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All-around artist Ping Medina seems to have it all. Actor, check. Writer, check. TV host, check. Restauranteur, check. How does this multi-faceted star keep up with his numerous endeavors?

All-around artist Ping Medina seems to have it all. Actor, check. Writer, check. TV host, check. Restauranteur, check. How does this multi-faceted star keep up with his numerous endeavors?

First off Ping’s list is a GMA Telebabad series called Prinsesa ng Buhay Ko. “I play Steve. Meron siyang bar, so medyo upscale, medyo mayaman na type na naging confidant ng character ni Aljur,” he stated.

The versatile actor described his co-stars Kris Bernal and Aljur Abrenica and shared, “It’s my first time to work with Kris, though nakasama ko na siya sa workshop before. Makulit siya at masaya kasama. Si Aljur, I’ve worked with him in Indio. Sineseryoso niya ang trabaho niya. Pero pag walang take, may guy bonding din kami minsan.”

Television is a relatively different niche for Ping, as he got his jumpstart in the independent movie scene. Practically the face of indie, he has starred in critically-acclaimed films like Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, Imahe Nasyon, Selda, Kinatay, and most recently, the award-winning Cinemalaya film, Transit.

Transit marks another first for Ping Medina because it is his first film that will be sent to the Oscars to represent the Philippines. Ping puts indie vis-à-vis mainstream, saying “Sa indie, parang mas meron kang freedom. Siyempre sa TV, kailangan mas guwapo ka. Alam mo yun? Kailangan may certain market ka na mahuli. Sa indie, minsan kahit light make-up lang or ‘di na masyado, depende sa role. Maraming differences, pero for me, pareho ko silang nae-enjoy.”

Being the son of seasoned character actor Pen Medina just goes to show that his knack for acting runs in his blood. Even his brothers Alex, Karl and Victor are following in their father’s footsteps.

We asked Ping if there are any acting tips that he has learned from his father, and he answered, “Sa kanya galing ‘yung mga basic foundations na alam ko sa acting, but number one rule, the golden rule probably, is acting comes from the truth. That’s the most important thing I learned from him.”

Besides being a good actor, Ping is also an excellent restauranteur. He told us more about his restaurant and said, “It’s called Pen-Pen’s Filipino kitchen. It’s in Cubao X. The cuisine is new Filipino- ‘yung classic Filipino dishes but with a twist. It started around four years ago. The location in Cubao X is still kinda new, it’s only been there for one year and four months.”

Ping is hands-on when it comes to the dishes being served. Most of them are his own recipes.

“Well yeah, collaboration with my mom, pero in the new menu, I pretty much engineered it from the old one and I added new things, changed the old recipes a bit. I really love to cook,” he exclaimed.

When he’s not in the kitchen or in front of the camera, he also does work behind the camera. Yes, this actor sure can write, and he is about to try his hand at his first screenwriting job.

“Right now, I’m scriptwriting for GMA. I’m writing an episode for Magpakailanman. Hopefully, it will come out soon. Hindi pa nag-taping, eh. We’re finalizing the script under Sir Jake Tordesillas, the head writer of Magpakailanman. It’s my first TV script, so I’m excited,” he said.

He mentioned that there is another first for him: hosting.

“I’m hosting a show in GMA News TV called Philippine Book of Records. It’s basically about local records, like for instance, we’re gonna feature the biggest mooncake in the Philippines, stuff like that. This is my first time to be like a regular host. I’m the host every week with Bernadette Herrera-Dy,” stated Ping.

Catch more of Ping Medina in Prinsesa ng Buhay Ko, weeknights before 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad. Also do watch him as he hosts Philippine Book of Records every Sunday at 2 pm only on GMA News TV. -Text by Samantha Portillo, Photo by Bochic Estrada, GMANetwork.com