NOTE: This is a recount of my July 11, 2010 interview with Piolo. I got the invitation for the job July 8. Just a heads up, to avoid confusion in the posting date.
Last Wednesday, I received a text from a friend whose sister is looking for a freelance writer to cover Sun Life’s “It’s Time!” campaign launch with Filipino actor Piolo Pascual. All expense-paid (transpo and food) plus a day’s pay to attend an event in the luxurious Sofitel Plaza Hotel, ask the hunk a few questions along with 50 or more journalists (ala-White House field reporters’ Q&A ba) and create an article from there (to view my Manila Standard article about the Sun Life launch, click here).
Easy? That’s what I thought so.
I’ve never been big on celebrities. They are as normal to me as any human being is, with the same needs and hidden flaws.What made me nervous though, was the fact that this is my first time to actually have my name printed on a national paper, a first formal, official writing project (my only writing experience so far is web content writing and blogging) and a first time to ask a well-renowned personalities’ insights in the raw. A first for everything. And there can never be any fuck-ups on this one. Never.
July 11. My friend, Lerma and her sister, Lorna – an advertising personnel for the Manila Standard Today – along with two other companions, headed to Sofitel for the big P. Lorna told me I was to raise questions as often as I can when the panel Q&;A comes up. I began to write down notes and some questions for Piolo in the taxi till, which I only gathered from research the night before (last minute, ya, I know. But I was still working then in Ortigas, and by the time I get home, I only have time for eating dinner and going to sleep).
Bayview from Sofitel
While waiting for Piolo’s arrival, all of us bloggers and journalists were made to watch the “making-of” video of Sun Life’s new campaign launch featuring Piolo. There was a buffet of munchies, and I’d be lying if I say that they didn’t turn into a huge diversion.
Fruit deserts and tarts
More tarts and appetizers!
Moi enjoying ze desert 🙂
About half an hour into waiting, Piolo treads the middle of the hall to his post on stage, along with Sun Life officers Mylene Lopa and Greg Martin. People buzzed softly but when you look into their sparkly eyes, you could see them shrieking inside (that doesn’t exclude the MALES. Hah!).
Mylene Lopa, Piolo Pascual and Greg Martin
The launch opened with the full commercial and a re-run (again) of the Behind-the-Scenes clip, then a statistical presentation re: the dwindling financial state of Filipinos. An open mic Q&A between the audience and the panel (which includes Piolo) followed. Lorna wanted me to come forward every chance I get but there were just too many people who were eager to trip over wires to ask questions! Most of the questions I prepared were raised already before I got to the mic. I was able to ask 2, though (out of the 14 that I wrote down, haha).
I was already stuffing the tarts in my bag…I mean, putting my stuff back in the bag, ready to call it a day when, at the end of the Q&A session, it was announced that “anybody who wants to have their pictures taken with Piolo or have a short one-on-one interview, please form a line by the stage.” Lorna looked at me with serious motherly eyes and said, “Pila ka ha? Mag- one-on-one ka.” One-on-one? What happened to panel interview? I have no questions left to ask, what am I supposed to tell Piolo? Haven’t we had enough tarts already?
I swear, my hands went clammy as hell and my heart went batshit. So I went out and smoked the bat away (I mean, afterall, there are like, 10 people ahead of us in the line who obviously need more than 10 minutes just for a single digital shot with Piolo).
with Ate Lerma, Sarah and Lorna
with Adrienne, the lucky Piolo-fanatic balikbayan (rightmost)
After all the lady rituals, we went back in the Visayas ballroom and headed up to the stage. Piolo smiles wide as he does to every person who comes up on stage, sucks on his candy (I could smell his breath from half a meter away. It’s Clorets, I think.), offers his scented palm and gives his most firm handshake. Very corporate.
I crossed my legs, held my nokia phone in one hand to record (haha, ni wala man lang recorder, halatang hindi prepared!) and begin my first of a series of insensible questions I made up in my head while smoking in the veranda.
Me: What do you like best about endorsing Sun Life?
Piolo: Judging it from what I saw this morning during the presentation – my launch actually, as an endorser – and their new wave, their 3rd wave for their campaign this time, I like the fact that they’re aggressive. I like the fact that they’re very compassionate people. My sister works for Sun Life, and I’m happy because I just found out that they’re number one in the market. They’re (the) number one financial group in the Philippines
Me: But considering also how economically challenged the Philippines is, how do you think you could really reach out and convince all those average working Filipinos (to get an insurance policy)?
Piolo: Inspire them. Inspire them, let them realize what’s actually just there. I mean, you know, the reason why I think products get endorsers is to make, to raise awareness about their products. It’s something that is really practical. It’s not just gonna cater to Filipinos who have better means, but also just like what Ms. Mylene (Lopa) said a while ago, we have products that can cater to other social classes. So there are a lot of products to choose from. So it’s not limiting to people who can afford it, but we are also able to bring down the cost for some people, who are, you know, who have limited budget as well.
