Piolo Pascual

Piolo Pascual proves his enduring appeal and bankability as a singer with the strong sales of his latest album, Timeless.

The matinee idol co-produced this 16-track album together with Jonathan Manalo. Released under Star Records, Timeless reached the Gold Record mark (15,000 units) in a span of only one week. He received the award during the September 16 episode of ASAP ‘07.

Piolo dedicated this award to his son, Iñigo, who celebrated his ninth birthday last Sunday.

The TV host-actor himself wrote the song “Why Can’t We Be Together?” that is included in this album. He performs a duet with Toni Gonzaga for the song ‘To Hear You Say You Love Me” as well as an original featuring international singer and composer Jim Brickman.

His carrier track, “Nagmamahal ng Tunay,” is also the sub-theme of his hit teleserye with Claudine Barretto, Walang Kapalit. Timeless also includes “One More Chance,” “Ikaw Pa Rin,” “Ikaw Na Nga,” “Wagas,” and “Turuan Mo Ako.”

Other notable tracks in the album are “If Only Love,” written by Willy Wilcox (composer of “Suddenly, It’s Magic”).

Completing the line-up are songs from his TV shows that Piolo interpreted: “Walang Kapalit” (the theme song of show with the same title), “Dahil Ikaw” (for Sa Piling Mo) and “Ikaw Lamang” (also for Sa Piling Mo).

Piolo is celebrating his 10th anniversary in showbiz with a series of projects such as the release of a coffee table book and a major concert at the Araneta Coliseum. The soon-to-be-released coffee table book will showcase the highlights of his 10 glorious years of being the industry’s most eligible bachelor.

The Ultimate Dreamboy will hold his second major concert at the Araneta Coliseum on November 30.

by Jocelyn Dimaculangan of PEP.PH
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Piolo Pascual’s usually intense acting slips several notches lower in his portrayal of a depressed Chinese-Filipino (Chinoy) in his latest indie film Chopsuey. His subdued performance as Jimmy Wong allows his co-stars to shine in this family drama.

Catherine Camarillo directs the matinee idol in this independent movie produced by Silangan Pictures and New Life Cinema. Named after the classic Chinese vegetable dish that has been adopted by Filipino cuisine, Chopsuey also boasts of a variety of characters who undergo bittersweet experiences as Chinese-Filipinos.

This film marks the directorial debut of Piolo’s friend, Cathy, a journalism graduate of the University of the Philippines. She works as an assistant director at ABS-CBN. The movie is based on the script of Romualdo Avellanoza that won in the Film Development Foundation scriptwriting contest.

Chopsuey is Piolo’s second indie movie after he starred in Kagat ng Dilim, which was written and directed by Cesar Hernando. In the 15-minute short film, Piolo plays the role of a guerilla leader whose troop patrols the mountains of Central Luzon during the ‘50s.

The dish chopsuey plays an important role in the life of the Wong family. Cooking the vegetable dish is a gesture of sacrifice and love for Claire (Dimples Romana), it is used to impress friends of Leslie (Krista Ranillo), while Annette (Andrea del Rosario) does not appreciate the time and effort spent in cooking this labor-intensive meal.

Chopsuey brings to light some traditional practices of Chinoys, namely setting up arranged marriages, venerating one’s ancestors, and lighting incense as a form of prayer. The movie laments that even though Chinese-Filipinos are people endowed with free will, tradition continues to dictate upon them the path that they must choose.

Claire is stuck in a loveless marriage although all she wants is to tour the entire country for the perfect ingredients for her chopsuey. Annette is stuck in the Philippines even though her source of happiness is located in another country (and happens to be a woman). Leslie is stuck in a job that she detests and is forced to like a guy simply because he is a pureblooded Chinese.

“Man is condemned to be free,” says the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. This paradox is man’s curse and blessing—the same burden being carried by the Wong siblings as they try to deal with their Chinese-Filipino heritage.

Chopsuey, directed by Catherine Camarillo, is being screened in select cinemas.

by Jocelyn Dimaculangan of PEP.ph
Thursday, September 6, 2007