Piolo Pascual

Piolo Pascual has about 300,000 photos in his computer. He has accumulated that amount of still pictures using a digital camera he takes with him whenever he goes on a trip around or out of the country. Yes, the guy loves staying behind the camera to take some awesome shots that capture his adventure, his emotion, and point of view.

We are used to seeing Piolo in front of the camera, but this time he unveils a different artistic side of him that most of his fans do not know. He is into photography and showed his flair as a lens master in a benefit photo exhibit on view from Dec. 9 to 18 at the Art Hall of the Enterprise Center along Ayala Avenue in Makati.

Piolo is better known as a television and movie actor, a recording artist, and a movie producer (Kimmy Dora and Manila). His decision to delve into photography happened when one-mega pixel cameras were introduced in the market.

“It started out with a one- mega pixel camera, and then each year a better camera with a higher mega pixel comes out so I get to buy nice equipment for this hobby,” Piolo shared at the launching of the photo exhibit dubbed SunPiology.

In an interview with the members of the press, the actor said that SunPiology is a project in partnership with Sun Life Financial, an international financial services organization.

“When they approached me for this project, I eagerly agreed because I believe that this hobby of mine can benefit so many children from my foundation,” Piolo said.

All proceeds of the benefit photo exhibit will go to Hebreo Foundation, which main advocacy is to provide education to poor children. The actor himself didn’t finish college but still values education, and through Hebreo Foundation, he asserts that he can apply the mindset of giving value to finishing school by giving hope and encouragement to people to take advantage of the chance to attend school.

“I want to help those who help themselves, and we do that by sending them to school,” was Piolo’s simple answer when asked about the foundation he created with the help of his siblings.

Visual poetry

Twelve out of thousands of shots he has made were rendered into a desktop calendar that offers a behind-the-camera glimpse of an actor, whose life has been the topic of many curious admirers.

The photos, which according to Piolo captured his adventure, depict how differently he sees the beauty of life and environment.

The SunPiology calendar includes a slice of nightlife in Las Vegas, sunrise in Mt. Pulag, a lonesome shack somewhere in Europe, a hammock overlooking the sea in Batangas, the splendor of Sydney Opera House, and some visually-arousing stills in Darwin, Shanghai, Normandy, Beijing, and Zurich.

“Three of the 12 pictures here are taken in Paris,” Piolo told Standard Today. “These particular photos are so memorable because I did the shots while we were shooting Lovers in Paris. I’ve got more photos in my computer actually because I don’t stop clicking; I just shoot whatever catches my fancy.”

The photos Piolo was referring to are shots taken featuring a steel bridge in the city, a sunrise in Montmartre, and the panoramic tower of love, the Eiffel Tower. The actor said, the calendar also reminds him of his memorable time in Paris while shooting the series. Although the program, which also stars KC Concepcion, has ended last week, memories like the ones encapsulated in the photos remain.

Taste for panorama

The absence of human image in his choice of shots is evident in every photos included in SunPiology desktop calendar. The actor said that it’s just a matter of taste. He prefers landscapes and scenic views.

“But of course that doesn’t limit to what I can do. The apparent absence of human in the photos is a result of a theme that we followed for this project,” he explained.

Piolo does not have any formal training in photography but admitted that he admires the works of Raymond Isaac and Jaime Zobel.

“I love their works but not really influenced by them or by anyone. My interest in photography started just as a hobby. And now, with the photos I have taken throughout the years, I realized that I could help more, give more, and encourage more people to extend their help to those who are not as fortunate like us,” Piolo concluded.

SunPiology calendar is available at all Fully Booked outlets nationwide and can be purchased through www.sunpiology.com.

by Nickie Wang Contributor

MANILA, Philippnes - Actor Piolo Pascual has saved enough money that he can quit show business anytime.

“Napaghandaan ko na din naman. May insurance na din naman ako. Lahat naman ay dumadaan sa ganoon. Hindi ka naman teenager forever,” Pascual said.

The actor said he has no illusions that his popularity and career will last forever that is why he is already saving for his future.

“I want to anticipate that. I mean give chance to other kasi ang isang bagay kapag inari mo kapag nawala, masakit. Sa akin naman po ang lahat ng bagay ay panandalian lang, hiram lang. And I’m grateful for it. But it does not mean na aariin ko na para sa akin,” Pascual said.

He added: “Grabe na ang nangyari sa buhay ko kung magpapaka-selfish pa ako at hindi ko bibigyan ng chance ang ibang tao.”

Currently, Pascual is gearing up for a special episode of “Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK)” where he will portray Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

Aside from MMK, Pascual is also set to do another movie and television series next year.

as of 12/23/2009 5:57 PM

THE sun will never go down on Piolo Pascual as more and more blessings come his way. Only recently, an exciting collaboration between Sun Life Financial-Philippines and Piolo was launched, providing proof yet again that he has come a long way. Dubbed SunPIOLOgy 2010, the collaboration goes beyond underscoring Piolo’s status as a celebrity but focuses on Piolo as a person who never fails to not only impress but also, and more important, help.

The “dream-come-true project,” as described by Sun Life Financial-Philippines CEO and president Riza Mantaring, is a collection of photographs taken by Piolo himself for the company’s 2010 calendar.

Yes, it may surprise some people to know that Piolo, already something of a Renaissance man being a versatile actor, well-regarded product endorser, successful producer and very active Christian, also dabbles in photography.

Piolo, the photographer, escapes from the overwhelming limelight and takes a break from his adoring public, to reflect and let his inner being be channeled into photography.

