Piolo Pascual

For several months, viewers witnessed the passionate tale of forbidden love shared by step-siblings Melanie and Noel. Now that the soap is about to end, join the cast of Walang Kapalit as the two lovers try to regain the love and trust of their son.

Noel (Piolo Pascual) and Melanie (Claudine Barretto) finally got their son Ernest from Cynthia (Jodi Sta. Maria), who was sent to jail for kidnapping and murder. But since the latter took Ernest from his real mother after birth, the child grew up thinking that Cynthia was his mother, and was traumatized when he was separated from her. Desperately wanting to be close to her son, Melanie asked for Cynthia’s help. Cynthia agrees but with the condition that Noel will try to love her and visit her in prison everyday. Because of their love for their only child, Melanie and Noel consent to Cynthia’s deal.

After a while, Ernest learns to love his real parents. However, Cynthia has not given up on getting Noel for herself and has totally lost her sanity. She will even use Ernest’s affections to exact revenge on Noel and Melanie. Will Cynthia succeed with her evil ploy or will Noel and Melanie be able to stop her from putting their child in danger?

Don’t miss the engaging finale of this teleserye. Catch the last episodes of Walang Kapalit this week, after Kapamilya: Deal or No Deal on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

by Jocelyn Dimaculangan of PEP.ph
Wednesday, August 29, 2007

PIOLO PASCUAL is certainly not just a pretty face. Since he headlined “Lagarista” in 2000, he has been winning acclaim from critics and trophies from many award-giving bodies. Among his many career highlights is the coveted grand slam of the best supporting actor award for his absorbing performance in “Dekada 70.” In “Milan,” he ran away with the FAMAS best actor award.

Over the past few years, Piolo has quietly become one of the hottest-selling recording artists in the country. He has also conquered the concert stage starting with his 2004 solo debut “My Gift” and succeeded by “Heartthrobs” back-to-back concert with Sam Milby.

Piolo is seen again with Claudine Barretto in “Walang Kapalit.” He plays Noel who finds himself unwillingly falling for his stepsister Melanie. Piolo proves that underneath the image of a multi-media star lies a true actor.

On the big screen, Piolo is paired for the first time opposite Regine Velasquez in the big drama event of the year, “Paano Kita Iibigin.” The project almost took three years in the making due to numerous revisions and finalizing who will direct it. Finally, the directorial task was given to Bb. Joyce.

by Remy Umerez of People’s Journal

What if you fall in love with someone, but society considers your love taboo?

This is the problem facing Noel (Piolo Pascual) and Melanie (Claudine Barretto) in the ABS-CBN teleserye Walang Kapalit, which will air starting April 23.

This drama series directed by Wenn Deramas is based on Nerissa Cabral’s komiks novel Hindi Nahahati Ang Langit. The movie version, under the direction of Mike De Leon, starred Dina Bonnevie and Edu Manzano.

Piolo and Claudine reunite for the small screen after making their blockbuster hit Milan. The two had previously worked together in the TV show Buttercup, where they starred as Lance and Meg.

Now that they are paired again, Piolo was asked how was it like to work with a pregnant Claudine. “It’s really been easy to work with Claudine ever since but I think mas lalo pa siyang bumait ngayon. We’re extra careful during the shoot because she’s pregnant but she is a professional,” he said during a press con of Walang Kapalit. “Ang gaan pa rin niyang katrabaho.”

Claudine is on her pregnancy’s second trimester, and by July, she will give birth to a baby boy with actor-husband Raymart Santiago. For her part, she reveals that Piolo also spoils her on the set, which is why she enjoys their tapings together.

In Walang Kapalit, Dina and Edu play the married couple Agnes and Ariston, who are both into their second marriage. They each have a child from their first marriage: Melanie (Claudine), Agnes’s child from her former husband, and Noel (Piolo), Ariston’s son by his late wife.

Noel and Melanie grow up as brother and sister. The young Noel is played by Sam Concepcion while the part of young Melanie went to Julia Barretto. They bicker and quarrel throughout their childhood. But when Noel leaves for Australia to work, they discover how much they miss each other.

Love blossoms between the two, although this is against the wishes of their parents. When they grow up, they learn to be more appreciative of each other but they end up marrying other partners, played by Jodi Sta. Maria and Bobby Andrews.

Eventually, Ariston, Noel and Melanie had to join Noel in Australia when he needed help to recuperate from a car accident.

“It took us about eight months bago matapos ‘tong project,” narrates Piolo about his latest teleserye on the Kapamilya network. “We were there in Sydney for only a couple of days and then we went to Hunter Valley…[it's] super nice. Para siyang vineyard and we did scenes there with Jodi [Sta. Maria].”

Other cast members include Joem Bascon, Eda Nolan, Victor Basa, Lloyd Samartino, Susan Africa, Amy Austria, Deejay Durano, TJ Trinidad, Candy Pangilinan, and Nikki Valdez.

Find out how Melanie and Noel fight for a love that is, in society’s eyes, between two siblings. Walang Kapalit premieres this Monday, April 23, on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida.

by Jocelyn Dimaculangan of PEP.ph
Friday, April 20, 2007
07:29 PM