in the cinemas, and we’re excited because finally mag-i-start na yung series.”
Because of his commitment, he deliberately cleared his schedule. “So I really blocked off certain months for this series, for the show, because I promised direk Mike and I said yes to him early on pa lang, in 2025. I also said yes to a lot of other projects. Last year, I did a lot of movies, a lot of cameos, and so I really allowed these few months for him so that we could do the series.”
The new series expands way beyond what audiences saw in the film. “Of course, we had to center on Bossing Vic’s character, his kingdom in the movie, but now we are spreading it out. We’re introducing the other kingdoms… as part of the whole universe of that alternative government. So now, we’re expanding it.”
For Piolo, being part of projects of this scale feels especially meaningful at this stage of his career. “For me, it’s a privilege at this point of my life and my career, my age, that I’m back to be part of big projects, be given characters,” he said. “When you said, how come I take on challenging roles every time, I always choose projects that are hard to do I guess (because) ang sarap lang ng pakiramdam na nakakagawa ka pa ng mga pelikula na hindi common, like the usual rom-com genre that I grew up doing for 20 years.”
“Now that I’m able to diversify, nakakatuwa na ang dami mo palang pwedeng roles na gawin,” he added. “So, I always watch movies, I always watch shows because if they can do it, why can’t we? I’m just happy that I’m part of that movement.
“And I’m always gonna push the envelope as long as I’m needed, as long as I’m used, as long as I’m able to give my talent and my skill, and make sure that I give it my best every time I’m given projects such as this.”
That same drive extends to his role as a producer under Spring Films. Asked about his vision for the company this year, Piolo said, “To do more projects that are relevant, more projects that are cutting-edge. Like ‘Manila’s Finest,’ when we said yes, from line-prod to post-prod, we made sure it was different. It’s not your usual mainstream drama. We always choose something different.”
Piolo further weighed in on what means to last long in the industry. “It’s not about you. You’re just part of a bigger process. If you don’t contribute your talent, sayang naman. Someone else will take your place.”
He added, “If may ego ka, that’s your downfall because it will be about you. Pero dumating naman ako sa time na feeling ko dapat ako, dapat para sa akin. I guess my saving grace is being a Christian, my faith. Without it wala naman ako dito. So that really humbles me and grounds me every time.”
Asked for any advice to industry people who likewise dream of longevity, he said, “Ang problema ko ngayon, they’re very tentative. Konting sakit, they’re gonna quit. The thing is you only live once.
“If you’re not gonna appreciate the life that you have, sayang ang buhay mo, napakaswerte mo nabubuhay ka, may kinakain ka, may trabaho ka. Kung iisipin mo na dapat deserve mo lahat, that’s gonna be your downfall. Everyday is a new day for you to do something different, to do something better and to just strive to be a good and better person.”
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