Rocco Nacino poses sexy for Men's Health Magazine

ROCCO NACINO is proud to be chosen as the July cover boy of Men’s Health Magazine. “I was surprised when my handler, Cris Ojeda, informed me about it at pictorial na raw agad,” he says. “Nagkataon that was just after Holy Week na I ate a lot so I was about 10 lbs overweight. I asked kung puedeng in two weeks na lang para I can prepare. I had a two-week strenuous workout and diet program eating nothing but vegetables, camote and banana para lumabas yung mga ugat ko.”

Rocco was just second runner up in Starstruck V but he now has more assignments than winner Steven Silva. He’s busy taping the dance serye “Time of Your Life” and he’s excited as the Cinemalaya entry he did, “Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa”, is about to be shown at the CCP and Greenbelt 3 starting July 16. In the dance serye, he figures in a love triangle with Kris Bernal and Mark Herras. In the movie, he’s also in a unique love triangle with Jean Garcia and Paulo Avelino. It’s unique as there is a gay relationship involved. He admits he was hesitant when the film was first offered to him. “I felt I wasn’t ready for a gay-themed film,” he says. “But when Director Alvin Yapan explained to me the treatment and how my role will be interpreted, I felt it’s a good challenge for me as an actor. At first, nagkakailangan pa kami ni Paulo, but after a couple of scenes, okay na kami.”

So who’s gay, Paulo or him? “Puedeng siya, puedeng ako. That’s all I can say. We play dancers here. Puede ring kami pareho. Basta it’s a love triangle with a twist. That’s the objective of the director, for people to ask: si Paulo at si Rocco ba? Or Paulo or Jean? You have to watch it to find out the anwer.”

How sexy is the film? “I have a sexy solo dance number, but Paulo and I also have a dance number na sexy rin. It’s really challenging and I hope ang mapansin, yung ganda ng story, yung ganda ng dance numbers na pinaghirapan namin, at hindi yung sexy lang.”

Do they have a kissing scene ala-“Brokeback Mountain”? “I’m glad we’re not required to do that as I’m also not ready. I’m still starting as an actor at ayoko namang ma-identify agad sa ganun.”

Is he worried people might suspect he and Paolo are really gays? “No, I’m sure pareho kaming lalaki.” 

Or he’s worried he’s rumored GF Sheena Halili might be turned off if he’d kiss another man? “Sheena and I are very good, special friends. I don’t think she’d meddle with my career as I also won’t meddle with hers.” 

Now that he has posed for Men’s Health, what if Sheena would agree to do FHM? “It’s all up to her. Siya magde-decide, not me. Kung gusto niya, okay lang sa’kin.”