DENNIS TRILLO is all smiles these days because his new GMA Telebabad drama series, “Legal Wives”, is getting good feedback from viewers in the internet and its first week of telecast also rated very high.
“All of us na involved in the show are so happy for the warm reception of the viewers and also the advertisers who are supporting us,” he says.
“I must admit na noong una, medyo kabado ako kasi first time na ipapakita on TV and Muslim culture but Allah must have guided us and blessed us kaya naging maganda ang pagtanggap ng lahat sa aming show.
"Pati ang handling ni Direk Zig Dulay sa material, pinupuri rin nila, so we’re all very thankful.”
The show is also very fast paced. Dennis plays Ismael, the second son in the Makadatu family from the Maranaws of Lanao.
He falls in love with Andrea Torres as Dianne, a Christian, and she reciprocates it.
But a problem quickly arises when Ismael’s older brother, Alfred Vargas as Nasser, dies in a rido or clan war and Ismael has to inherit Nasser’s widow, Alice Dixson as Amirah. Of course, Dianne is against the idea of sharing Ismael with another woman.
“Maganda ang pagkakalatag ng story kaya nakaka-relate ang viewers sa iba’t ibang characters,” says Dennis. “And the drama will be more complicated sa pagpasok ni Bianca Umali as the third wife, Farrah, na anak ng best friend kong si Bernard Palanca.
"She’ll be raped while studying in Manila and she gets pregnant. Bernard will request me na panagutan si Bianca para hindi malagay sa kahihiyan ang pamilya nila. Abangan nyo dahil the show gets more and more interesting and intriguing in the days to come.”
Dennis is now also preparing for his trip to Italy as the action-drama he just finished with Director Erik Matti and Dondon Monteverde of Reality Entertainment, “On the Job 2: The Missing 8”, is an entry in the main competition of the 78th Venice International Film Festival to be held from September 1 to 11.
“It took us about two years to finish shooting the whole film,” he says. “I’m glad na natapos din namin at heto nga, nakuha pang official entry ng ating bansa sa isang class A film festival.”
Also in the film’s cast are Christopher de Leon, Ricky Davao, Dante Rivero, John Arcilla, Rayver Cruz, Lotlot de Leon, Isabelle de Leon and Vandolph Quizon.
Dennis plays a prisoner who is being released from jail every now and then to carry out assassinations for powerful people. “On the Job 2” will later be released as a 6-part original series worldwide on HBO Go Asia.
“We’re fixing my schedule so I can join the entourage going to Venice,” says Dennis.
“Alam kong mahirap magbiyahe ngayon because of the pandemic but I’m ready to follow all the health protocols when I leave and when I return home to the country.
"Fully vaccinated na naman ako and I’m willing to undergo quarantine. It’s really a big honor to be part of this film.”
We’re sure he’d be missed by his inamorata, Jennylyn Mercado, when he leaves for Venice. It's good Jen will start her own taping for a new show opposite new Kapuso Xian Lim.
Dennis and Jen have been together for seven years now and they’ve even put up their own business, a cat cafe called Litterbucks where they allow their about a dozen pet cats to roam around the cafe and entertain their clients.
It was doing quite well, but the pandemic came and their business was affected by the onslaught of the rampaging virus.
They’ve now decided to close it down. Wonder where the cats are now.
