There are a variety of highlights to understand and savor from Dennis Trillo’s 20-year journey as a Kapuso artist. The tasks that instantly come to thoughts are his first movie, “Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita,” the primary gay-themed TV sequence on primetime TV “My Husband’s Lover,” his offbeat “vanishing act” in “On the Job: The Lacking 8,” the trendingly widespread historic sequence “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” and “Love Earlier than Dawn,” his first telenovela with Bea Alonzo.
However after we just lately spoke to GMA Community’s high dramatic actor in regards to the aforesaid milestone, he mentioned that there are additionally teachable moments to remove from his bittersweet recollections as a struggling newcomer in ABS-CBN’s “Tabing Ilog” or “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” when he started pursuing an performing profession contemporary out of faculty within the early 2000s.
“In these days, when Jericho [Rosales] and John Lloyd [Cruz] have been already primed for greater and higher issues, I’d seem in just one scene not understanding if I’ve had sufficient correct coaching to tug it off,” Dennis recalled. “I didn’t like the sensation of uncertainty. It was like a sink-or-swim second after you’re thrown into the ocean. And also you ask your self when you’ve got what it takes to be of their footwear. So, my intuition was to be taught to outlive.”
Certainly, the award-winning actor doesn’t take something without any consideration, recounting each triumphs and trials with comparable fondness and perception. In reality, Dennis took us additional down reminiscence lane as he recalled the primary time he noticed performing as a occupation value pursuing.
First position
“Really, I received my very first position — for a business — after I was in Grade 5,” he mentioned, laughing. “I used to be paid P2,500 to fly a kite within the background. You may hardly see me, however I used to be over the moon as a result of I believed that was the beginning of my new profession—meron na akong sideline, as a result of I used to be nonetheless at school on the time. Then, the small roles saved coming till I used to be observed by anyone from ABS. That’s how it began.”
Following his pivotal switch to GMA Community in 2003, Dennis’ profession received a giant increase quickly after he was forged in his first movie, Joel Lamangan’s 2004 interval drama “Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita,” and gained a string of performing accolades for portraying a trans girl in love together with her greatest pal’s (Judy Ann Santos) childhood sweetheart (Raymart Santiago).
Requested how his performing strategy has developed since “Aishite Imasu” and 2005’s “Blue Moon,” Dennis mentioned, “The teachings I choose up from one performing project to the subsequent, I apply to my succeeding roles. Then, I used to be in a position to refine what I knew. Each character I play helps increase my confidence, however I nonetheless get the jitters each time I act — which is an efficient factor … as a result of it retains me from slacking off or dropping my guard.
“Kailangan huwag kang maging kampante. You all the time should do your greatest as a result of the position wasn’t given to different actors — it was entrusted to you. You don’t need it to be a missed alternative.”
At which level in his profession did Dennis understand he could possibly be good at performing? He answered, “I feel some stage of consolation comes with being acknowledged, and I felt that after I gained awards for my first movie. That’s after I felt, ‘Hmm. We could possibly be on to one thing right here…’”
However whereas he works arduous to breathe life into his characters, the actor additionally attributes his longevity and drive to his dwelling community.
“GMA has all the time taken excellent care of me. They’ve all the time made me really feel essential,” he identified when requested why his loyalty with GMA by no means appeared to falter via the a long time. “Additionally, I don’t recall having had issues with our bosses. Apart from, I wouldn’t final this lengthy if I didn’t really feel I used to be being handled properly.”
After we spoke to Dennis, he was the epitome of a contented man who’s grateful for the blessings that proceed to come back his manner and optimistic about his aspirations for the individuals expensive to him.
It takes a village
As the pictures captured for this piece deftly convey, Dennis acknowledges that it additionally takes a village to tug off the type of success he’s having fun with. As an illustration, the fellows chargeable for the photograph session embody Cenon and Mav (@cenonatmav) for the images, Eugene David (inventive route), Aj Alberto with Ian Vinarao (stylist), Rick Calderon (make-up), Darla (hair), and the Aguila Artist Administration crew composed of Becky Aguila, Katrina Aguila, Jan Enriquez and Hey Fairly Studios CEO Anne Barretto.
One other milestone, albeit of the private type, that’s value mentioning passed off in November 2021—when Dennis married actress Jennylyn Mercado, with whom he has a 1-year-old daughter named Dylan.
“No marriage is ideal on a regular basis,” mentioned Dennis when requested what his takeaway is from being a married man. “You’ll should type via misunderstandings and battle on occasion. However your love for one another ought to all the time win out in the long run.
“Marriage has taught me to be extra affected person. Mas lumawak ang pang-unawa ko sa mga bagay at sa ibang tao. You be taught to regulate and adapt. However what’s extra essential is you by no means quit on one another. It’s essential to all the time talk. Teamwork is essential in marriage and elevating a household. Kailangang magtulungan kayo palagi (you’ll want to all the time assist out one another).”
