Dennis Trillo
A Man Redefined
Kapuso Drama King Dennis Trillo looks back on the first time he saw himself on television and shares how the ebb and flow of his showbiz career made him tougher, wiser, and, especially these days, a lot more grateful.
Text by Marah Ruiz
Photos by Michael Paunlagui and Raymond Ignacio
Shot on location: Somerset Central Salcedo Makati
“Sabay sabay kaming ni-launch doon sa batch na ’yun. Napanood ko ’yung sarili ko sa isang production number, so sumasayaw siguro mga bente na mga batchmates ko doon sa Batch 10 na ’yun. Hindi masyadong maganda kasi feeling ko ang bata ko pa noon, hindi pa kami marunong mag-ayos, ’yung itsura ko siguro ang payat pa. Kaya ’yun, hindi masyadong flattering pero pagkatapos noon, medyo naging mas conscious na ’ko sa itsura ko tuwing lalabas ako sa TV,” the actor says.
Dennis then transferred to GMA in 2003 where he soon landed a main role in the iconic 2004 telefantasya series Mulawin, alongside Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez. He proved his worth as a potential leading man as he played Gabriel, the half-human and half-Ravena who was the wrench thrown between Angel’s Alwina and Richard's Agiluz.
Later on, through hard work, patience, and perseverance, Dennis would become one of GMA’s most prized talents—one that is entrusted with such high-profile, big budget productions like the groundbreaking LGBTQIA+-themed My Husband's Lover and the superhero action-fantasy Gagambino which was an adaptation of Carlo J. Caparas’ graphic novel.
Stage Fright
It was his riveting role in the 2004 romance drama war film Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita that Dennis considers his breakthrough as an actor. The movie was set in World War II during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and Dennis plays Igna, a transgender woman who acts as the guerilla forces' spy against the Japanese.
His audition for the movie was one of the most memorable in his career. While he knew the project was significant and might change the trajectory of his career, Dennis had slight apprehensions because he feared that he would not be able to give justice to such a complex character.
“Kakaiba ’yung first audition ko for a movie. Kasi ’yung first movie ko, hindi siya pangkaraniwang role. Kailangan kong mag-mukhang babae, mag-damit babae at umarte na parang babae. Medyo nakakailang ’yung first audition ko kasi naka makeup ako na pambabae,” he shares.
Aside from the physical challenges of the prospective role, Dennis was made even more nervous by the presence of award-winning filmmaker Joel Lamangan who was directing the movie. “First time ko mag-ayos nang ganoon and kinakabahan ako dahil doon sa audition namin, nandoon si Direk Joel Lamangan. Siya ’yung director ko noon. Noong time na ’yun nakakarinig na ’ko ng mga horror stories mula sa mga ibang artista kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan noong nalaman ko na nandoon siya at kikilatisin niya ’yung itsura ko at ’yung kung paano ako umarte noong time na ’yun.”
As such, bagging the role of Igna was one of the most emotional moments of his career. “Noong time na ’yun, hindi ko inisip na makukuha ko and medyo malaki 'yung project na 'yun, considering ito 'yung first movie ko ever. Noong nalaman ko na natuwa sila at natanggap ako doon sa project, sabi ko ito na siguro 'yung simula noong career ko and pagbubutihin ko para malayo 'yung marating ko. Ganoon 'yung iniisip ko noong time na 'yun," he recalls.
Dennis then delivered on his promise to himself and received his first ever acting award as Best Supporting Actor in the 30th Metro Manila Film Festival for his portrayal of Igna in Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita. It was a pivotal moment for his career as this cemented his commitment to pursue acting seriously.
“Siguro ’yung pinaka turning point at realization ko na may future ako dito at ito na ’yung gagawin kong full-time na trabaho, noong nanalo na ko ng first ever award. Dahil ’yun ’yung first ever recognition, first ever acting award na natanggap ko dahil din doon sa first movie ko na Aishite Imasu. After noon, sabi ko ito na ’yun. May future ako dito. Sa tingin ko mag-e-excel ako dito sa career path na 'to kaya ayun, dinirederetso ko na,” Dennis shares.
Dennis went on to win three FAMAS Awards, four Gawad Urian nominations, and a string of other noteworthy accolades for his work on both film and television.
No Small Parts
Dennis is very serious when it comes to preparing for any role and is conscientious about how he plays them. He dedicated months of preparation for the biopic film Felix Manalo where he portrayed Iglesia ni Cristo leader Felix Manalo.
The same amount of time and effort went into his preparation for meticulous and detail-driven teleseryes like Legal Wives (2021) and Maria Clara at Ibarra (2022), where Dennis practically needed to learn a culture that was, to a degree, alien to him.
While he hasn’t attended any workshops recently, he has developed his own techniques and rituals in preparing. “Matagal na 'kong hindi nakaka-attend ng workshop pero marami na rin kasi akong na-attend-an na mga workshops before. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na hindi ako nag-a-attend, na hindi ko na kailangan. Alam ko kailangan ’yun ng bawat isa, pero minsan iba lang din kasi ’yung proseso ko bilang artista, minsan depende rin sa workshop na ginagawa. Feeling ko, mas nagiging effective ako kapag mag-isa lang ako na pinagaaralan ko ’yung eksena. Mas nakaka-focus ako doon sa mga mas kailangan gawin ko,” he explains.
