Piolo Pascual keeps mum about spending the holidays with KC Concepcion

By Noel Orsal & Men's Health Rose Garcia

"I love to workout. I love to do just different

programs. And I started running last year, so I
guess yun pa ang isang nagpa-motivate sa akin.
I felt lighter and iba yung endurance level when
you get to run," says Piolo Pascual, who graces
the cover of Men's Health (inset) for the first
time.
Maituturing na pang-opening salvo ni Piolo
Pascual para sa 2010 ang pagiging cover boy
niya ng Men's Health magazine. Ito ang unang
pagkakataon na naging cover ng naturang
magazine ng Summit Media ang matinee idol.
Sa press launch ng Men's Health January 2010
issue na ginanap kahapon ng tanghali, January
7, sa White Avenue on Tomas Morato,
naikuwento ni Piolo na noong nasa U.S. pa siya
ay fan na siya ng naturang fitness magazine for men.
"It's the first issue of the year, January, and finally, I was able to grace the cover of Men's
Health," sabi ni Piolo sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal). "Actually, matagal nang
pinaplano, matagal na rin naming na-shoot ito. I'm happy because I love to take care of myself.
And when you read the magazine, you'll get some tips. And when you read the magazine, you'll
learn a lot.
"Nagsa-subscribe ako sa Men's Health sa States when I was living there. So, ang galing, 'no?
The magazines that I had back in 2000 pa and from the time I was there, na-realize ko, nag-cover
ako ng Men's Health. So, it's a great opportunity."
Kitang-kita sa January 2010 issue ng Men's Health ang napakagandang pangangatawan ni Piolo
at ang almost perfect abs niya sa mga pictorial na may temang tila nasa isang fight club siya.
"Well, kasi naman, before this, I was doing Lovers in Paris with KC Concepcion," banggit ni
Piolo. "So, my schedule wasn't that hard naman. Every other day, I try to workout and it's part of
my lifestyle kasi. I love to workout. I love to do just different programs. And I started running
last year, so I guess yun pa ang isang nagpa-motivate sa akin. I felt lighter and iba yung
endurance level when you get to run. So, I guess with Timex and Men's Health, it all came
together. So, when they asked to have a shoot with them, it was easy in a sense that I didn't have
to prepare for it that long."
Kung may maga-gurantee man daw si Piolo, ito ay never niyang paggamit ng anumang
performance-enhacing drugs, like steroid.
"I can guarantee that I never took steroid or I never took anything na pampa-enhance. I do
supplement, pero yung steroid, bawal yun, e. So, I do yung mga protein weight, pero never yung
mga drugs."
 Dagdag niya, "At saka hindi mo naman kailangan. In the long run, magsisisi ka rin. It's gonna
take it's toll on you one way or another. So, why risk it? Why risk your life? If you wanna take
care of your life and you wanna live longer and live a healthier life, then don't risk it."
STRONG BOND WITH KC. When it comes his lovelife, wala man aminin si Piolo, mukhang
masaya siya lately. Kahit tapos na ang Lovers in Paris, ayon kay Piolo, strong pa rin ang bond
nila ng leading lady niya rito na si KC Concepcion.
"KC and I are okay," sabi ni Piolo. "I can safely say that we're much stronger now. We have
understanding in a way na we learned our lesson and we still wanna preserve the relationship or
the friendship that we have. So, I guess, nag-grow lang yung respect namin sa isa't isa, yung trust
namin sa isa't isa. So, we're better off na."
Magkasama ba sila noong holiday season?
"Secret!" natatawa niyang sabi.
May nakapansin sa pagka-tan ni Piolo ngayon, mas gumanda raw ang kulay niya. Nagpunta ba
sila sa beach?
"Bumili kayo ng Men's Health, ha!" natatawang pag-iiba niya ng topic.
So, paano nga nila ipinagdiwang ni KC ang holiday season?
"Hindi puwedeng sabihin, huwag na..." iwas ng aktor. "Huwag naman. I'm not the type. I don't
kiss and tell and if there's anything that I'm sharing with her, I'm not in the position to share
about it. It's something special. If there's anything, I mean... and I'm not saying there is, but
hayaan na nating i-enjoy muna natin."
Pero nagkasama ba sila last holiday season?
"Ayokong magsalita!" tawa niya ulit.

Nagkaroon ba sila ng exchange gift?

