Text By Jansen Ramos
Photos By GMA Artist Center, Descendants of the Sun (The Philippine Adaptation), and Rocco Nacino (Instagram)
Baguio-born Rocco Nacino fulfilled his dream of becoming a registered nurse after passing the boards in 2007. He earned a decent living as a healthcare professional, but his “try” mentality drove him to take an ambitious and different route.
Rocco always had dreams of becoming an actor ever since he was a kid. That’s why when the opportunity to try his luck in showbiz presented itself in 2009, he took it without hesitation. Rocco decided to join GMA’s reality-based artist search Starstruck.
“May ino-offer kasi sa ’kin 'na small role sa isang show before tapos sabi sa ’kin, 'Anong mas gusto mo, magsimula ka sa mababang role tapos umangat ka or magbakasali ka dito sa Starstruck?’” he recalls.
“Hindi mo alam kung ano mangayayari. So sabi ko naman sa sarili ko, life is about making decisions and not knowing what to expect. Kahit may stable job naman ako no’n, tinuloy ko ang StarStruck.”
Rocco came up short in the competition, ending up as the Second Prince, or in much simpler terms, third place. Looking back, he sees the experience as a necessary gamble that he will never regret.
“Sabi sa ’kin ng daddy ko, talagang to experience life, you have to go through failures. And ’pag hindi para sa ’yo, at least alam mo kasi sinubukan mo.
“Do’n mo talaga malalaman kung para sa ’yo o hindi and that’s the only time we fail if we don’t try. So sa loob ko talaga, gusto ko talagang magperform sa harap ng camera and nakikita ng nanay ko ’yon,” the 33-year-old actor shares.
Rocco’s first on-screen assignments included playing a supporting role in the 2010 GMA drama series Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak and guest appearances in the defunct Sunday variety shows SOP and Party Pilipinas.
The bronzed-skinned actor might not have been given lead roles right off the bat, but he has played substantial ones for nine years, gradually earning his stripes over time.
He was remarkable in such roles as a nationalist and polymath in the 2011 documentary PLUMA: Rizal, Ang Dakilang Manunulat, a newly-elected mayor in the 2013 TV series Bayan Ko, a martyr and saint in the 2013 biographical film Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir, an army leader of a fictional kingdom in the 2016 fantasy series Encantadia, an introvert script writer in the 2019 movie Write About Love, to name a few.
In spite of his success in showbiz, Rocco did not forget his love for Nursing.
In November 2017, he graduated cum laude with a Master's Degree in Nursing from St. Bernadette of Lourdes College in Quezon City. No wonder GMA Network's socio-civic arm, Kapuso Foundation, designated him as a youth ambassador for health in 2019.
“May mga collaborations ako with lights, furniture. May kinuha akong interior designer just for the master’s and office. He’s a family friend,” he adds.
A very family-oriented man, Rocco has a room for his parents who can visit him anytime.
“Sinabi ko rin kay Mommy ’yun na gusto ko ring maging nurse para kapag tumanda na siya, ako na mag-aalaga sa kanya or tulungan ko sila kaya meron akong guest room for them.
“When they feel lonely, kung gusto nilang dumalaw, welcome na welcome ’yung room para sa kanila so they can see me or ’yung future apo nila.
“For me, number one talaga pamilya. Sila ang dahilan kung nasaan ako ngayon so it’s nice to give back,” he says.
While settling down is not yet part of the plan, Rocco subtly prepares for the next chapter of his life—to have his own family.
As he looks back at his journey, Rocco can’t turn a blind eye at the failures that turned him to be a more competitive person.
“StarStruck ’yung nagre-remind sa ‘kin na kahit hindi ako nag-first place, ’di ako grand winner, you can still do great things and still achieve something to where I am now.
“Ang motto ko is kung ako nagawa ko, simpleng tao lang ako, normal na tao lang ako, kung ako nagawa ako, kayo kahit sino puwedeng-puwede gawin.
“May mga failed businesses, mga bagay na ’di pala para sa ’kin, but I always welcome that. Tulad ng sabi ng dad ko, when you plan something and it fails, charge it to experience. It’s not something na magsasabi sa ‘yo na end of the line, parang you should give up na lang. ’Di na ko mag-e-elaborate kung ano mga nangyari mismo pero sa kung anong natutunan mo which is to get up and move on.”
A registered nurse, an actor, a master’s degree holder, a navy reservist, and also an entrepreneur, surely there may be too much on his plate already.
But just like how he started, Rocco has long learned to take everything a step at a time.
“I wanna play as it goes. Ayaw ko magmadali. I feel na nasa peak ako ng career ko. All these projects happening. Write About Love is such a huge success. The Healthy Juan, also, we’re looking at season three, and then Descendants of the Sun.
“And then let’s see kung ano pang windows and doors ang magbubukasan. Ngayon pa lang kine-claim ko na. I don’t know when up is, pero I believe with Descendants of the Sun, it will launch me to lots of opportunities pa rin.
“Sana maging time ko na for a break.”