Piolo Pascual reveals why he almost quit showbiz

Piolo Pascual opened up about the difficult period in his career during which he considered stepping away from the entertainment industry. 

In a recent interview with Toni Gonzaga in Toni Talks, the two recalled one moment when they had a serious conversation about the life story of Manny Pacquiao.

"The story was, when you're at the top of your career, at the peak of your career, you realize, 'Ay ito pala yun,'" Toni said, who then asked when that moment occurred in Piolo's life.

Piolo shared that after years of being in the limelight, juggling multiple projects, and constantly being in the public eye, he struggled with burnout and mid-life crisis.

"[In] 2014, so I was 37. Siguro mid-life [crisis] na parang mag-fofourty ka na nararamdaman mo na 'Ano bang meaning ng buhay, bat ko ba ginagawa ko 'to?'" he said.

During that time, Piolo already planned to migrate to the United States and was set to make the film Starting Over Again, with Toni as his leading lady, as his last project. 

"At that time, nagpapadala na ako ng gamit sa States," he recalled, admitting he felt demotivated and burnt out.

Talking more about his faith, Piolo said he felt empty when he didn't have God in his life.

"When I accepted Christ, that's when I felt na 'Ah kaya pala ako nag artista, kaya ko pala ginagawa yung ginagawa ko is because of God's purpose," the Mallari star said.

He continued: "Hindi naman mataas and sarili ko, I just felt parang pagod na ko and yet, hindi pa pala tapos si God sa akin."

In 1993, Piolo began his career starring in the drama-crime movie The Vizconde Massacre Story (God Help Us!). He also made his first television appearance in the youth-oriented talent and variety show That's Entertainment.

He starred in several TV series and films, including Esperanza, Sa Puso Ko Iinagatan Ka, Sa Piling Mo, Lobo, On the Job, Since I Found You, and the Philippine adaptation of Flower of Evil.