The puzzle that is Paulo Avelino

MANILA, Philippines - It’s not difficult to guess actor Paulo Avelino’s favorite colors. Take a peek into his Instagram account and you’ll see that save for his very first post, a cute picture of his mini-me Aki, everything else is starkly black and white. He can’t remember how this B&W concept came about, but he admits it had something to do with wanting to make his visual diary “different” from other people’s pages. “Sometimes, colors blind you from what you really need to see,” he says, widening those piercing brown eyes for emphasis. “That’s why I like black and white. It’s very plain. You can see things for what they are.”

But there’s the rub: Black and white photos notwithstanding, people rarely see things for what they are, especially if the posts are coming from a famously reticent actor whose love life — or lack thereof — is the subject of constant speculation. (If he weren’t so good looking, maybe people wouldn’t really care and pry as much.) Paulo posts a quote that says “Jupiter from on high smiles at the perjuries of lovers”? Ooh, he and actress X have probably broken up! There’s a stolen shot of him allegedly out on a date with actress Y? Knew it! That’s why X is posting those emo pictures! The people manning entertainment sites and gossip blogs pick up his IG activities faster than you can say “Like” and proceed to weave them into the posts of the women he’s supposedly dating. All pure conjecture, but we read — and end up believing — the stories anyway.

Paulo Avelino’s carefully curated page where black is supposed to be black and white is supposed to be white has become quite… gray.

BLACK OUT

Around this time last year, Paulo decided to create an IG account mainly to connect with his followers. “It’s really for the people who want to get to know me,” he says. Pau updates this account himself and it’s where you’ll glimpse his various non-showbiz interests: Film, travel, music, psychology, and Yoda, his French bulldog puppy. A single photo can elicit hundreds of comments, so he doesn’t really get to read every single one. But one fan managed to tattoo her username on his mind. “I remember @Urzula.MeowMeow. Who would think of a username like that?” he says, amused. “That’s one way to get my attention.”

On one hand, he appreciates how fans like @Urzula.MeowMeow make him feel their love through social media (“It’s inspiring and nice to read positive comments.”); on the flip side, he detests all the bashing and rumormongering that comes with the territory. “Minsan kasi, just based on your posts, some people believe that something is happening kahit wala naman talaga,” he says squarely. “I don’t really post something dahil pinagdadaanan ko. If I find something interesting, I’ll share it.”

Like anyone who’s been burned one way or another by social media, Paulo has considered abandoning his Instagram page completely to impose a blackout on his personal life. It’s not because of the bashers per se (FYI, he actually respects their right to spew vitriol online) but because he doesn’t want to be a slave of social media or his smartphone. In fact, early this year, Paulo vowed to do a two-month digital detox — a New Year’s resolution that went straight to hell because of work. “Wala, I had to promote something eh, so I had to go back,” he says sheepishly.

WHITE HOT

In the next few days and weeks, you can expect him to post promo materials for Bridges of Love, his upcoming ’serye with Maja Salvador and Jericho Rosales. In this story, Paulo plays smooth criminal Carlos Antonio who believes that money can buy anything in this world — including nubile stripper Mia who gives him a boner that just won’t go away. This being a Pinoy soap, there’s a catch within the catch: Carlos’ estranged brother is in love with the same girl. Cue the gunshots, the tears, the feisty bon mots, and the inevitable memes. This early, the show is already getting buzz for its cinematic quality.

In real life, laidback Paulo says he’s the opposite of his high-strung character. The only thing he finds relatable about Carlos Antonio is how despite having it all — looks, money, success — “he’s still finding his place in the world, finding meaning in what he’s doing.” At this point, Paulo already knows why he chooses to be in this messy business: to leave behind the kind of filmography Filipinos would be proud of.

If he had his way, Paulo would rather people focus on his body of work than his personal affairs, but sorry Paulo, that’s like asking them to overlook your brown eyes and your smile. I suspect his audience’s interest in his love life is partly rooted in the desire to live vicariously through whomever he’s dating. What does she have that I might have too? If I were a celebrity, would he consider me, too?

Paulo doesn’t have a set physical type, clearly, and is looking for something impalpable. “It’s rare to find someone you just connect with without so much effort,” he says, pensive. “When you can just see the soul of the person as you’re talking to them…for me that is priceless.” When in love, he tends to play the role of the generous giver, but cheat on him and he’ll walk away without even sparing you one last glance. And if you manage to snag his heart, don’t feel pressured to keep the conversation going all the time. You can sit quietly side by side, because comfortable silence suits him just fine.

Is he in love right now? “I’m in love with knowledge, positivity, and life,” Paulo says, and for that showbiz answer, we reward him with a massive eye roll. “I might be dating someone soon.” Beat. “I’m not really sure if I want to brand this ‘dating….’” Beat. Silence. He leaves it at that.

In the wee hours of Thursday, March 12, Paulo posted a photo of him and his male friend Chua. It’s black and white, very grainy, and it’s obviously a parody of that controversial picture of him while allegedly out on a date with a young actress. (Whoever took that photo deliberately cropped out their companions.)

This time, the message is clear, as black and white as it can ever be: He’s having fun and he’s making fun of the rumors. So the next time you’re on Paulo’s page, might as well heed his advice.

Just see things for what they are, not how you want them to be.

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Tweet the author @IrishDDizon.