Serenity and simplicity
When the lights go out, silver-screen heartthrob Piolo Pascual is just the boy next door. By Cora Llamas

Celebrities can blind fans to immobility. They are stars that draw people irresistibly into orbit. For a brief moment, they can become the center of the universe.

But Piolo Pascual is nothing of the sort. He's a gentle breeze, the warm glow of a cozy room. He pulls you in not to command your adoration but to connect with you, to put you at ease.

While showbiz prima donnas tow a fawning entourage and show up at sets late, this 27-year-old actor and singer arrives on time and prepared. He doesn't ask for much but he is generous with his time, as his admirers have found out.

Piolo's hometown humility is one of the reasons why millions tune in to the noontime variety show ASAP and evening soap Mangarap Ka. Of course, it doesn't hurt to be strikingly handsome, muscled, lean and almost 6 feet tall. A billboard on EDSA shows that body peppered by a half-dozen kiss marks as it flees from love-crazed admirers.

But the image of a reluctant Don Juan couldn't be farther from the truth. When it comes to affairs of the heart, Piolo knows exactly what he wants, and the kind of woman he needs.

"I just want her to be simple," he says. "She has to have Filipino values. She must be a very good wife to provide what [the family needs] at home. I'm old-fashioned. I would want my mom to live with me, be there with my kids--and be OK with my wife."

Sound mind, sound body
Twice-weekly tapings, a daily noontime show, movies, commercials and out-of-town concerts have Piolo working 7 days a week. To build his strength and keep creative juices flowing, he has to be smart.

"I take a lot of 1-hour catnaps between takes. I sleep in my car. I also sleep 8 hours a day. If I don't, I'd be grouchy.

"I stopped eating beef and pork, but started [eating] lean meat last week. Other than that, my diet is [composed of] just fish, chicken and veggies. And no sodas, just warm water.

"I work out 2 hours a day, three times a week. I have a bike and a treadmill and machines at home. But when I lack sleep, I just rest and don't force myself. A personal trainer motivates me because at home, there are distractions, I can get too lazy, or I just want to rest. [But working out has] to be a habit."

Piolo's energy is well-spent. "I've outgrown the going-out phase," he says. "I would rather spend free time at home and fix things. I don't have extracurricular activities. I simplified my life and eliminated the things that don't really matter."

Behind the screen
Piolo is an unabashed film enthusiast. In a heartbeat, he explains why Stepford Wives didn't work and happily calls attention to the many Asian talents in The Last Samurai. Through traffic on the way to a location shoot, he saw Big Fish on a mobile VCD player.

Despite his busy schedule, he keeps tabs on film screening hours. "I know all the movies coming out every week. Trust me," he says and flashes a smile. A trip to the Robinson Galleria theaters every Sunday follows the religious services he attends at the Victory Christian Fellowship with 7-year-old son Iñigo.

Iñigo is partly responsible for his conversion. "He imitates, copies and looks up to me," says Piolo. "Whatever I become will have a huge impact on him. I want him to grow up in the safest way."

Piolo made a commitment to God after fame, fortune and stardom smiled on him. Under similar circumstances, a lesser soul would have shrugged off divine guidance. But through the help of friends and fellow entertainers Coney Reyes-Mumar and Donita Rose-Villarama, the first seeds were planted.

"I was doing very well and had money but I couldn't hold it to myself because it was just too much. I just said, 'Lord, handle this for me.' I had the chance to stray and be reckless, but I didn't want to [take it]."

Faith enables Piolo to weather the storm of gossip. "People will always want to find something wrong. I have gotten over that. But God knows what you do and everything about you."

A message
During the last electoral campaign, he surprised allies and detractors by openly supporting pastor-turned-politician Eddie Villanueva. He visited churches, sharing his faith with the same passion he belts out songs. He also endorsed a nonprofit organization that counsels and provides assistance to the youth.

"I had my share of parties, drinking and sleepovers; I know what it's like to be young and I want to use that," says Piolo. "I'm giving my testimony so people will learn or get something from it. If they are thinking about doing something wrong, they might change their minds. I want to encourage a lot of people, especially the kids."

Piolo flashes the shy but self-confident smile and the quiet breeze returns. Serenity, spirituality or just plain simplicity, it's what sets this superstar apart.