Pancho
Magno became a registered nurse in 2008, but the recession made it difficult
for him to land a steady job. When an opportunity to try acting presented
itself, he figured he would test it out for a few days and see if it would
stick.
Its been quite some time since, and Pancho is only just
getting started. “Why not?" he says of his career shift. He had, after
all, been exposed to the production side because his mother, Redgie
Acuna-Magno, had a lot of experience in the industry. “At first sobrang hirap
because it was so different from watching [the production process],” he
recalls. “Iba pa rin [when it’s] you acting, you actually doing it."
This time, the lights, the cameras, and the eyes were all
on him. “You have to focus, you have to not only say your lines but also
listen. It was nerve-wracking in the beginning, but after taking workshops and
hearing some words of encouragement from more experienced co-stars and crew
members, he relaxed and kept going.
Pancho is fresh off the action-fantasy drama Victor
Magtanggol, playing the Norse mythological figure Modi. Working on a number of
fantasy projects, he says, is great, “because I’m a fan of science fiction.’
Over time, though, he’s been enjoying finding the more relatable and human
sides of his characters and uncovering truths about people just as much as
telling stories.
Getting
to work with Modi as a character has been a career highlight for him. “Marvel
geek kasi ako, eh,” he gushes. “Ginusto ko siyang i-portray na [hindi] typical
at may bago.” Citing James McAvoy as an influence, especially his performances
in Split and its recent sequel Glass, he adds that he’s always aiming to show a
different side of both the character and himself. His genuine enthusiasm fuels
his motivation to do better and be better, to keep learning about and from his
work.
He’s also self-described as naturally athletic and quite passionate
about fitness (his favorite sports are basketball and swimming) and hosts the
show Healthy Ever After with his wife, actress Max Collins. On the
family-oriented show. Max and Pancho discuss family planning, when to settle
down and how many kids to have, and even proper oral care and vaccines for
kids. “Sobrang excited ako kasi naa-apply ‘yung nursing skills ko now,” he
says.
In the years to come, Pancho wants to keep telling stories
especially ones about the country’s political and socio-cultural
climate—through movies or even documentaries. “I don’t want to say [we're]
ignorant, he begins, “pero siguro minsan [we're not] aware. Ayaw nating pansinin
na may nangyayari.” He hopes to do his part in exposing some difficult
truths: “I want to inform people and impart knowledge.” -F.E.