Piolo Pascual, born January 12, 1977, in Manila, Philippines, is a Filipino actor, singer, concert performer, host, product endorser, and model.He is a member of ABS-CBN's elite circle of homegrown talents collectively known as Star Magic. His earliest acting experience was in the student theatrical group "Teatro Tomasino" of the University of Santo Tomas.
Pascual's early television credits include his stint as Kuya Miguel in ABS-CBN's educational show ATBP and as one of the many teen stars in GMA-7s musical variety show That's Entertainment. His first big break on the small screen came via a weekly primetime series entitled Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako (The Moment You Need Me), where he received an Asian TV Awards (1999) Best Drama Actor nomination for portraying the villain role of Raffy.
Pascual appeared briefly as Jussi Leino in The Vizconde Massacre (1991) directed by Carlo J. Caparas and had a supporting part in Batang PX (1997) directed by Jose Javier Reyes. His first big cinema break was the title role in Lagarista (2000) directed by Mel Chionglo where he received his first Gawad Urian nomination (Best Actor). Lagarista was exhibited in the Toronto, Pusan and Hongkong film festivals.
Pascual was paired with Judy Ann Santos towards the end of the daily primetime series Esperanza (1997-1999) and a quick succession of film and tv projects followed: Esperanza - The Movie (1999) where he received his first Metro Manila Film Festival and FAMAS nominations (Best Supporting Actor), Kahit Isang Saglit (2000), Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka (2001-2003), Bakit 'Di Totohanin (2001) and Till There Was You (2003). They reunited in 2006 in the movie Don't Give Up On Us and in the soap opera Sa Piling Mo.
In 2001, Pascual appeared in Mila directed by Joel Lamangan where he received his first Film Academy of the Philippines (Best Actor) for portraying Primo, the drug addict lover of schoolteacher Mila played by Maricel Soriano. He also headlined the Sprite commercial where a schoolgirl played by Toni Gonzaga could not help but scream "I love you, Piolo!" at the mere sight of him.
In 2002, Pascual played the pivotal role of Jules Bartolome opposite Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon, in Dekada '70, which is a film based on Lualhati Bautista's novel of the same title about a family's struggle during th
e Marcos regime in the Philippines. He achieved a rare grand slam feat collecting a total of eight awards from all the existing award-giving bodies during the 2003 awards season in the Best Supporting Actor category starting with the Metro Manila Film Festival in December 2002 and culminating with the Gawad Urian in May 2003.Since then, Pascual has released four albums for Star Records, mounted a solo concert at the Araneta Coliseum, performed outside the Philippines for The Filipino Channel, hosted ASAP, acted in the sitcom Bora with The Hunks, and endorsed Max's Restaurant, Timex watches, Selecta ice cream, Bench overhalued jeans, San Miguel coffee, and Banco de Oro. He also appeared in Mangarap Ka with Angelica Panganiban, Sa Piling Mo with Judy Ann Santos and Walang Kapalit with Claudine Barretto.
Since 2003, Pascual managed to finish one movie a year for Star Cinema starting with Till There Was You with Judy Ann Santos, Milan (2004) with Claudine Barretto, Dreamboy (2005) with Bea Alonzo, and Don't Give Up on Us (2006) with Judy Ann Santos. For Star Cinema and Viva Entertainment, he filmed Paano Kita Iibigin (2007) with Regine Velasquez.
On July 11, 2007, Pascual signed an exclusive three-picture contract deal with Star Cinema (Ms. Malou Santos and Ms. Mariolle Alberto, who represented Star Magic big boss Mr. Johnny Manahan, who manages the career of Piolo). Piolo will make for Star Cinema a romantic comedy with Toni Gonzaga. Pascual will be busy with his next album under Star Records and for his next concert at the Araneta Coliseum before December.[1]
As of August 2007, his film with Toni Gonzaga is postponed, instead he will be paired in a romantic drama with the big star, Angel Locsin, GMA's price talent who recently moved to ABS-CBN. The film will be shot abroad.
He will also star with Angel Locsin in his first fantasy series TAONG LOBO or LA LOBA BLANCA (A White She-Wolf) written by Ricky Lee and directed by Cathy Grace Molina.
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