Piolo, John Lloyd not competing on who’s the better actor

Kapamilya actor Piolo Pascual at the 8th Star Magic Ball (Photo from Pascual’s official Facebook page)

MANILA – Award-winning actors Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz have been working on their first project together, Lav Diaz’ “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis.”

“It’s a nice mix of literature, mythical creatures and fiction. Kami ni Lloydie (John Lloyd) ‘yung sa ‘El Fili’ (El Filibusterismo); I portray Simon Ibarra, he portrays Isagani.

We have so many other co-actors na kasama na talaga namang bigatin,” Piolo said in an interview.

(It’s a nice mix of literature, mythical creatures and fiction.

Lloydie and I [play characters from] ‘El Fili’; I portray Simon Ibarra, he portrays Isagani. We have so many other co-actors that are really good with their crafts.)

Both portraying lead roles, Piolo clarified that neither he nor John Lloyd were trying to outdo the other. What Piolo knew was that they were simply enjoying shooting for the independent film.

“‘Di dapat ini-isyu kung sino ang mas magaling, kung sino ang mas sikat… Hindi naman [kami nagsasapawan]. At the end of the day, it’s not about that. It’s about giving our best because it’s our obligation as actors,” he said in a separate interview.

(Who’s better or who’s more known should not be an issue… We’re not outdoing each other. At the end of the day, it’s not about that. It’s about giving our best because it’s our obligation as actors.)

In fact, Piolo could only share how he and John Lloyd enjoyed the experience.

“First time kaming nagkasama ni Lloydie. Nag-bonding kami sa Sorsogon for a week. Okay naman, masaya. Tapos meron pa kaming mga shoot pagdating sa Manila,” he said.

(It’s the first time that I and Lloydie worked together. We bonded in Sorsogon for a week. It was okay, enjoyable. And we also have to shoot [several scenes] in Manila.)

Piolo also shared his experience working on an indie film.

“Masarap siyang experience kasi iba naman ang atake and proseso [sa indie movie]. Immersion din sa Sorsogon so ibang klase ang experience altogether,” he said.

(It was an enjoyable experience because the attack and process in an indie movie is different. [We] immersed in Sorsogon so it was a new experience altogether.)

“Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis,” which has been scheduled for release next year, is about the search of the body of Andres Bonifacio, one of the Philippines’ national heroes and the father of the Philippine Revolution.