In the gritty, emotionally charged film ‘The Ride’, Piolo Pascual strips away his signature polish to portray one of his most unvarnished roles yet—a man caught in crime, devoid of glamour, and burdened with moral ambiguity.
“You wanna make sure that it’s watchable and entertaining,” Pascual says of watching the film in full for the first time, “but also that people get something out of it.” For him, its strength lies not just in action but in reflection: “Napaka-sensitive ngayon ng ating society,” he adds, hoping the movie stirs awareness and self-examination.
Gone is the matinee idol sheen. “Ang baho ko,” Pascual jokes, describing his rugged transformation. “Hindi ako naliligo. Hindi ako nagmemake-up. Dami kong buhok sa mukha.” Yet this rawness is what excites him—the chance to fully inhabit another life and bring audiences closer to the heart of a conflicted man.
But the film also highlights something beyond performance: Pascual’s evolving bond with Kyle Echarri. Their on-screen partnership, first sparked in The Ride and deepened in Pamilya Sagrado, reflects a closeness rooted in real life.
“Actually, this was before Pamilya Sagrado,” Pascual recalls. “Dreamscape had this idea to pair us up, to play my son… Parang 18 years old pa lang yata si Kyle noong nagsimula kami dito. So, andun talaga ’yung closeness namin because of that.”
That closeness has since grown into brotherhood. While many call Pascual a mentor to the young actor, he is quick to push back. “I don’t wanna call it mentorship. You just want to walk the talk… let them see it with how you do your stuff.” For Pascual, real guidance comes through example: showing up, keeping egos in check, and reminding others that humility sustains longevity. “Basta gawin mo lang ang trabaho mo at wag ipapasok sa ulo mo, and you go places.”
Echarri, however, sees him as more than a guide. “Bestfriend daw talaga,” Pascual shares with a smile, recalling when Kyle once asked if he could call him a mentor. “Sabi ko, ‘Tol, I’m not your mentor, I’m here as your brother, as your bestfriend.’”
That humility stems from Pascual’s own belief that learning never ends. “Nag-aaral pa rin ako. Hindi naman natatapos ang pagiging estudyante sa craft natin,” he reflects.
And while some already dub Echarri as the “next Piolo Pascual,” Pascual is simply optimistic about the young star’s future. “Mas matangkad siya sa akin,” he teases, before adding seriously: “I know they can go places if they play their cards well.”
The synergy between the two doesn’t end with ‘The Ride’. They already have several projects lined up, including a film with Bela Padilla and a new series in development—continuing a partnership built not just on roles, but on trust, humility, and brotherhood.
