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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Rico Blanco gets candid about first rom-com role: 'Hindi ko ito pinangarap'

Rico Blanco gets candid about first rom-com role: 'Hindi ko ito pinangarap'

Published May 20, 2026 02:40 pm

At A Glance

  • Fresh from his praised performance in "Manila's Finest," Rico Blanco takes an unexpected but charming turn as a romantic leading man in "Project Baby," a rom-com that tackles modern relationships, fertility pressure, and falling in love when it's not part of the plan.

Rico Blanco is clearly enjoying his acting era.

After earning praise for his intense performance as a corrupt cop in the MMFF 2025 thriller “Manila’s Finest,” Rico is switching gears and trying something completely different.

In “Project Baby,” the 53-year-old musician takes on his first-ever rom-com and, surprisingly, his first role as a romantic leading man.

And yes, he’s nervous about it.

“Mas kabado pa ako dito kaysa sa major concert,” Rico admitted during the film’s media conference. “Hindi ako makapaniwala na nangyayari ito.”

Rico shared that he was personally recommended for the role by Regal Entertainment executives Roselle and Keith Monteverde. The opportunity caught him off guard, especially this late into his career.

“At this point in my life, ngayon pa ako magkakaroon ng lead role sa Regal movie,” he said. “Hindi ko ito pinangarap, pero nangyari. Kaya sobrang grateful ko.”

Though many still see him mainly as one of OPM’s most respected singer-songwriters, Rico reminded everyone that he has actually been acting for over 15 years now.

Some may remember him as the villain in “Imortal” starring Angel Locsin and John Lloyd Cruz.

But while he’s played edgy and serious characters before, “Project Baby” gives him something lighter, sweeter, and more relatable.

Directed by Eric Quizon and written by Joey Javier Reyes, the film follows Sandy, played by Sue Ramirez, a successful woman determined to have a child on her own terms.

Her plan sounds simple enough: find the perfect baby daddy, skip the commitment, avoid the drama.

Then she meets Rico's Migo.

Migo is a sensitive artist who slowly turns Sandy’s well-organized “Project Baby” into something far more complicated, feelings, err, included.

The film mixes charm and humor with a very real issue many people quietly think about: running out of time, choosing career first, and wondering if love and family can still fit into the picture later on.

The trailer alone has already pulled in millions of views online, with viewers praising the chemistry between Rico and Sue.

Not bad for a first rom-com.

“Project Baby,” produced by Regal Entertainment, opens in cinemas nationwide on June 10.

Related Tags

Rico Blanco Project Baby Sue Ramirez Eric Quizon Regal Entertainment
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