“It’s all about love being 24/7 in love and every minute, every day there’s love in the air, kaniya-kaniyang storya ng pagmamahal.” That is how Piolo Pascual describes the upcoming Star Cinema offering in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Star Magic, “24/7 In Love.”
A true labor of love, Piolo Pascual says the movie is a celebration of Star Magic’s growing family in its 20 years of producing home-grown talents for ABS-CBN. “It was timely because we’re celebrating 20 years of Star Magic and kami bilang magkakapatid sa Star Magic, we wanna be able to have more fun and it’s not always about work, so we look forward to this. It’s anticipated because magkakasama kami, so nung pinresent siya sa akin I didn’t think twice about accepting it.”
Piolo Pascual shares the limelight in one of the episodes with child wonders Zaijan Jaranilla and Xyriel Manabat, whom he has worked with in the teleserye “Noah.” Piolo Pascual is Pipoy, a 35-year-old mentally challenged man who lives in an orphanage and is happy spending his days with his best friend, 10-year-old Jomar (Zaijan Jaranilla). However, their friendship is shaken when new girl Ayie, played by Xyriel Manabat, enters the picture.
For Piolo Pascual, playing Pipoy is his most challenging role to date. “For me it’s my most challenging role. Akalain mo ba naman na at my age gaganap ako na 7 years old at ka-love team ko si Xyriel and ka-love triangle ko si Zaijian ‘di ba?” he reveals with a laugh. “I level with them. I level with Xyriel and Zaijian. Nakikipagkulitan ako sa set, mas madali kasi walang worries eh. Bata kasi, walang problema, so naisip ko habang nagshu-shoot ako, sabi ko, ‘sarap pala maging bata kasi wala kang iniisip na problema, trabaho ka lang, acting ka lang.’ Ganun lang pala kasimple.”
Zaijan Jaranilla and Xyriel Manabat also find working with their Kuya Piolo a lot of fun. “Masaya pong ka-eksena si Kuya Piolo. Magaling, mabait, at saka pag sa eksena focused talaga,” Zaijan says of his co-star. “Nagkukulitan po kami and inaasar ko po siya na siya si Budoy hehe,” Xyriel shares, even adding that her character has a super crush on Piolo.
For the kids, their episode has a very simple message to the audience. “Maging mabuting magkaibigan, huwag magseselos saka laging magbibigayan.”