Daniel Padilla Esquire Profile Interview

With a career that spans 16 years, audiences practically watched Daniel Padilla grow from starry-eyed adolescent into a full-grown man. Today the former teen idol says he has found a renewed love for acting, following the path of his father Rommel and uncles Robin and Royette, as a full-fledged action star via his role as renegade former military officer Andres Malvar in the ABS-CBN teleserye Incognito.

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“I enjoy the action. This is my first time in full-length action. Ang sarap ng experience,” he tells Esquire Philippines. Padilla describes his character Andres as “very active, very intense, very focused.” He enjoys doing the action scenes, choreographed by director Lester Pimentel Ong.

He likes that the character has a past and a dark side which gives depth to his motivations. “Madalas yung characters ko dati sa movies and shows, happy na may kaunting drama. Dito, ang lalim ng character ko, may kadiliman ng konti. I like these kinds of roles kasi sa totoong buhay ganyan naman [ako]. Hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon masaya. Nailalabas na din yung emotions na matagal nakatago. It is very refreshing,” he reflects.

To honor his role and give it justice, the actor did his best to prepare for it. The training for this role was very demanding, he reveals. This included Muay Thai lessons, tactical training, and gun handling. “Lahat pinag-aralan namin para mas convincing. Hindi puwedeng basta-basta. Pati ang paghawak ng baril at formation ng grupo.” He also appreciates that the story is well-planned out. “Pinag-isipan lahat, kahit ang mga misyon namin. Hindi yung kung ano lang ang maisip na heist, gagawin na namin.”

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Padilla also watched a lot of videos on how Scout Rangers are trained, and he has nothing but respect for these elite soldiers. “Hindi ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na sumabak sa training nila na sana nagawa ko para maranasan ko kung gaano kahirap ang kanilang trabaho. Sa mga YouTube videos, nakita ko na ang Scout Rangers natin hindi biro ang training. Naintindihan ko kung bakit ganoon kalakas ang brotherhood, at kung bakit taas noo sila sa pangalan ng Scout Ranger. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila at sa mga tao na nagpo-protekta sa atin.”

Shawl Collar Coverall Jacket and Chambray Shirt from Warehouse & Co.; World War 2 Cut Denim Jeans from The Real McCoy's

PHOTO: Mark Nicdao

Man of action

The role tests his mettle, he says. Padilla and his castmates, including Richard Gutierrez and Anthony Jennings, hiked up steep mountain trails in their combat gear, which included body armor and weapons. “Hindi mo maiiwasan na mamaya may nahihilo na, kailangan magpahangin. It is draining but very rewarding. Bago ka matulog sa gabi, you look back sa mga ginawa mo ng araw na iyon at maiisip mo na ‘my goodness, kinaya ko iyon!'”

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Shooting the series in Japan took on another level of dedication. He shares, “When you think of Japan, magbabakasyon ka, kakain ng sushi, iinom ng sake. Sa Yamagata, which is the snow city, inaabot kami ng negative six degrees. Yung lamig bumabaon sa laman. Kapag malamig na, you think this is the time na pumasok ng kwarto, mamaya na ako lalabas. Eto 'yung hindi ka pa pwede pumasok kasi marami pang gagawin. Nanginginig ka na sa lamig pero kailangan magtrabaho.”

Padilla and his co-stars pushed through despite the extreme challenges, and watching how the scenes turned out made all the sacrifices all worth it.

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The experience working on Incognito has prompted Padilla to slowly shed his matinee idol persona and continue working in the action genre. “I enjoy doing it. Gusto ko iniisip ko kung ano ang gagawin ko bukas,” he says. He dipped his toes in it at least once before, when he made the movie Sa Ngalan ng Ama, Ina at mga Anak (originally titled Kuratong Baleleng). “Sinali ako ni Tito [Robin]. I was very young at marami pa akong ibang ginagawa, hindi ako naka-focus. Gusto ko itong style, itong tono ng pelikula. Kapag bumalik ako sa style na ginagawa ko noon, baka ma-bore ako. I realized na ang sarap pala ng feeling na gumawa ng action. Kaya pala nahilig ang mga erpat ko at tiyuhin ko. Iba 'yung challenge, ang sarap pala gawin.”

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Padilla made it his mission to embody his character. He did his homework on how Andres acts, thinks, and looks. His hair, a modern mullet, was borne out of his fascination with the Igorot culture and was specifically inspired by Baguio-based MMA fighters Team Lakay. “Lagi ako nanonood niyan at nakikita ko ang buhok nila. Andres was ex-military, so he was still clean-cut, but he is also dishonorably discharged kaya may pagka-rebellious,” he says.

