MANILA — After a yearlong regimen to maintain a lean build for the theatrical run of the risqué play “Walong Libong Piso,” Paolo Gumabao said he relaxed his diet over the holidays, resulting in about 15 pounds from guilty-pleasure food.
“All year round, gumawa ko 'Walong Libong Piso.' Payat ako. I really don’t eat, nagkaka anxiety ako noon pag weigh. After noon I really let loose. Grabe ako mag... double burger, 10 piece chicken nuggets... fries, 2 pcs nuggets sinabi ko sa sarili ko I will eat everything,” he said in an interview held in Pasig City.
“Nag-gain ako parang 6-7 kilos. Wala na lahat ng pandesal, monay na,” he jokingly added.
Apart from fast food, the actor also revealed he indulged in stinky tofu during their family’s trip in Taiwan to visit his sick grandfather.
“We visited my lolo, kinalakihan mo na lolo, may colon cancer. My step father’s. We visited him. His chemo is on going, hopefully getting better,” he shared.
Gumaba, however, is confident he will be able to shed the additional weight in the following months through exercise and a healthy diet.
“New year’s resolution ko bumalik katawan ko dati. Pag nagpapa batak ako, basketball, then every other day mag gym ako. Aside from that, diet. That’s 70 percent of your fitness journey. Even with a good fitness routine, if you don't have healthy eating habits, wala mangyayari,” he said.
The actor is eyeing to visit his father Dennis Roldan as soon as he can in NBP.
“Hindi ako nakadalaw [this holiday]. Sunod-sunod work and then Taiwan. Siguro this month, babawi ako,” he said. “Nilalaban nila. Hindi pa rin kami sumusuko, buong pamilya para mailaban.”
He said his father remains supportive and watches his projects whenever possible, despite limited opportunities, and pushes him to further grow as an actor by taking on more diverse roles.
“Ina-advise niya ako, paging kontrabida sana makahanap ako way na hindi lang mag-stick sa kontrabida. Mag-try iba,” he recalled.
“Hirap siya mapanuod mga pelikula ko. Hindi lahat ng pelikula ko napapanuod niya. Pinaka napanuod niya Batang Quiapo eh, may TV sa kulungan eh. So yun nakikita niya,” he added.
Gumabao said he has taken his father’s advice and will showcase different acting chops in his latest film, “Spring in Prague,” where he will portray his first “lover boy” role.
"Challenge is work my way around being a leading man. Di ako sanay sa ngiti-ngitian. Sanay ako sa nakasimangot, nang aakit, Galit. Since ito bida, naghanap ako paano maging cinematic. There is a cinematic way of acting naturally and cinematically as a lover boy,” he teased.
Borracho Films Production’s “Spring in Prague” is set to hit cinemas nationwide on February 4.