"Oo naman," pag-amin ni Piolo.
Puwede bang malaman kung ano ang iniregalo nila sa isa't isa?
"Puwede bang sabihin?" hesitant pa siyang magsabi noong una. Pero nang maglaon ay sinabi na
rin niya. "Well, she gave me stuff na magagamit ko sa hobby ko. I love to dive, so she gave me
stuff that can help me in my diving."
What about him, ano ang naging gift niya kay KC?
"Ha? Ang pangit naman kung sasabihin ko yung binigay ko sa kanya. Baka mamaya kung ano
ang sabihin. Basta siya na lang ang tanungin n'yo. Basta ang gift niya sa akin, yun nga, about
diving. Ang ganda at natutuwa naman ako."
Masasabi ba niyang happiest Christmas niya ang nagdaang Pasko?
"It's one of my happiest Christmases because I got to spend it here and it was very simple. I was
just at home at namigay lang kami ng gifts the whole day and it was one special Christmas that I
have."
Usually, kapag Pasko ay sa U.S. niya raw ito sine-celebrate. Posible ba na si KC ang dahilan
kung bakit this time ay mas pinili niyang dito sa Pilipinas ito ipagdiwang?
 "Hindi naman," nangingiti niyang sabi. "Iba talaga ang Men's Health, 'no!" natatawang pag-iiba
ulit niya ng topic.
NO PRESSURE. Ayon kay Piolo, wala na rin daw pressure sa kanilang dalawa ni KC ngayon
unlike noong ginagawa pa nila ang Lovers in Paris.
"Wala na ring pressure sa TV unlike noon na sasabihin ng mga tao, you're just playing it up for
the press or for your audience. So, I guess, wala nang ganung isyu. We are more comfortable
now. We can go out and we can do stuff na alam namin, not for promo. That's what we always
say naman, di ba? Mahirap, e, when it's connected sa ginagawa mo. We are more comfortable
now."
So, ngayong wala na yung pressure, di ba, dapat ay mas free na siyang sabihin kung ano nga ang
meron sa kanila ni KC?
"Well, if there's really anything between us, siguro I'd wanna keep it to myself because you just
wanna protect the relationship. We're both public figure and she comes from a very prominent
family and I don't want to offend the family.

