Piolo’s guide to Brighter Life

MANILA, Philippines - Piolo Pascual has never stopped pursuing his dreams even if he has achieved so many already. Find out how far he has gone and know more about his new inspiration of living the Brighter Life. (Watch Piolo as he introduces the latest Brighter Life TVC in ASAP 18 today on ABS-CBN.)

It seems like you never get a day-off. You biked during the Ironman in Cebu. You acted in Ekstra (with Star For All Seasons Vilma Santos) which finished as the highest grosser in Cinemalaya. Your highly-acclaimed On The Job will soon hit theaters here and in the US, while the Kimmy Dora prequel is part of the Metro Manila filmfest slate. You are also simultaneously shooting a movie with Toni Gonzaga and an indie with Rhian Ramos. What’s your secret to staying on top of the game?

“I guess balance and maybe, a healthy amount of foresight. I’ve always believed na hindi lifetime ang pagiging artista. But I do love my craft, that’s why I went into producing and I’m carefully choosing the parts I play. I need to transition to another level in my career with new roles. You have to be in control and conscious of where you want to go. So you need a strong sense of self and security. Kung hindi, madadala ka lang ng agos.”

Where does this sense of security come from?

“From my faith and also in knowing that I have secured my family and my son. So all my hard work has gone towards giving my family, specially my son, the kind of life I want them to have. That’s why my partnership with Sun Life has always been meaningful. Because I learned a lot about how to handle my money with them. And we create a difference together, like raising funds for education and teaching Filipinos about proper financial planning. In fact, we have a new campaign called Brighter Life.”

Can you tell us more about Brighter Life?

“This is our financial literacy advocacy but it talks to people in different life stages. We started four years ago with It’s Time! and since a lot has happened, we have to be more responsive and relevant to the Filipino’s changing needs and economic climate. Brighter Life takes into account where you are in your life, if you’re just starting to save or maybe you are now thinking of building a legacy. Like life, it’s a journey and so is your financial security. You can’t say it’s too late or it’s too early.

Brighter Life has a nice sound to it…

“It does! But it’s not just a nice phrase, it’s really a noble initiative spearheaded by Sun Life. It’s a non-threatening way to enlighten people about their financial needs and how to cope with these. Start by visiting brighterlife.com.ph. They also have this Dream Calculator where you can see how much you need to be saving every month for a goal you want to achieve in the future. They also offer free financial planning sessions. Our message will reverberate on TV, in magazines, broadsheets and social media.”

What’s next for you?

“I always pray for more opportunities and to always remember to give back. And in God’s time, I want to start my own family. I’ll be more adventurous with my acting and producing. Our movie industry is so alive now, winning awards abroad and doing great at the box-office. Also more focus on my sports and personal advocacies. The 2013 SunPIOLOgy Sunset Color Run will be on Nov. 23, so stay tuned. I’m all for making this world a brighter place and helping people have brighter lives.”

For more tips and free advice, subscribe via brighterlife.com.ph.