Me: I’d also like to ask about your foundation. What’s next in store for the foundation, aside from the Sunpiology project?
Piolo: The Sunpiology, we’re coming up with a planner, and it’s gonna come out about the same time it did last year. It’s 12 photographs as well.
Me: All taken by you, of course?
Piolo: Yes, and it’s a planner that’s gonna be released by the end of the year next year.
Me:: Well, that’s something to look forward to.
Piolo: Thank you.
Me: This early, do you involve your son also in the foundation?
Piolo: Oh defintitely. I’m very hands-on. You know, for me I draw inspiration from just working with people in my foundation: my mom, my sisters, and all the students actually that we have as scholars. I get empowered by them because I realize their need for something they need for education, and when you’re able to support that, you get really more empowered, you get really inspired. So because of the help of Sun Life Financial, because of the proceeds that we got from last year’s Sunpiology, all the more I’m excited to do something because I know I’m not alone in this fight. We also wanna do, we also wanna help our people to get education and I guess with the foundation, with the growing awareness, I guess we’re able to do that not just with…my friends’ (are) also interested with Sun Life.
Me: So he’s doing endorsements for the foundation too.
Piolo: Yeah.
Me: I’d also like to ask a few questions about photography as it’s fairly new news about you.
Piolo: Sure.
Me: How did you learn about your passion for photography?
Piolo: Instinct, I guess. When the digital camera came out, the 1 megapixel, I bought in Japan
Me: It’s a passion.
Piolo: (Nods) It’s a passion, it’s an expression, and it’s really personal. So ever since I’ve gotten my first camera, my first digital, I never stopped clicking.
Me: Do you have any photographer idols? Inspirations?
Piolo: Well, I look up to certain people or human interest. Jun de Leon, Raymund Isaac. These are the people I’m really working hand-in-hand with. And they teach me a thing or two, like when I did a pictorial with Raymund in Palawan he taught me certain things, and with Tito Jun also, in terms of composition. And I also admire Don Jaime Ayala because when he commissioned me to do some work for Ayala, he also taught me some things. So you know, I appreciate because I get to meet these people and they’re really so good in photography and I get to learn from them.
Me: So basically these are the people you get your trainings from.
Piolo: Yeah.
Me: Do you see yourself in the long run being a full-time photographer?
Piolo: Nah. As I’ve said it’s just an expression, it’s not something… (but) I don’t know. You know, I never knew I was gonna be able to take photos, you know, for a fee. And now, because of my photos we’re able to help kids go to school. So I don’t know how far or what I can do with it but definitely it’s a passion for sure will never die soon.
Me:: But do you have plans of perhaps, making a (photo) studio, or like Raymond Fortun, capturing weddings? (I suddenly realized I was starting to sound like a nuisance with the repetitive question, but I was really vaguely curious about the subject.)
Piolo: Nah. I don’t know, I’m not sure. I haven’t looked that far yet, but as I’ve said, it’s a passion that’s not gonna die.
Me:: Last question: You’ve accomplished so much already. You’re an actor, you’re an endorser, a photographer. Do you feel like there’s something you haven’t accomplished yet?
Piolo: Well, there’s so many things in life that you have to be ready for. So I guess with each day that you wake up, you face new challenges. And every day is a new day for me, not because of achievements but because of new things that you’re bound to experience. You never know what’s gonna happen. Like you know, in the commercial, nobody’s invincible. Right now I’m into triathlon, I mean, tomorrow when I wake up, I don’t know what I’ll be doing, but I’m definitely excited, looking forward to new changes and new challenges.
Me: Thank you so much, that’s it for now.
Piolo: Thank you. Kung makasagot naman ako eh noh? Makasagot eh kala mo serious…
Everybody had a good laugh about that last bit. Who would think such a huge star would make a joke of himself and mention the words charot and charing while signing autographs? I have seen celebrities several times in Glorietta, in Greenbelt and some other Jejemon-uninfested place and most of the time, they come across as total arrogant snobs or just, well, plain stupid snobs. This is the first time, that I have met a celebrity who felt genuinely humble and approachable. And yep, he is as charming as he is on TV, ladies. Perhaps even a bit more in person.
I had a few uhms every now and then but all-in-all I wouldn’t say it was bad. Lorna said she was surprised my voice didn’t turn shaky and that the conversation between me and Papa P was very fluid. Yay!
Lorna asked for a few more takes with Piolo before packing up.
Kinikilig! Haha.
A colorful wedding reception was just commencing at the adjacent ballroom as we went out. There were fireworks in the periwinkle horizon. I rode into the young night with my garbled notes in hand, reviewing Piolo’s voice in my headset. I looked out the bus as I headed back home and smiled. Ain’t writing grand?
*View my entire article about the Sun Life launch as published in the Manila Standard Today here.
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