Piolo Pascual explains why he changed his mind and accepted the role of a serial killer in ‘Mallari’
While a lot of his contemporaries have already been inactive or less visible in showbiz, Piolo Pascual seems to have unlocked the code to longevity. Tagged as the country’s Ultimate Heartthrob, “Papa P” is busier than ever. With his universal good looks, charm, and talent combined with kindness and professionalism, being where Piolo is right now should be a no-brainer.
Before the contract signing and media launch of Piolo’s upcoming movie under Mentorque Productions, the actor has just finished his stint as the iconic Filipino fictional character Crisostomo Ibarra in a musical he top-billed. This time, Piolo is set to give us the goosebumps as he takes on the role of Fr. Mallari. A quick search online would tell us that Juan Severino Mallari is the first documented serial killer in the Philippines. During the Spanish colonial times, Mallari served as a parish priest in Pampanga and reportedly killed 57 people in the area.
“We want to do a local take on a serial killer’s case — the first documented serial killer in the Philippines who was Mallari,” Piolo explained the nature of Mallari, his latest project to be directed by Derick Cabrido, with a story concept from Enrico Santos. “On the day this was pitched to me, I didn’t know about Mallari. I had to google him that same day because initially, I said no.” Papa P admitted that the idea of taking on three different characters for a single movie project seemed daunting and physically exhausting for him. With a schedule like Piolo’s, it does sound difficult to squeeze a three-character role into a slew of endorsements, shoots, and rehearsals. To be specific, Piolo is set to have a concert at the Resorts World Manila this coming November.
However, Piolo’s calling and commitment to his character are so strong that he just could not say no after doing his research. “I googled if there was any serial killer in the Philippines and found out that it was actually Mallari. I took that as a sign and that’s when I said, ‘Yeah, I think we should do this film,’ Piolo explained further. “That same day we said yes to the project. We realized the capacity and the kind of impact this has. I’m just really excited to shoot and bring back the interest of the people to go back to the cinema and watch our film on the silver screen.” He emphasized that the project is in the hands of a highly capable team. Papa P acknowledged his director and producer John Bryan Diamante of Mentorque Productions.
“I think it’s a big responsibility for me to get out of the image that people know of me. It’s a challenge. I’ve always looked for something that would ignite my passion for what I do. And this was it,” Piolo talked about the risk he is taking as he strips off his usually swoon-worthy leading man image for the serial killer role. He added, “We are not trying to celebrate the serial killer himself but we want to celebrate Philippine cinema.” The actor further explained that he wanted to be able to tell himself that he did something different. As to how he will specifically tackle his complicated character, he smilingly replied, “I shall cross the bridge when I get there.” Cameras will start rolling soon for this movie that aims to make it as an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Quick glimpse of the story:
Mallari is a movie that draws inspiration from actual events and narrates the chilling tale of Fr. Severino Mallari, a priest from the 19th century who experienced a descent into madness during the Spanish occupation. The film depicts Father Mallari’s life and role as a parish priest in Pampanga, where he supposedly committed murders in an attempt to help his sick mother. This period horror film unfolds across three distinct time periods: the era of Spanish occupation, the post-war period, and the present day. In each timeline, Pascual portrays a different character, adding depth to the storytelling.
