Watch out when artistas open their mouths during interviews and on social media to explain themselves.

When an out-of-job actor or actress says he or she is slowing down to focus on a new child or relationship, it simply means offers are few and far-between, or are non-existent. Actors have a reputation to keep. The busier they are, the more chances of winning. Parang sa sweepstakes lang yan.

An actress, for instance, who has reached her peak, tells the media she is deliberately pacing her work. She prefers to be choosy with roles and projects. It only means there are no offers.

An actress recently made a comeback after years of absence. She said it took her a lot of convincing to make another film, making it appear she has no need for money at all.

Another actress recently revealed the face of her baby, which she had kept for so long. People thought she was withholding the identity of a member of the British royal family.

Others are more down-to-earth. Veteran actress Gina Pareno made an appeal on social media to producers to cast her in projects. She said she just missed working and acting, her lifelong passions.

Honest. True to life.

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Paolo Gumabao admits he and his father, former actor-politician Dennis Roldan, have little interaction, if at all. The last time he visited him at the Muntinlupa penitentiary was sometime in 2025. He hasn’t revisited since he's been so busy.

What does his father think of his film career?

“He has seen some of my work on Batang Quiapo. He gave me a few tips on acting. He noted that I was being lined up in villain roles. He told me to look into lead roles, too, so I won’t get stereotyped.”

At that time, Dennis probably had not heard of “Spring in Prague,” where Paolo plays the leading man in his first romantic drama.

For a change, and for the better, Paolo is playing a fully clothed, wholesome young man in the film. Such is in stark contrast to his previous roles in movies that cashed in heavily on sex.

Not that Paolo is shifting gears, or trying to flash a matinee idol image after having done nude and erotic scenes in his earlier assignments. We can say it’s all part of his journey as a growing-up actor testing the waters, immersing himself in all possible roles.

Paolo says he’s just too lucky having landed the lead role in Spring, which

allowed him an opportunity to travel for free to the Czech Republic.

We caught the film at its gala January 19 at Gateway-Cubao. We were quite impressed with its production values, design and cinematography included. Paolo delivers a performance that qualifies him into the league of romantic drama leading men. Hope that he could follow up this big, wholesome break in his career, thanks to the initiative of Ferdinand Topacio of Borracho Film Productions.

“Spring in Prague” isn’t merely entertaining. Smartly embedded within its almost 2-hour run are bits and pieces of history celebrating the friendship between the Philippines and the Czech Republic.

Paolo is paired with Czech-Macedonian actress Sara Sandeva, who came to Manila to film some scenes in Puerto Galera and Tagaytay.

Directed by Lester Dimaranan and written by Eric Ramos, the movie opens in theaters on Feb. 4.