Despite the high ratings of the primetime teleserye Apoy Sa Dagat, Piolo Pascual explained that their team cannot be too complacent about their show’s success. “You can never rest on your laurels in anything that you do,” he began in an interview last March 7 at the ABS-CBN Summer Station ID shoot. The other cast members of Apoy Sa Dagat include Angelica Panganiban and Diether Ocampo.
“You always have to step up and level up, otherwise pag naging complacent ka mahirap [kasi] mahahalata… so it’s a bonus na tangkilikin ‘yung show, it’s a bonus [na] mag-rate ‘yung show, [but] it doesn’t end there.”
The actor related that with the hard work they put into the project, many of them are getting sick. “Si Angelica nagkasakit na, so kailangang magtrabaho… otherwise wala kaming ipapalabas. I guess it’s a team effort. Siguro ‘yung pinakamagandang naidudulot ng ratings o feedback is we’re more excited to go to work, we’re more excited to just do what we have to do because we know na napapanood kami, not because napupulahan, di nagugustuhan, but because alam namin na pati mga tao nakikisunod sa istorya. We’re more inspired actually,” he explained.
Meantime, the actor was also asked about recently being seen with Shaina Magdayao. The two have been lately spotted frequently together, which made some people start thinking that there might be something romantic going on between the two.
“Okay naman, okay naman kami… we’re friends. Ah… ang dami naming mga ginagawa, kung ano-ano. Ang tawag namin sa pinaggagagawa namin ‘pagbabakulaw’; takbo, badminton, Bikram [yoga], it’s fun…” Piolo explained.
He also clarified that there is nothing romantic going on between them.
“We’re okay. There are things na you don’t…there are things you just let to happen. For now, Shai and I are good friends.”
Piolo and Shaina are both in the indie movie On The Job or OTJ, which also stars Gerald Anderson. Piolo and Shaina have worked together in projects like Lobo (2008) and Marinella {1999). Both are Star Magic artists. “Now lang siguro mas nagkakaroon kami ng more time kasi nga we’re into [the] same sports, we’re in the same activities,” Piolo added.
It doesn’t bother him that other people may think that he and Shaina are beginning to become more than friends.
He continued that some people always have something to say about what they see and they will always have an opinion.
Piolo admitted that it is sometimes a good idea not to read news about himself. “May iba na nagsusulat na nakaka-offend. There are things you just want to keep to yourself para ma-prevent ka rin ng mga nakaka-offend na mga bagay,” he said. “Even for Shai, I want her to be able to… di mo rin maiaalis kasi showbiz tayo… pero siyempre gusto ko rin na maprotektahan din siya.”