“Life is full of portraits,” said Piolo at the launch. “There is more life to a photo that doesn’t have a human form.” He has a preference for landscapes and nature as his subjects. When snapping away, Piolo always goes with his instincts. “Whatever that captures my eyes, I shoot it,” he added.

Having no formal background in photography is something that Piolo considers a strength. The rawness of his photos highlights his fresh take of familiar subjects. In addition, he regards photography as a very personal art. To him, the entire process of choosing a subject to framing the shot conveys his own worldview.

The proceeds of SunPIOLOgy 2010 will go directly to the Hebreo Foundation, which was founded by the Pascual siblings. The foundation’s main thrust is centered on education. According to Piolo, the foundation has been able to help fund students’ education for grade school, high school, even college.

Piolo says doing charitable work, especially those that are celebrity-initiated, could be regarded by individuals with suspicion, no more than another attempt by an artist at “self-promotion.” Thus, Piolo initially opted to stay in the background while actively nurturing Hebreo. He has since realized that the foundation could gain more support if he leveraged his celebrity, and the opportunity from Sun Life Financial came at just the perfect time, said the actor.

The concept of giving back might seem like a cliché, Piolo says, but for him it is simply another way of thanking the Lord for all the blessings he has received. The actor says that his is a genuine effort to empower the youth by giving them a chance to become better through education.

The actor, introduced by Mantaring as a “beautiful human being,” submitted the photos for the calendar on time and provided them to Sun Life Financial gratis.

Piolo considers 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida as his idol and takes to heart Efren’s words: No one is too rich or too poor, too young or too old to help other people.

During the recent calendar launch, Mantaring handed over to Piolo a check worth P100,000 as initial proceeds from the SunPIOLOgy 2010 calendar sales. To date, more than a thousand copies of the calendar has already been sold.

Also during the launch, two of the calendar portraits went up for bid. The photo accompanying the month of July, showing a pocket of Paris, was sold for P15,000, while Piolo’s favorite in the collection—the photo for the month of September, entitled When Autumn Falls, which was snapped in Normandy, France—sold for P37,000.

The calendar portraits are also showcased at a benefit exhibit ongoing until December 18 at the Art Hall of Enterprise Center. Those interested can place their bids for the photos, signed by Piolo himself, at www.sunpiology.com.

Written by Anjo C. Alimario
Monday, 21 December 2009 18:55
Business Mirror

MANILA, Philippines - Ang Piolo Pascual na nakilala ng lahat na matagumpay sa pelikula, telebisyon, at recording ay pinili naman ngayong maging tahimik sa likod ng camera lens — bilang photographer.

Matutunghayan ang kanyang mga likha sa kalendaryong SunPIOLOgy 2010 na ka-partner ang Sun Life Financial-Philippines. Ang kalendaryo ng mga kuha ni Piolo ay mabibili sa Fully Booked! outlets sa buong Pilipinas at maipi-feature pa sa benefit photo exhibit hanggang Disyembre 18 sa Art Hall ng Enterprise Center sa Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Mayroong bidding (www.sunpiology.com) at ang lahat ng kikitain ay mapupunta sa Hebreo Foundation na binuo ng magkakapatid na Pascual para sa kanilang education advocacy.

Paano bang nabuo ang Hebreo Foundation?

“There came a point when everything was happening so fast, blessings just pour in one after another. Thankful ako pero lagi kong naiisip kung paano ako maibabalik sa iba ang grasya,” sabi ni Piolo.

“At dahil ang edukasyon ang pinakamagandang oportunidad na maibibigay mo na makakasiguro ng magandang kinabukasan. Hindi man ako nakatapos ng kolehiyo, my parents always value education, kaya I’m applying the same mindset in raising my son.”

Idinagdag pa ng very in demand actor-endorser na kaya siya masaya sa pakikipagtulungan sa Sun Life para sa ganitong proyekto ay dahil layunin din ng kumpanya na siguraduhin ang kinabukasan ng bawat bata.

Tungkol naman sa pagkahilig niya sa photography, sinabi ni Piolo na noon pa siya interesado sa ganitong uri ng sining. Nagpapasalamat siya sa pagdating ng digital technology dahil napadali ang pagkuha ng mga larawan.

The SunPIOLOgy project with Sun Life Financial gave me the chance to showcase my photography and gather support for Hebreo Foundation. Kaya ang sarap ng pakiramdam nang kunin nila ako kasi mapapakinabangan ang hobby ko ng mga bata mula sa aming foundation,” masayang kuwento ni Piolo.

(Pilipino Star Ngayon) Updated December 12, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – Kris Aquino was thrilled that one of her favorite actors, Piolo Pascual, is playing her father, slain former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., in ABS-CBN’s drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK).”

“From the very start, si Papa P (Pascual) ang paborito ng mga kapatid ko at paborito ko. And touched na touched kami na sinisikap n’ya na talagang aralin at kilalanin ang daddy,” Kris told ABS-CBN News.

Kris got even more excited after she found out that the MMK episode will be aired on January 25, 2010, the 77th birthday of her late mother, former president Corazon Aquino.

The MMK episode is the show’s tribute to the former president.

During the launching of his 6th album “Decades,” Pascual made the confirmation that he is portraying Ninoy in the tribute episode of the MMK.

Meanwhile, Kris disclosed that she, her husband, cager James Yap, and their two children will go to Bangkok after Christmas.

“Ang pahinga talaga [sa December 24], Noche Buena, sa family. Sa December 25, maglalaro si James sa PBA (Philippine Basketball Association). Ang balik na namin dito on December 31,” the actress-host said.

as of 12/17/2009 7:49 PM