Piolo knows how to make every calculated move

MANILA, Philippines — Piolo Pascual will not be busy with a Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry this year. Unlike the past three Christmases when Piolo headlined MMFF entries one after another — Derrick Cabrido’s suspense thriller, “Mallari” (2023), Michael Tuviera’s action-adventure history, “The Kingdom” (2024) and Raymond Red’s period crime thriller, “Manila’s Finest” (2025) — he will not be seen on the big screen this 2026.

Before the end of 2026, Piolo will instead be seen returning to the concert stage, as he headlines “Piolo: A Gala Concert,” on Nov. 24 at the Grand Ballroom City of Dreams Manila. The last time Piolo ventured into the concert stage was in 2023, when he staged a solo concert and did a tour of the US and Canada.

The last quarter of 2026 will also see Piolo releasing an album under Star Music, produced by veteran music producer Jonathan Manalo. The selections are a culmination of Piolo’s work in five years — love songs, pop songs, music he grew up listening to, singing and performing.

The album will be Piolo’s first musical collaboration with his son, Iñigo, who wrote a track for him.

Early next year, Piolo will return to teleserye mode and will appear in a series anew.

The country’s ultimate heartthrob was recently presented as brand ambassador of Marstek Philippines, a solar energy storage system, an innovation brand that was founded in 2020 and globally recognized innovation for intelligent energy storage.

The product actually hits home for Piolo. Just last week, he experienced a disaster in Mabini, Batangas, where he owns a vacation house and there was a landslide.

“Since I have a property there, the trees were all down,” Piolo shared. “The power is still out and we were told it will take two more weeks before it will be restored.

“In my house, there’s electricity, but in the lower part near the ocean, nothing is restored yet. So, having Marstek in my house is really something that I am looking forward to. I realized the value of energy. I’m excited about the partnership. I won’t be thinking about power interruptions or the need for more electricity. This is applicable to all of us.

“If there’s brownout, you have no electricity. All the food will be spoiled. If you need to charge, you need electricity, you are hopeless without Marstek. So, this comes at an opportune time. God is good.”

“The reason we signed up Piolo, as we all know, he’s timeless,” said Mary Cruz, chief executive officer (CEO) of Marstek Philippines. “In every generation, he’s credible so when he endorses a brand, he really represents not just the upscale but even the masa.”

Marstek keeps the faith that energy storage will eventually become a normal part of every Filipino home. It has different products for different needs – from home energy storage to portable power stations.

After more than 25 years in the showbiz industry, Piolo never gets tired to prove himself as a versatile performer. He does not only act on TV, films and even theater, he also sings and performs.

He undoubtedly takes care of his image and reputation. That’s why even in his endorsements, he is careful and knows how to make every calculated move.