Dennis Trillo reveals

Author: Alwin M. Ignacio, Contributor
Column: Life

There was a time when Dennis Trillo was considered bigger than Dingdong Dantes, and some opined that he was almost as big as Richard Gutierrez. He was once the toast of show business. After all, it is not everyday the world of entertainment meets a man from a well-off family, educated in private schools with a college degree, to boot. His good looks and genuine acting talent made it easier for everyone to embrace him.

As Trillos star reached stellar proportions, real and imagined stories ballooned and relentlessly pursued him from being tagged as arrogant and aloof, to the proliferation of an alleged sex video scandal, to the messy handling of his relationship with starlet Cristine Reyes, and his fathering a child out of wedlock with beauty queen Carlene Aguilar. It affected and dampened his popularity.

Despite all these stumbling blocks, Dennis persevered, reinvented himself and portrayed a bida/kontrabida role in Magdusa Ka (opposite Katrina Halili) that showcased once more his acting prowess, and eventually became Bino in the top-rating fantasy series Gagambino, which ended rather successfully.

Obviously humbled by his personal and professional experiences, Trillo remains optimistic, having inked and renewed a two-year exclusive contract with GMA 7.

Signing up with them is the biggest bonus, the actor says. Of course, there are some talent fee adjustments, but nothing is too exorbitant. I am just happy that they continue to trust me and that they want me here. Secure ako sa position ko dito.

He enthuses, What I appreciate most about them is that they never gave up on me; their trust never waned especially when I faced many intrigues. I am very comfortable here, I know Im home. This is where I truly belong.

Trillos trials are not for the faint of heart, and he comes clean when he recollects those very trying times. Parang nawala ang pag-asa sa buhay ko when all those talks escalated. I was really down. It took some time for me to get back my bearings. I did a lot of introspection and as I mustered enough courage, what became very clear was to rectify my mistakes, hoping that the public would forgive me.

Has he forgiven his detractors? I never took it personally, the nasty things written or said against me. They were just doing their job, I guess. I believe that they know what they were doing. It was the choice of my detractors, if I may call them as such, on what kind of reportage they wanted to present... I was just tired of answering or addressing all the issues. I thought that it was best to be silent. But my not talking was misconstrued as a sign of arrogance, which was baseless, of course. I just needed time to think and settle my feelings. I know that you guys just wanted to know the truth. I am thankful to all of you have been most patient and understanding.

Now that the dust has settled, Dennis is pleased with his standing and is not mindful of the opinions of kibitzers that claim he has become a poor third to Gutierrez and Dantes.

Never ko naman na pinangarap na maging superstar, he relates. All I want is to have interesting and challenging projects. I am still here and I was never gone. Frankly, when you are in that superstar level, I think there is more pressure on how one must maintain being on top. Masaya ako sa ginagawa ko sa ngayon, and more than anything, I am glad that people appreciate me and my work.

Speaking of work, Trillo will play lead in another Sine Novela come April, Muling Buksan ang Puso, with Heart Evangelista, whom he confesses is his crush.

Natatameme ako pag nakikita ko siya sa personal, he discloses. I dont know why I dont act normally, why my hands get clammy when she is around.

I like the fact that she is very pleasant. She is good-natured and is genuinely well-mannered, he says, when asked what makes Evangelista distinctive.

When we are together, I dont know why I get tongue-tied. Her beauty and pleasantness overwhelm me. What I find most endearing about her is that when she sees Im not composed, she assures me that there is no reason for me not to be comfortable with her, he explains further.

He gets a much-deserved two-month break after the resounding success of Gagambino. Trillo will be studying two film scripts, choosing the song selections of his next studio album, and spending time with his first-born, Calix.

Every time I bring him to the Gymboree, I see so much of myself in him, Dennis says, his eyes lighting up. There are many kids like him attending there; di pa siya masyadong nakikipag-socialize though there are times when he becomes makulit. He is a little introverted, parang ako. He likes the beat of drums though. Like when I hit a sofa or a table and it produces a sound, he does it, too. I already gave him a set of mini-drums.

Trillo obviously adores fatherhood. This feeling I have in my chest when we are together is unexplainable. It is not happiness, I dont how to term it its a deeper form of happiness. Even if I am dead tired from a taping or a shoot and then I see him all agog, just like magic na-re-reset yung condition ng katawan ko. I become hyperactive automatically. He calls me da-dey, he proudly shares.

In the future, how does he plan to explain their situation to Calix? You know, I want to develop my relationship with my son, like, parang kuya niya lang ako. When I feel he is mature enough to handle the truth, I will tell him. I dont want to keep secrets from him. I will tell him the truth na hindi siya masasaktan or maiiyak. He is all that I have, he responds, admitting that fatherhood is indeed a very difficult role and he knows that he will learn many things as Calix grows up.

With regard to cinematic roles, he wants to play an unconventional priest or a bad cop, do a romantic comedy, appear in an independent film and be able to work with directors Jose Javier Reyes and Bb. Joyce Bernal, to name a few.

He is set to do a love triangle drama in My Other Man with Maryo J. Delos Reyes and Tarot, a horror flick with Jun Lana.

And what about love? Not now. With what I went through, I should be careful and choosy with regard to my next girlfriend. I (have not been) lucky with my past relationships. You cant hurry love anyway. I have all the time in the world.

Source: The Daily Tribune