Showbiz A-lister Piolo Pascual has been in the industry long enough to recognize when a film demands attention because of the message it wants to convey. His latest project, The Ride, falls into that category.
The action-drama, directed by Thop Nazareno, follows Barry, a father estranged from his son Leo (played by Kyle Echarri). Their fractured bond is pushed to the breaking point when crime and circumstance pull them into a spiral of tough decisions.
But for the 48-year-old actor, the story doesn’t stop at the big screen. Watching the film in full for the first time, he admitted feeling “a lot of mixed emotions,” not just as an actor, but as a citizen living in turbulent times.
“You want to make sure that people get something out of it,” Piolo said after the advance screening. “Seeing it on the big screen, you feel a sense of responsibility. What matters is the takeaway the audience will get from it. I believed in what we created, and I hope the message comes across strongly, because it’s very important nowadays, always timely, with what’s happening around the world, the chaos, and the violence.”
The questions raised in The Ride mirror the ones many Filipinos face daily, he added: “Are the choices we make as people, as parents, as children, the right ones? What circumstances should we avoid? What decisions should we take to make life better and create better opportunities?”
That moral reckoning is what Piolo hopes audiences will carry home. “It’s like music,” he explained. “You don’t just hear it, you feel it. That’s what I wanted them to experience.”
Piolo has never been one to sugarcoat his thoughts when talk veers into politics and accountability. In The Ride, he plays a man forced to confront the consequences of his actions. Offscreen, the actor echoes the same refrain: that in an age of chaos and uncertainty, awareness, responsibility, and conscience matter more than ever.
When the conversation with reporters turned to politics, Piolo connected the dots between art, responsibility, and the current climate.
“As a citizen, it’s my job to be in the know,” he said when asked about the “circus” in government. “You can’t just be updated, you need to be in touch with what’s happening because you’re part of this nation. That’s where patriotism comes in. I want to be aware. You can’t point fingers right now, but I’m praying about it.”
He emphasized that accountability matters: “This is not about anyone anymore, this is about the Philippines. I hope those who need to be held accountable will face consequences, so we can regain confidence in our government and our country.”
On the matter of taxes, Piolo was equally candid. “I do have back taxes to pay,” he admitted. “But you have to abide, especially in this business. You can be audited anytime, so it has to be black and white. I don’t think about where the money goes anymore because it’s frustrating. But I pay what I need to.”
What frustrates him is how those taxes are used. “They’ll just buy luxury goods,” he said in jest.
“Well, at the end of the day, you see your fellowmen struggling with floods, then you hear about projects and corruption. It’s shameful. I just hope people in government find their conscience. If you already have enough, don’t steal from those who have little,” he said in the vernacular.
The Ride opens exclusively in SM Cinemas on Sept. 24.
