Inigo Pascual on What His Life in the US Is Like and Where He's Taking His Artistry Next

Inigo Pascual, as photographed by Chris Cantos

Singer, songwriter, and actor Inigo Pascual has come a long way since he began his showbiz career. He’s been based in the US but goes back and forth to the Philippines to pursue acting and music-related projects. It’s been quite a journey to carve his own path, but he’s made significant strides in establishing himself as an artist. 

We reconnected with him recently as his movie, Fatherland, was released, and we chatted with him about the past, the present, and the future of Inigo. 

Inigo, who grew up in the US, moved back to the Philippines at 17 to enter the Philippine entertainment scene. He may have followed in his father’s footsteps, but he’s his own person, and his dad, Piolo Pascual, has always served as his role model, mentor, and even collaborator. 

In 2014, Inigo debuted on the big screen via the teen romance film Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig. He has had stints in several more movies since, including Para sa Hopeless Romantic and Crazy Beautiful You. On television, Inigo appeared in Maalaala Mo Kaya and Wansapanataym episodes and was a cast member of the drama series And I Love You So. 

Inigo was not all about acting, though. He ventured into music as well in 2016. His self-titled album contained his global hit single “Dahil Sa’Yo,” which won several awards and solidified his then-rising status as a singer-songwriter. Looking back, he told Metro.Style, “Oh, it was a milestone for me. It really changed my career. I got to go to so many places, so many different countries because of that song.” 

Inigo showed his talent and charisma, proving he is more than just the “son of Piolo Pascual.” Still reflecting on the impact of his song, “Dahil Sa’Yo,” on his life, Inigo opened up, “That was a moment in my life where I felt like I was existing in the industry as Inigo rather than Piolo’s son. When that song came out, I felt like I had an identity of my own.”

With skills he acquired from his experiences on cam, onstage, and in the recording studio, Inigo returned to the US and tried his luck in Hollywood. In 2021, he landed his first Hollywood project, Monarch, an American musical-drama series under Fox Entertainment Studios. He played the role of Ace Grayson, the adopted son of Dottie Cantrell, played by Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon. 

Following Monarch, Inigo appeared in the Hollywood movie Homestead, portraying a Filipino terrorist. His appearance in it may have been short, but it was meaningful and memorable. It was a joy for him to be cast as a Filipino with lines in his native language. 

“It was a check off my bucket list because I got to speak Tagalog in an American film,” he shared. “Nakakatuwa ’yun kasi pangarap ko ’yun… I think every artist dito sa Pilipinas, pangarap natin na maipakita sa ibang bansa, at sa world stage ’yung talento natin at ano'ng klaseng art ang p’wede natin ma-offer. And that was a dream come true for me. Na umarte ako sa isang production na American tapos ’yung mga crew, the directors, everyone was American. And they were asking me, ‘What were you saying?’ I would have to translate ’yung script nila. I would have to translate it into Tagalog, Filipino. So nakakatuwa na there's so much room for inclusivity and different cultures now. And we live in a time where it's possible for artists like us from different countries to also shine internationally.”

Now that he’s dabbling in acting abroad, Inigo dreams of working with his “super idol” Leonardo DiCaprio and taking on a role like Frank Abagnale Jr. (played by DiCaprio) in the crime comedy drama film Catch Me If You Can. “He's a con artist, and he's just such a cool character,” Inigo described. 

Recently, Inigo starred in Fatherland, a movie about a son looking for his father who turns out to have a Split Personality Disorder. On the most challenging part of his role, he shared, “Every time there's someone telling a story about my dad [in the film], I'm brought to the flashback. So, nandu’n ako sa flashback, it means the scene is happening where my dad is. So, nagre-react lang ako. Ang hirap pala, doon ko na-realize, ang hirap palang umarte nang wala kang lines. Nagre-react ka lang while watching what’s happening. Naiyak ka, pero wala kang mailabas na words. And siguro pinakamahirap ’yung nakita ko na ’yung tatay ko [in the movie] and ’yung condition niya na hindi okay.”

Inigo learned about the offer to work on Fatherland as soon as he arrived in the US, coming from a trip to the Philippines to promote his album, The Heartbreak Trilogy, which featured three breakup-themed songs.