The remainder of our Q&A with Dennis:
To pay tribute to your important triumphs as an actor, do you thoughts “revisiting” a few of your most celebrated roles and film/TV tasks? What do you fondly keep in mind about them?
With Crisostomo Ibarra (for “Maria Clara at Ibarra”), I keep in mind many nights of finding out and doing analysis. It’s probably the most troublesome roles I’ve needed to essay. So I did a variety of studying and saved memorizing my strains. It’s a task that I needed to know by coronary heart as a result of you may’t make a mistake. Ibarra has been portrayed so many occasions up to now so that you’ll find yourself getting in comparison with these, or bashed when you don’t put within the effort to do it proper.
In “Aishite Imasu,” it was like I used to be strolling on eggshells as a result of Direk Joel (Lamangan) has a repute for being a terror director on set (laughs). One time, I received to our Laguna set late as a result of I got here from a taping for “Mulawin,” and I keep in mind being so scared to get screamed at.
However after I received there, Direk Joel simply hugged me—and I used to be so pleased and relieved! That worry taught me a lesson … to by no means be tardy once more, primarily as a result of I didn’t wish to stress him out or trigger issues for him. That’s what’s essential about making errors, you must be taught from them.
“Blue Moon” was important as a result of it was my first time to work with two of my idols: Christopher de Leon and Eddie Garcia. It felt like I used to be in a masterclass — I discovered a lot [about the discipline of acting] simply by watching them work.
So far as my characters in Erik Matti’s “On the Job: The Lacking 8” and Michael Tuviera’s “The Janitor” are involved, they’re offbeat roles that I actually loved doing. I like enjoying a lot of these characters as a result of they’re additionally the kind of films I get pleasure from watching, helmed by very cool administrators. They’re breathers from the standard roles I get requested to play.
There could also be one thing darkish about these two characters, however I began “creating” them as quickly as I learn the script. As you undergo the scenes, you add increasingly particulars into your understanding of him, and also you react to the dynamics that play out between him and his scene companions. The extra you perceive him, the tighter your grasp is of your characterization.
As for taking part in Eric in “My Husband’s Lover” (MHL), I keep in mind initially getting provided Tom Rodriguez’s position—a “closeted” man who’s in a relationship with a girl. However I used to be simply coming from a present, “Temptation of Spouse,” the place I portrayed an identical character — and I didn’t wish to repeat myself. So, I requested for the position of “the opposite man,” which supplied a brand new problem for me.
In 2013, MHL was groundbreaking for primetime — for the Philippine TV trade and for me. On the time, I used to be feeling that my profession trajectory was on a plateau, so I didn’t know kung could i-aangat pa pala s’ya! I feel I used to be in a position to faucet into a distinct type of viewers due to that position.
After which, there’s “Love Earlier than Dawn,” which is important as a result of it’s my first mission with Bea Alonzo after 20 years. She was the most important draw for me. This present is a testomony to the ability of camaraderie and chemistry. However I’d have accomplished any present so long as it was with Bea.
We’ve been seeing a lighter, extra enjoyable and extra self-deprecating facet of you thru TikTok. How did these laugh-out-loud movies come about?
Matagal ko na s’yang na-discover, however I didn’t actually act on it as a result of, as you may see, I’m not the traditional TikTok person — I don’t dance, I don’t take selfies, at hindi ako mahilig magpa-cute for the cameras.
I used to be requested to contemplate getting on the bandwagon when my former supervisor mentioned that social media was changing into increasingly part of a celeb’s instruments, particularly the place endorsements are involved. However I resisted.
In 2022, nonetheless, I noticed that I wanted to have an open thoughts about it. And after I lastly succumbed to TikTok, I noticed how pleased these movies made individuals—nagugulat sila, natatawa at natutuwa. And it’s a good way to share some positivity to others. On the identical time, it permits me to giggle at myself—and that makes me pleased, too.
Which of your difficult roles was hardest for you?
“Felix Manalo.” My strains from the script have been so lengthy, so I couldn’t simply go to the shoot with out having labored on my scenes the earlier night time. Naaalala ko that there was a lot footage kaya umabot hanggang seven hours ang unique operating time! So, they needed to trim it right down to about three hours!
As an actor, what else is in your bucket record?
I’d love to do extra villain roles—they’re all the time enjoyable and difficult.
Figuring out what you recognize now, when you may discuss to your youthful self in 2000, what recommendation would you give him?
Be affected person—huwag kang mainip. There’s a proper time for the whole lot. There are nice plans for you. Simply all the time do your greatest in order that when the time comes, you’ll be prepared to just accept the issues which can be meant only for you.
You and Jen are each very profitable as actors. However what occurs whenever you argue? Who will get the final phrase?
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She all the time wins (laughs)! S’ya ang panalo. As they are saying, “Blissful spouse, pleased life.”
