There are numerous 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 once we not too long ago spoke to GMA Community’s high dramatic actor in regards to the aforesaid milestone, he stated 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 recent out of school 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 drag 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 if in case you have 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 with no 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 career price pursuing.
First function
“Truly, I obtained my very first function — for a business — after I was in Grade 5,” he stated, laughing. “I used to be paid P2,500 to fly a kite within the background. You possibly can 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 in class on the time. Then, the small roles stored coming till I used to be seen by someone from ABS. That’s how it began.”
Following his pivotal switch to GMA Community in 2003, Dennis’ profession obtained an enormous enhance quickly after he was solid in his first movie, Joel Lamangan’s 2004 interval drama “Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita,” and received a string of performing accolades for portraying a trans lady in love along with her finest pal’s (Judy Ann Santos) childhood sweetheart (Raymart Santiago).
Requested how his performing method has advanced since “Aishite Imasu” and 2005’s “Blue Moon,” Dennis stated, “The teachings I decide up from one performing task 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 enhance my confidence, however I nonetheless get the jitters each time I act — which is an effective factor … as a result of it retains me from slacking off or dropping my guard.
“Kailangan huwag kang maging kampante. You all the time must do your finest as a result of the function 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 notice he might be good at performing? He answered, “I feel some stage of consolation comes with being acknowledged, and I felt that after I received awards for my first movie. That’s after I felt, ‘Hmm. We might be on to one thing right here…’”
However whereas he works onerous to breathe life into his characters, the actor additionally attributes his longevity and drive to his residence community.
“GMA has all the time taken excellent care of me. They’ve all the time made me really feel necessary,” 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. Moreover, 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 return his method and optimistic about his aspirations for the individuals expensive to him.
It takes a village
As the photographs captured for this piece deftly convey, Dennis acknowledges that it additionally takes a village to drag off the form of success he’s having fun with. As an illustration, the fellows answerable for the picture session embody Cenon and Mav (@cenonatmav) for the images, Eugene David (artistic course), Aj Alberto with Ian Vinarao (stylist), Rick Calderon (make-up), Darla (hair), and the Aguila Artist Administration staff composed of Becky Aguila, Katrina Aguila, Jan Enriquez and Hey Fairly Studios CEO Anne Barretto.
One other milestone, albeit of the non-public kind, that’s price mentioning happened 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,” stated Dennis when requested what his takeaway is from being a married man. “You’ll must kind via misunderstandings and battle occasionally. However your love for one another ought to all the time win out ultimately.
“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 necessary is you by no means hand over on one another. You should all the time talk. Teamwork is necessary in marriage and elevating a household. Kailangang magtulungan kayo palagi (you must all the time assist out one another).”
The remainder of our Q&A with Dennis:
To pay tribute to your vital triumphs as an actor, do you thoughts “revisiting” a few of your most celebrated roles and film/TV tasks? What do you fondly bear in mind about them?
With Crisostomo Ibarra (for “Maria Clara at Ibarra”), I bear in mind many nights of learning and doing analysis. It’s one of the vital troublesome roles I’ve needed to essay. So I did numerous studying and stored memorizing my traces. 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 previously so that you’ll find yourself getting in comparison with these, or bashed in case 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 obtained to our Laguna set late as a result of I got here from a taping for “Mulawin,” and I bear in mind being so scared to get screamed at.
However after I obtained there, Direk Joel simply hugged me—and I used to be so completely happy and relieved! That concern 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 necessary about making errors, it’s important to be taught from them.
“Blue Moon” was vital 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 really like enjoying some of these characters as a result of they’re additionally the kind of films I take pleasure in 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 bear in mind initially getting supplied Tom Rodriguez’s function—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 function of “the opposite man,” which offered a brand new problem for me.
In 2013, MHL was groundbreaking for primetime — for the Philippine TV business 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 might i-aangat pa pala s’ya! I feel I used to be in a position to faucet into a special form of viewers due to that function.
After which, there’s “Love Earlier than Dawn,” which is important as a result of it’s my first venture with Bea Alonzo after 20 years. She was the largest draw for me. This present is a testomony to the ability of camaraderie and chemistry. However I might have performed 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 standard TikTok consumer — 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 stated that social media was turning into increasingly part of a celeb’s instruments, particularly the place endorsements are involved. However I resisted.
In 2022, nonetheless, I spotted that I wanted to have an open thoughts about it. And after I lastly succumbed to TikTok, I spotted how completely happy these movies made individuals—nagugulat sila, natatawa at natutuwa. And it’s an effective way to share some positivity to others. On the identical time, it permits me to snicker at myself—and that makes me completely happy, too.
Which of your difficult roles was hardest for you?
“Felix Manalo.” My traces 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 working 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, in case you might 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 every little thing. There are nice plans for you. Simply all the time do your finest in order that when the time comes, you’ll be prepared to simply accept the issues which are meant only for you.
You and Jen are each very profitable as actors. However what occurs once you argue? Who will get the final phrase?
She all the time wins (laughs)! S’ya ang panalo. As they are saying, “Comfortable spouse, completely happy life.”