Dennis has also become more discerning of the roles he chooses to take on. For the Kapuso Drama King, this is part of his long-term plans as an actor. Looking at his filmography, he has proven to be a capable leading man in romance and drama, showed nuance in historical fiction and always has something to bring to the table in genres like horror and comedy.
“Hindi naman [ako] naging mapili, kumbaga mas iniisip ko lang ’yung mga roles na mas bagay sa akin and mas babagayan kung ano ’yung puwede kong ibigay. Feeling ko kasi habang nagma-mature ka, importante na iniisip mo ’yung mga bagay na ginagawa mo. Mas maganda ’yung nagpa-plano ka kung ano ’yung susunod at kailangan mong pagbutihin na iba iba ’yung mga ginagawa mo palagi para hindi nagsasawa ’yung mga nakakapanood sa’yo,” he offers.
Acting is also a constant learning experience for Dennis. He can’t pinpoint a specific person or a particular piece of advice, but he does make sure to be like a sponge and learn from the industry in general.
“Sa bawat taping, sa bawat shooting, marami kang natututunan, hindi lang sa mga katrabaho mo na artista kundi sa mga tao sa paligid mo-- kung paano ka makisama, kung paano mo bubuuin ’yung respeto sa bawat isa, kung paano mo sila hindi binibigyan ng problema,” he says.
Celebrity Skin
It is not often that Dennis thinks about success but recalls a very random moment where he suddenly felt that he had it.
“Noong isang mall show na pinuntahan namin na talagang hindi ko in-expect na mapupuno ’yung isang mall dahil doon sa isang something na pino-promote namin noong time na ’yun. ’Yung feeling na paglabas mo ng stage at nakita ka ng mga tao, kung papano sila ma-excite at matuwa dahil makita ka na ine-entertain mo sila, ’yung time na ’yun, naramdaman ko na medyo nakikilala na 'ko at nararamdaman ko na ’yung importansiya noong mga ginagawa ko kaya ito siguro ’yung reward,” he admits.
Even with this much attention as one of the top actors in Philippine showbiz today, Dennis has always tried to keep his privacy. “Ako kasi, simula noong career ko, hindi naman ako talaga naging all-out sa pagbulgar ng aking private life. Naging sobrang reserved rin talaga ako pagdating doon sa bagay na ’yun dahil feeling ko, kailangan mong mag-share ng konti sa mga tao pero kailangan mo ring magtira para sa sarili mo,” he says.
Still, he has learned to accept that intrigues would come and go when you are in the public eye. “Oo, siyempre ’pag nasa showbiz ka, lalo na hindi maiiwasan ’yung mga controversy na nangyayari sa career mo. May mga times din na nangyari na ’yun pero siyempre kailangan lang magkaroon ka ng common sense, ng presence of mind kung papa'no siya iha-handle. Huwag kang magpapa-apekto dahil natural lang ’yung na may mangyayaring ganoon, lalo na kapag medyo umaangat ka na. Medyo may mga tao talaga na minsan gusto kang ibaba ’di ba?” Dennis reflects.
Dennis has also learned to ride on the whole social media thing as it is expected from almost everyone in the entertainment industry. He has a semi-active Instagram account and with how often he appears on his wife and fellow actor Jennylyn Mercado's YouTube channel, it might as well be a joint account for the two of them.
It is on short-form video platform TikTok that Dennis seems to be enjoying himself the most. Here, he is able to show a different side to him, an unexpected side that for a time had users questioning if the account was truly his.
“Bukod sa kailangan natin dito sa mga trabaho natin, dito sa showbiz, naisip ko rin na masaya rin pala na makapag-share ng something about myself na hindi nakikita ng iba. Parang napaka refreshing na makapanood ng isang eksena na hindi nila nakikita na ginagawa ko sa kahit anong eksena na nagawa ko sa buong career ko. Masarap 'yung pakiramdam na nakakapagpasaya ka ng tao, nakakapagpatawa ka, nakakapagpa-smile ka. ’Yung panandalian na mawawala ’yung problema, masarap ’yung pakiramdam noon kaya naisipan ko na i-share ’yung gift na ’yun sa kanila,” Dennis says.
Dennis Trillo's TikTok account boasts of over one million followers and over 18 millions likes. His comedic videos are a far cry from Dennis' image of a serious and decorated actor. Even with the viral potential of his videos, Dennis still considers himself an actor through and through.
Being in the industry for more than two decades, Dennis Trillo has come up with a very straightforward definition of acting. “Simple lang. Para sa akin, acting is reacting. Hindi mo kailangan masyadong mag-effort, hindi masyadong maging OA (overacting). Kailangan mo lang maging natural. Mag-react ka sa mga bagay na aakma doon sa character mo at magbe-blend doon sa buong timpla ng eksena. Ganoon lang,” he ends.
