Award-winning actor Dennis Trillo has renewed his contract with GMA Network, extending his partnership with the company that transformed both his career and his life over more than 25 years as one of its biggest stars.
Leading the momentous contract signing event were top network executives, including President and Chief Executive Officer Gilberto Duavit, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe Yalong, and Officer-in-Charge for Entertainment Group and Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy.
Also present to show their support for the “Kapuso Drama King” were GMA executives Nessa Valdellon, Dingdong Caharian, Gigi Santiago-Lara, Mitzi Garcia, Helen Rose Sese, Ali Nokom-Dedicatoria, Rosette Roa, Anj Atienza, Ruth Mariñas and Jojo Aquio.
“I have nothing else to say except thank you. Thank you for every opportunity and every bit of trust you’ve given me. I can honestly say my life changed because of GMA. They’ve given me countless projects over the years, and every opportunity helped shape who I am today,” Trillo said in his speech.
“I want to thank GMA for all the trust and all the work. I’ll never forget how all of you changed my life — not only mine, but also the lives of the people around me and the people I was able to help.”
Before joining GMA, Trillo worked for another network where one moment changed the way he viewed his future.
“I remember seeing the talent fee of one of my co-actors. He was earning P15,000 per taping day. At the time, I thought, ‘When will I ever have that kind of opportunity?’ I believed that if I could earn that much, I’d finally be able to buy everything I needed,” he said.
“But when my manager introduced me to the executives here, I saw how they treated their artists. I felt that talent was truly valued. I told myself, ‘I think I have a future here.’ They entrusted me with major projects, and little by little I found my rhythm as an actor,” he added.
Looking back, Trillo described his career as “a roller coaster,” saying there were periods when balancing his personal life and career proved difficult.
“It has been a roller coaster because there were times when I struggled to balance my personal life and my career. But every time my career found a new life, I became even more grateful. I realized I still had so much more to offer as an actor and as a person,” he said.
New major project
Speaking to The Manila Times and other members of the press after the contract signing, Trillo looked ahead to his next major project, “Amir,” a Metro Manila Film Festival entry inspired by the 2017 siege of Marawi. The film reunites him with the creative team behind the award-winning “Green Bones” and marks his second project as a co-producer.
“This project is very exciting because it’s based on true events,” Trillo said. “It’s inspired by documentaries and by the experiences of people who lived in tunnels during the siege. The story revolves around a child named Amir. While it’s made for younger audiences and has fantasy elements and visual effects, it’s still a story with a lot of heart because of what these children went through.”
Trillo said filming in Marawi, including Ground Zero, left a lasting impression on him.
“It’s heartbreaking. When you go to Ground Zero, you still see the ruins. The grass has already grown over parts of the area, and you can’t help but feel that rehabilitation has been slow. You still feel the weight of what happened there,” he said.
Emotional toll, pressure
He added that although the production was accompanied by military escorts, the experience was emotionally heavier than it was frightening.
“You feel safe because they assure you the area is secure, but the place itself carries the sadness of the tragedy.”
As co-producer, Trillo admitted taking on the project has brought a different kind of pressure.
“It’s actually more nerve-wracking because this is a bigger production. It relies heavily on visual effects, so naturally the budget is bigger and there are more investors involved. There’s pressure for the film to succeed. But we’ve seen the progress of the shoot, and because it’s the same team behind ‘Green Bones,’ we’re confident we’re creating something special,” he said.
Although he has won numerous acting honors — including a sweep of major Best Actor awards for “Green Bones” —Trillo said he hopes his legacy extends beyond his performances.
“More than my talent, I hope I become someone younger artists can look up to. I want them to remember me as someone who respected others, who was easy to work with and who never caused problems. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave behind,” he said.
