MANILA, Philippines – Piolo Pascual thinks he could never replace John Lloyd Cruz, even after the latter's indefinite leave from the ABS-CBN show Home Sweetie Home.
In an interview with reporters at the launch of his new endorsement My Daily Collagen on Thursday, June 31, Piolo responded to questions about being tapped not just by some brands John Lloyd endorsed, but even by the show that the latter used to star in.
"Lloydie will always be Lloydie. I mean, nobody can unseat him, nobody can replace him. And I'm just really happy and honored, humbled that at this point nakakakuha tayo ng mga (we're still getting) endorsements," he said.
"Mas minamahal ko ngayon 'yung mga endorsements ko ngayon. I make sure na I walk the talk, and hindi lang money. Importante na naniniwala ka din sa ginawa mo."
(I appreciate and love the endorsements I get now. I make sure that I walk the talk, and it's not just about the money. What's important is that you believe in what you do.)
ABS-CBN announced in October that John Lloyd would take an indefinite leave to attend to personal matters.
Since his leave, he has been spotted with Ellen Adarna, who is reportedly pregnant with their first child. Despite the numerous news items about it, the two have stayed silent about their relationship.
Goodbye to soap operas?
At the launch, Piolo was also asked about his showbiz commitments. The actor can be seen on television daily with his soap opera Since I Found You, sitcom Home Sweetie Home, and ASAP.
"I've been vocal about [giving up] soaps. Ang hirap talaga mag-soap [opera] so sabi ko last soap [opera] ko na ito. Sabi ko tama na. Binubuhos talaga lahat ng energy ko sa soap [opera] na ito so I can focus on other things after this."
(It's hard to do a soap opera, so I said this will be my last soap opera. I said I'm done. So that's why I'm pouring all my energy into this soap opera so I can focus on other things after this.)
He said that he's open to doing a once-a-week series after Since I Found You. Aside from appearing in ASAP and other shows, Piolo is also a producer for Spring Films.
Home Sweetie Home, Piolo said, was supposed to be a "raket" or a guesting. His role as JP, Romeo's cousin, was only supposed to be a guest role.
"Sabi sa akin two weeks, magfo-fold 'yung show, and it's been 7 months and I'm still in the show."
(They told me that in two weeks, the show will fold up, and it's been 7 months and I'm still in the show.)
Piolo clarified that despite the departure of John Lloyd's character Romeo, he will not be pairing up with Toni Gonzaga's character Julie. "No, it's become more like walang kapares (no pair ups)," he said.
"[The show] still has that Filipino sensitivity, 'yung values natin as a family, so hindi naman natin iibahin iyon, pero I'm just happy na kinagat ng tao and the same time kasama ko si Kuya Ogie [Alcasid] so walang pressure," he added.
(It still has that Filipino sensitivity, the family values, so we're not deviating from that, but I'm just happy the audience likes it and at the same time, I'm with the likes of Ogie [Alcasid] so there's no pressure.) – Rappler.com