“It was very surprising when this project came to me, when it was offered to me,” Inigo recalled. “Because at the time, I had just flown back to the US. I went to the Philippines to promote my Heartbreak Trilogy, the three songs I put out last year. The moment I arrived at the airport, I got a call from my manager. And sabi nila, you have an offer and you have to fly back here in a week's time. So I had to come back right away.”

It was easy for Inigo to decide to return to the Philippines for the said project. Inigo learned that Joel Lamangan would be its director, and that pretty much sealed the deal. “He also directed my dad in one of my dad's early movies, Mila,” Inigo offered, adding what a dream come true it was to work with the veteran director. 

It was also a welcome change for Inigo to take on a project that was neither based on a love team nor grounded in a romantic plot. “So for me, it was an opportunity to showcase my other capabilities as an actor. And also to challenge myself,” Inigo looked back.

Inigo wants to challenge himself constantly. He truly wants to pursue Hollywood, so he keeps his eyes peeled for opportunities to audition. He was actually offered a role in a film, for which he can’t reveal the details yet. Short and sweet, he said, “Can't talk much about it yet. But it's going to be filmed in the US. And it's going to be released there too.” 

He can act and sing, and those essentially make the foundation of theater work. “I also want to do theater one day. Broadway,” he revealed. 

With his dream of making a name in the international entertainment scene, many wonder if he would leave his career in the Philippines for good and focus on Hollywood projects. Firmly, he said, “The answer is no. I'm not doing that. I would love to still work here in the Philippines.”

Inigo craves the dynamic environment of working in the Philippines, but he also loves the simplicity of his life in the US. “I'm a homebody. I love being at home. I love just spending my days slowly. I love having my slow mornings. I water my plants. I read every morning. I journal every morning. And it's very different from my life here. Every time I land in Manila, and I get to the airport, and people start asking for pictures, I forget that this is my job. Because in the States, my life is very simple. My life is just my family,” Inigo shared, adding that his favorite way to unwind is binge-watching movies and series. 

He loves being by the ocean, too, and told us that his favorite spot to go to in the US is the Point Dume State Beach in Malibu. 

Malibu was one of the areas affected by the Southern California wildfires early this year. At the time, Inigo was vacationing in South America, but his mind was back home. The house is located in the middle of the Palisades and the Eaton fires, and her mother (Donnabelle Lazaro) and grandfather, with Inigo’s two cats, had to evacuate. He shared, “Luckily, none of our family members, none of their houses, and ours as well—they weren't touched. But we were very close. And we were one of the first few neighborhoods that had to evacuate. We were, I think, two or three neighborhoods away from the fire… I was supposed to be having a good time while I was in South America. Vacation. Pero ang hirap pala na iniisip mo, ‘Meron pa ba akong babalikan na bahay?’ I feel bad for everyone who had to go through that. There were so many families who lost their homes.” 

Experiences like that make Inigo appreciate life more and want to be better because no one really knows what the future holds. 

Some of his life experiences make their way to his music. Coming from The Heartbreak Trilogy, Inigo said, “Right now, I'm in a headspace where I want to write happy songs again… I'm still in the process of writing. Hindi ko pa alam kung ano’ng klaseng kanta ang masusulat ko.” Currently, he enjoys listening to Doechii and Bad Bunny.

We were also delighted to discover another side of Inigo as an artist. Perhaps not many people know that he designs and creates handmade rugs featuring cute animal prints. Check out his brand, As Human Rugs, on Instagram. “I design all the rugs. I make them myself also. So right now, I'm in the process of getting my designs licensed and making sure they're patented so I can sell them properly,” Inigo said, adding that he’s also venturing into producing apparel and launching a hair product line soon. 

With visions laid out for each of his facets as an artist, Inigo has come a long way from being showbiz royalty, but he can still go farther. And no matter where life takes him, the Philippines will always be his home, a place that signifies growth, love, and happiness. 

Produced by Grace Libero-Cruz

Photography by Chris Cantos

Styling by Aaron Mangsat

Grooming by Mac Igarta

Coordination by Iya Baring

Text by Tricia Matias 

Videography by Viel Dungo

Special thanks to Star Magic and Cornerstone