Piolo Pascual (Mentorque Facebook)

After spending almost three decades in the entertainment industry, Piolo Pascual is venturing into a new and exciting chapter by taking on his first lead role in a horror film.

Pascual has landed the lead role in the highly anticipated horror movie "Mallari." The film draws inspiration from the horrific real-life story of Father Juan Severino Mallari, the first known serial killer in the Philippines.

At first, the actor confessed to declining the offer. Although Pascual expressed his concerns, he could not resist the challenge that the role presented and ultimately accepted it.

"Actually, I'm a fan of horror movies. I love watching horror (films). Since I got stocked with romantic-comedy movies, I had no chance of doing any one of them. But when I Googled Mallari as the first serial killer in the Philippines, I told myself, I think we should be proud of this project. It's gonna be hard for me, exhausting and emotionally draining portraying three roles, but I'm after the challenge because he's an interesting character," said Pascual, when asked what took him so long to accept a horror film, during the story conference for the movie held at the Novotel Manila in Araneta City on June 19.

John Bryan Diamante, Mentorque Productions’ president, stated that although they did not seek help from the Catholic Church for the film, they conferred with historians to disclose the authenticity of Mallari's ordeals.

"Secondary lang ang mga sources namin because it happened around 1800 so wala talagang records or documents. That's why hindi na namin na-consider ang part na 'yun," said Diamante. "This is a fictional story based on a true story."

The film's script will be entered for the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival, according to Director Derick Cabrido. "So hopefully mapili po kami."  According to him, the talks about the film began in 2017, and it was only this year that they finally came to fulfillment. The full cast of the movie will also be revealed soon.

Piolo Pascual (left) and John Bryan Diamante, Mentorque Productions’ president

Seeing ghosts

Pascual, 46, confessed that he has never experienced anything ghostly or felt any uncanny sensation related to spirits.

"Huwag naman sana ako multuhin ni Mallari pero hindi pa talaga ako nakakakita ng multo. Kahit nagpaparamdan na mga spirits wala pa talaga," the hunk actor confessed.

(I hope Mallari doesn't haunt me, but I haven't really seen a ghost yet. Even haunting spirits, there really aren't any.)

In addition, Pascual stated that he has no intention of performing any special rituals in order to ward off the presence of bad spirits during the filming of their forthcoming motion picture.

"I just pray. I'm not saying that I welcome it. Dasal lang talaga para walang supernatural na mangyayari," he added. (I just pray. I'm not saying that I welcome it. I just pray that nothing supernatural happens.)

Asked about the significance of this movie, Cabrido said: "During the pandemic, na-realize natin na ang mga tao ay naghahanap na rin ng ganitong klaseng pelikula.There's a hunger for the Filipino audience for this kind of film. Sumakto naman sa panahon."

Diamante added: "I am really challenged by this project. We know how hard to convince people now to go back to the cinema. But what we started and the plan that we're going to do, hopefully maging worth it sa mga Pinoy to spend money. I hope this will also encourage other producers to come up with quality movies that are worth it."

From left: Mentorque Productions President John Bryan Diamante, actor Piolo Pascual and director Derick Cabrido

Joining priesthood

Pascual also revealed attempts to become a priest or pastor when he was younger.

"I remember having conversations with priests. I told them, gusto ko na lang mag-pari para mas madali ang buhay. And then they said you have to be a college graduate, or you need to go back to college to study priesthood.

"And then I told my pastor when I became a Christian, pwede bang mag-pastor na lamang ako para mas madali rin ang buhay? So I really had two attempts to enter the priesthood and the other to become a pastor," the actor added.