"And same thing with me, hindi rin naman ako ang tipo ng taong mahilig magkuwento. It's not
right for a guy to talk about his relationship. So, parang for me, I wanna preserve it, I wanna
nurture it," saad ni Piolo.
Pero committed na ba sila sa isa't isa?
"I don't wanna say it. May tuldok na yun, e."
So, ayaw pa niyang tuldukan?
"Hindi naman sa ayaw tuldukan. You know what, let's see... masaya ako," sabi niya.
Pero seriously, ano nga ba ang meron na silang dalawa?
"I'm happy kung anuman ang meron kami. She's one person I truly, truly treasure because I see
the heart more than anything. I value the person," sagot niya.
Nararamdaman ba niyang mutual ang feelings nila para sa isa't isa?
"I hope so... I hope so."
Wala bang assurance?
"Siya na lang ang tanungin n'yo!" natatawang sabi ni Piolo.
JUDY ANN SANTOS. Natutuwa rin si Piolo that he was able to end 2009 na friends na siya
ulit sa mga nakasamaan niya ng loob noon, lalo na ang mag-asawang Judy Ann Santos at Ryan
Agoncillo. Sa puntong ito, posible kayang matupad na ang wish ng fans nina Piolo at Juday na
muling mapanood together on screen?
"Ako naman, I've always been open and I love my job. I love my profession. Ako, mga tao
naman ang naglagay sa amin dun. Sila naman ang bumuo dun. Na kay Juday na yun. Ako
naman, I never close my door for her. Siya lang ang makakasagot dun. Ako naman, okey ako."
Malaki rin daw ang utang na loob na tinatanaw niya kay Juday.
"She's a very competent actress and who doesn't wanna work with her? I've learned a lot from
her. She helped me a lot and malaki ang utang na loob ko kay Juday at hindi ko puwedeng i-
discount yun."
Wala na rin daw yung akwardness sa pagitan nila ng dating leading lady.
"Wala naman... sampung taon ko na yatang kaibigan si Juday!" sambit ni Piolo. "I'm always
comfortable around Juday. It's always been the same. Ako, I never harbor any ill feelings
towards anyone. Ako, I'm always at peace. For me, I don't carry grudges against anybody. So, I
guess it pays to be peaceful, have heart, and be compassionate."
PRODUCTIVE YEAR. Maganda para kay Piolo ang taong 2009 bukod sa taong din ito
inilunsad ang pagiging film producer na niya sa pamamagitan ng Spring Films, na nakagawa na
ng dalawang pelikula—ang indie film na Manila at ang blockbuster comedy film na Kimmy
Dora.
"Masaya naman dahil first month pa lang last year, I did a movie with Angel Locsin [Love Me
Again] and then I did Manila. Nakapag-produce kami ng Kimmy Dora and before the year ends,
nakapag-produce kami ng album, yung Decades. So, it was a productive year for me.
"Now, I'm busy promoting Decades and I just taped for Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Ninoy and
Cory episode. It will gonna come out at the end of this month. And we'll have a sit-down
presentation for the movie and soap this year," banggit ni Piolo.
Yung pagganap daw niya bilang Ninoy Aquino ay sa television pa lang.
"Sa TV lang, it's a two-part episode of MMK. Sa movie, we'll never know. Wala pa namang
offer sa movie and besides, mag-e-election, e. So, mas magandang ipagpaliban muna if there's a
plan. Wala pa namang nasasabi sa akin and I don't think it's safe to do it before May because of
the election," saad niya.
Sa "The Ninoy & Cory" episode ng MMK, makakapareha ni Piolo si Bea Alonzo, na gaganap
naman bilang Cory Aquino. How was it working again with Bea? Matatandaang nagkasama na
sila noon sa pelikulang Dreamboy (2005).
"Our wedding scene and then yung ligawan scene namin, take one si Bea. Ang galing niya, e!
Siguro we were both comfortable. Maganda rin na magkakilala kami and we worked before
already. So, I guess, mas at ease na kami sa isa't isa.
"She has grown as an actress as well at makikita mo na may sarili na rin siyang atake, kaya I
think mas mag-e-enjoy kami, mas malalaro namin sa next taping days what we're having," ani
Piolo tungkol sa kanyang kapareha.
PIOLO IN 2010. This 2010, ano naman ang mga puwedeng abangan ng fans sa kanya?
"They are presenting next week, but I wanna do something different since the last time I did was
drama. So, I wanna do something light. Pero baka sabay ko gawin yung movie and soap opera.
"Sa movie, nahihintay lang ako kay Santino [Zaijan Jaranillo]. E, nae-extend yung May Bukas
Pa. Dapat last year pa yun, kaso palaging nae-extend yung May Bukas Pa. So, hintay lang kami.
Kung anuman ang mauna... So far, movie, I'll surely start, anytime soon."
Totoo bang may naka-lineup din siyang movie with Sarah Geronimo?

"Secret! Para may surprise!" natatawa niyang sabi. "Well, actually depende kay Sarah. Si Sarah,
kailangan niya mga limang Sarah para magawa niya lahat yung schedules niya. Hihiramin ko
ang isang Sarah para magawa namin yung movie namin."
 Isa pa raw sa siguradong gagawin niya ngayong taon ay ang pagpo-produce ng sequel ng
Kimmy Dora, starring Eugene Domingo. Dahil sequel, dapat sana ay Part 2 pa lang ito, pero
tinatawag ito ni Piolo na Kimmy Dora 3.
"Ano, parang Star Wars lang 'yan!" tawa ni Piolo.
PIOLO WILL NOT ENDORSE ANYONE. The last time na nakausap ng PEP si Piolo
tungkol sa elections, nasabi niyang hindi pa siya decided if he will vote or even endorse a
politician. But now that he is portraying Ninoy Aquino, nakatulong ba yun for him to finally
endorse a candidate, particularly Ninoy's son, Noynoy Aquino?
"No, I'm not endorsing," sagot ni Piolo. "I wanna be able to just observe and find time to just,
you know, not naman really endorse, but hindi ko pa nakikita. And I don't wanna say that I'm
endorsing somebody na hindi ako sigurado sa tao. I'm not sure who to vote yet. And even my
mom feels that it's the right thing to do because she doesn't want me to be involved in any
movement. Kasi, mahirap din na may manalo, may matalo, gantihan ka. So, mahirap na. I guess,
she wants me to play it safe."
Indirectly, hindi ba parang pag-e-endorse na rin ang gagawin niya since he will be portraying
Ninoy Aquino?
"No, it's not an association. Not in any way. It's a story of two lovers. Two icons. Well-loved
icons of our generation. I don't think it has any association or whatsoever. We're just doing it for
Tita Cory's birthday," paliwanag ng aktor.