William Thio, once known for his early work as a model and actor before becoming a fixture on Philippine news and public affairs television, is returning to his roots with an independent advocacy film project. His latest work, “Ako Si Kindness,” is a five-part teen drama that promotes compassion toward individuals with disabilities and resilience within the school community.

Scheduled to air in September and October on GMA’s New TV 11, the series follows a group of students with disabilities as they navigate discrimination in school and prepare for a sports competition modeled after the Paralympics. Thio portrays a physical education teacher who guides the underdog team to an unlikely victory.

“The team won because they strategized,” he said, describing the drama as an invitation to rise above challenges and affirm the boundless nature of human potential.

Produced by Lovelife in partnership with Best magazine and directed by Cris Pablo, the series is led by beauty queen Marianne Bermundo, with an ensemble cast that includes Rubi-Rubi, Patricia Ysmael, Miles Poblete, Kween Buraot, Jenny Ngai, and Undersecretary Jose “Joee” Guilas of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs. Thio’s involvement in the project

comes as he was recently honored with a People’s Legacy Award at the 2nd PWD Film Festival and People’s Legacy Awards in partnership with the Quezon City government. He was recognized for his advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities.

“Public service is something I have done for a long time,” he said, noting that the cast of the series is 80 percent composed of persons with disabilities — a reflection, he adds, of his commitment to elevating their voices on and off screen.

His last film before “Ako Si Kindness” was “Barkong Papel” (2016), an advocacy drama about the sacrifices and hopes of overseas Filipino workers. The story follows a group of childhood friends whose lives are upended when one leaves to work abroad, chronicling the emotional toll and fragile dreams of families separated by oceans. Produced by Sparkling Stars Production and screened mainly in schools and communities, "Barkong Papel” or “Paper Boat” — became a metaphor for the vulnerability and resilience of the OFW experience.

Thio began his career in the early 1990s as a fresh-faced commercial and fashion model — tall, photogenic, and quickly in demand after being discovered during a college break in Manila. Acting followed soon after, with supporting roles in Regal Films productions alongside Ruffa Gutierrez and Rosanna Roces. But the allure of the screen eventually gave way to a different calling.

Thio shifted toward television hosting and public service programming, appearing on shows such as “Damayan,” “The Morning Show,” “One Morning,” and “At Your Service" on PTV 4, some at the invitation of his grandaunt, the philanthropist and actress Rosa Rosal. His on-camera poise led him to RPN 9 as a reporter in 2008, then to GNN and UNTV, where he anchored “Why News” and hosted the documentary-style interview program “Spotlight.”

Now anchoring “PTV News Tonite” and the Philippine News Agency’s “Headlines,” among others, Thio remains a steady presence on government television. Yet it was his years on “Damayan,” a program that combined medical interviews with telethons for disaster victims and persons with disabilities, that left the most profound impression. That experience, he says, sharpened his awareness of systemic gaps in opportunities for people living with disabilities.

It also underpins his current advocacy as a construction entrepreneur: overseeing the construction of the Transcend Hub in Makati, a new facility designed as both a training ground and a community space. Here, young adults—many of whom are persons with disabilities—will learn the skills of everyday independence, from handling finances to navigating city life, in a structured environment designed to bolster their confidence and capabilities.