Why Carlo can’t cry

Would you believe that years after he made moviegoers cry in Bata, Bata Paano Ka Ginawa, Carlo Aquino finds it hard to cry on screen – big or small?

Make no mistake about it. Now that he’s 20 and past childhood and adolescence, Carlo finds it such a chore to coax the tears and let them flow.

It comes with growing up. Now that he’s a young man, Carlo has put the crybaby stage way behind him. He faces problems squarely instead of crying over them. He knows, after all, that this natural reaction during his boyhood days won’t get him anywhere.

"It’s corny," he admits.

Still, Carlo won over many others who took a screen test for the role of Dorina Pineda’s (Sarah Geronimo’s) friend in ABS-CBN’s dramatic sineserye Bituing Walang Ningning.

The role requires Carlo to go back to where he started: crying his heart out in many a tearjerker.

He’s learning a lot from co-star Ai-Ai de las Alas, who plays Dorina’s adoptive mom in the sineserye which premieres May 15.

"She can shift from happy to sad with ease," explains Carlo.

A happy love life is also making it harder for Carlo to weep – on screen or off. Carlo admits he and on-and-off girlfriend Angelica Panganiban are back in each other’s arms.

She is the muse who brings out the best in Carlo – inspiring him to come up with more songs in his already bulging portfolio of compositions (50 and still counting).

"My songs are alternative pop, and I plan to include them in my upcoming album under Viva Records," says Carlo.

His debut album will showcase the other, little-known side of Carlo. It’s the kind people who see him merely as an actor since his childhood years will be surprised to see.

Carlo plays the drums and a bit of piano.

A short course at the UP College of Music further sharpened Carlo’s musical chops.

Inspired by his music-loving dad and guitarist-older brother, Carlo’s musical tastes range from Michael Bublé to Incubus.

One time, he’s strumming Bublé songs during taping or shooting lulls. At another time, Carlo is playing a melody that just popped in his mind. Before he knows it, the taping or shooting break is over and Carlo has to focus on his weepy character again.

Now that he’s grown up, the actor in Carlo refuses to rest on his laurels. He feels it’s time he plays offbeat roles the way his idol, Johnny Depp is doing. Carlo will give his right arm to play a complex character like the one Depp did in Pirates of the Caribbean.

A role about someone with a dual personality is also most welcome.

Attaboy, Carlo. You know what’s good for you as a serious actor. Now all you need is a fairy godparent to grant you your most ardent wish.