Article posted April 29, 2008
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Dennis Trillo thinks Barcelona is romantic (Aww). He also read love letters outside the Coliseum in Rome (Sigh). But here’s the clincher: He admits that Pinays are still his type—always have been, always will be! (Yay!) Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Jason John S. Lim.
For those who may have been disillusioned by negative rap about the award-winning actor in the past, it’s time to give him a second chance. He’s leaving his telefantasya roots and entering the world of drama once again, where he will prove that he’s mature enough and ready to take on any challenge in a genre that befits his talent.
Back to drama
Dennis will take a break from Primetime TV and will be teamed up with Katrina Halili in Magdusa Ka during GMA’s Dramarama. He also recently finished shooting 70% of GMA Films’ I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust and Love You), a situational “dramedy” set to be released in the third quarter of 2008. 
The ensemble cast includes Jolina Magdangal, Rufa Mae Quinto, Mark Herras , Rhian Ramos , and Eugene Domingo.
Dennis’s role was initially given to Gabby Concepcion, but due to a few complications with the former matinee idol’s comeback, GMA Films had to look for an alternative. Now that Dennis has the role originally written for Gabby, does he feel pressured at all?
“Syempre, pressured dahil Gabby yun, tapos biglang Dennis, parang ang layo, e, di ba?” he answers humbly. “Ang layo talaga, kasi alam naman nating lahat na sobrang sikat siya. Pero Ang swerte ko na na ako yung second choice. Yun na yun.”
In an exclusive interview by iGMA, we asked Dennis about his trip to Europe and the unforgettable experiences he gained from it.
Playing Paolo Guzman
He starts off by describing the movie’s premise. “Character-based talaga yung storya, at magre-revolve siya doon sa iba’t-ibang characters na pasahero doon sa ship. Yung iba, cabin crew member, yung iba waiter, si Jolina chambermaid. Ako naman, pasahero talaga ako. Doon sa cruise na yun, maa-unveil ko ang mga secrets na kailangan kong ma-discover sa fiancée ko na bigla na lang nawala.”
Dennis’s onscreen fiancée is played by an Italian actress named Andrea. “Talagang full-blooded na Italian, tapos nagpa-audition talaga sila,” he imparts. “Marunong siyang mag-English, pero syempre, hindi siya ganoon kasanay. [But] madali namang mag-converse.”
Aside from Andrea, were there other “full-blooded Italian women” that he also met?
With a laugh, Dennis remarks, “Wala, wala. Wala talaga! Ewan ko, ako yung nago-observe sa kanila, kasi pinapanood ko kung ano mga traits nila at saka yung characteristics. Pero okay sila. Basically, mababait naman.”
What was one of his “observations?”
“Ibang-iba [ang European sa Filipina]. Para sa akin, mas marami pa ring magaganda dito sa Pilipinas. Mga European women kasi, sobrang strong at matapang yung mga features nila, e. Mas type ko pa rin mga Filipina,” he says with a twinkle in his eye.
The trip
It was Dennis’s first time to shoot a project abroad, but he didn’t complain even though the cast had no concept of “rest” during their cruise. “Yung experience, ibang klase kasi although everyday yung shoot namin, talagang pukpukan. Matutulog ka lang then gigising ng ilang hours para mag-shoot ulit. Ganoong workload kami doon. Pero hindi mo mararamdaman yung pagod kasi ang sarap ng weather, hindi ka pagpapawisan, and maganda yung atmosphere.”
He continues, “Ramdam na ramdam mong mayroon kayong ginagawang magandang project. Feeling ko nga, parang Hollywood movie yung ginagawa [ko], kasi syempre, gaano kadalas kang magshu-shoot sa Europe para gumawa ng isang pelikula, di ba?”
The cruise took seven days, and they had four extra days abroad. Dennis was the last cast member to go back to the Philippines because he had some scenes that didn’t involve the other actors. He explains, “Kasi dapat ako rin yung unang pupunta doon, e nagkaproblema yung Visas namin, so ngayon, imbis na kami yung unang umuwi, na-extend kami doon. Mayroon kaming mga eksenang kinunan sa Rome na wala nang eksena yung iba.”
Since a lot of scenes were shot in the ship, he shares that he and the rest of the cast couldn’t help but get a little seasick.
“Noong una, hirap na hirap akong magkaroon ng ‘sea legs,’ kasi noong first night namin, maalon [na], and lahat kami, halos masuka-suka sa hilo!”
Although Dennis didn’t throw up, he found it hard to walk straight! “Talagang pagewang-gewang akong maglakad, and pinilit kong hindi mahalata yun sa eksena dahil ang dami naming kinunan noong gabi na yun! Pero okay naman, the next day, na-develop ko na yung sea legs ko. Hindi na ako nasusuka.”
Favorite places
“Favorite kong [lugar] siguro yung Barcelona (Spain) at Marseilles (France),” shares Dennis. “Sa Marseilles kasi, ang sarap ng weather, ang ganda ng mga structures ng building, although nandoon lang siya sa maliit na part ng France. Pero sobrang compact—ang daming tao, ang daming makikita. Sa Barcelona naman, parang ang romantic ng lugar. Lalo na doon sa Ramblas [La Rambla] pa lang, may makikita kang iba’t-ibang mga tourists at masaya yung lugar.”
Dennis even got as far as South Africa during his trip! “Pero hindi siya mukhang Africa, kasi wala kang makikitang mga natives. Kasi pag inisip mong Africa, yun yung imagery mo. Pero doon, medyo Mediterranean yung influence ng lugar. And mga nakatira doon, parang mga Turkish,” he says.
The most memorable scene he shot was in Rome, at the Coliseum. “Nagbabasa ako ng letters sa Coliseum. Pero doon lang ako sa labas. Napakaganda noong location talaga. Actually, halos lahat ng eksena [sa I.T.A.L.Y.], talagang visual and mararamdaman mo yung puso talaga dahil ibang klase yung [mga] lugar.”
He adds, “Yung makapag-shoot ka ng pelikula doon, talagang once in a lifetime opportunity na piling-piling tao lang pwedeng makagawa. We’re so fortunate na nakasali kami doon.”
Wanna join Dennis Trillo's birthday bash? CLICK HERE!
More about Dennis:
Cruising to Italy
Primetime soap Magdusa Ka boasts all-star cast
Cast of I.T.A.L.Y. gives update about their shoot in Italy
Text DENNIS to 4627 to Feel the Fun with Fanatxt! To receive picture messages from him, text GOMMS DENNIS ON and send to 4627. (Each SMS costs P2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, TM, and TALK N TEXT, while it costs P2.00 for SUN subscribers. Each MMS costs P5.00 for ALL networks. This service is exclusively available in the Philippines.)
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