The actor is proud to represent diverse cultural heritages in his projects, from showcasing the Baguio culture in Incognito, and starring alongside screen legend Charo Santos-Concio in the Waray-language film Maupay man it Panahon. “Sobrang importante na ipakita ang ating mayamang kultura. Tayong mga Pilipino, dahil din sa history natin, naging madali tayo mag-adapt. Masarap din i-celebrate ang ating kultura, masarap mag-research at balikan kung sino tayo, mula sa pananamit, sa arts, and music,” he explains.

New directions

Padilla has been in the limelight since he was 15, acting mostly in teenybopper roles for his home network ABS-CBN. He turns 30 this month. He shares that he is aware that he will not be in showbiz forever, so he is trying to learn to do other things. Among them is learning to put up businesses inspired by his association with friends who have their own ventures, such as the Incanta Cave Bar and Restaurant in Quezon City and the J Castles theme park in Tanauan, Batangas.

The budding entrepreneur also started a small production house called Johnny Moonlight, creating concepts and documentaries. “Enjoy ako sa art of filmmaking at andito din naman ako sa tamang eskwelahan, which is the experience. So habang ginagawa ko ito, gingawa ko din ang mag-observe at makinig,” he says. He and his partners have started working on documentaries, which they plan to release when they feel they have gathered enough material.

A renaissance man of sorts, Padilla also has a successful recording career, having released three studio albums, an EP, and a compilation album. He was nominated for three World Music Awards and contributed a total of nine guest singles and seven soundtracks. He says music will always be a passion of his. “Nasa puso namin iyan, diyan kami nagsimula. A new release may be out soon," he says coyly. “Inaayos lang.”

Balloon trousers in Brown Cotton Drill from De Bonne Facture. Shirt from Warehouse & Co.

PHOTO: Mark Nicdao

Clear mind, happy heart

Being in the public eye for so long can become overwhelming. His fans are passionate and legion, often following him around wherever he turnes up. It can get stressful at time, so, to help with his mental health, he avoids social media. He also escapes to nature, heading to a spot in Tanay, Rizal. “Namumundok kami doon. Iba sa realidad natin,” he says.

He is inspired by his getaways, he says, that he plans to eventually settle into a quiet life and go, well, incognito. “Bumalik sa nature kung saan simple ang mga bagay. Katahimikan, oras sa pamilya, para magdasal, oras para maglaro. Gusto ko lang mag-farm, may mga hayop na inaalagaan, may open space, maraming halaman, sariwang hangin,” he muses.

On top of everything he wants to pursue, one of the next important projects on his list is starting a family. For now, he is a “cool tito” to his brother JC’s son, Claudio, and muses on the impact of having a baby at home. “Yung bahay namin nag-iba kasi may baby na. Ngayon ko lang nakita yung effect ng baby, lalo na sa mom ko. Jusko po, hindi na umaalis, hirap na hirap umalis, ayaw iwanan si Claudio!” he exclaims.

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He turns serious and admits that he wants to have a family of his own. “Wala na akong ibang pupuntahan pa. Gusto ko na rin buksan yung chapter na yun dahil minsan hinahanap na rin ang laman ko. Eventually, I am looking forward to having a family, ano pa ba ang gagawin ko, andun na ako sa boundary? So pukpok muna sa trabaho, then eventually start a family. Wala na akong ibang pupuntahan. Most of my friends have families, nakikita ko na din magkakalaro ang mga anak nila."

When asked on the current state of his heart, he says candidly, “I'm very happy. I'm very at peace.” He nods, “Enjoy ako dahil I love what I'm doing now. Breath of fresh air talaga itong ginagawa kong Incognito. Before doing this, I was parang, nawalan na rin akong gana, eh. Lahat naman tayo sa trabaho natin, di ba? We… burn out. Because of, you know, ulit-ulit. 'Yan lang lagi ginagawa mo. Swerte din ako na nabigay sa akin itong proyekto na Incognito. Breath of fresh air. Sarap nung ginagawa ko ulit. Kaya after this, parang ang dami kong ideas sa mga next ko namang gagawin."

Story: Maan D'Asis Pamaran
Photography: Mark Nicdao
Production: Rhia Grana
Editor-in-Chief: Paul John Caña
Grooming: Ryan Ko
Styling: Ryan Viloria assisted by Rowel Tapang
All clothes from The Signet Store
Accessories from @whatdapperswant
Special thanks to Incanta Cave Bar and Restaurant, Quezon City

Daniel Padilla is Entering a New Era: 'I'm Very Happy. I'm Very at Peace'

Man of action

New directions

Clear mind, happy heart