Iñigo Pascual stays grounded

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"This is home to me," the 27-year-old actor and musician said at a Star Magic Spotlight media conference before the weekend. "No matter what projects I get to do in another place, in another country, this will still be my home."

That homecoming feeling is especially strong nowadays, with Iñigo's latest Filipino film, "Fatherland," earning him praise for stepping out of the heartthrob box and into a meatier dramatic role in April.

"It was my first time doing a heavy drama," Iñigo said. "Usually, it's 'pakilig' (fan thrills) movies, so I was really happy I was able to do something different."

Directed by multi-awarded filmmaker Joel Lamangan, "Fatherland" casts him as a Filipino-American reconnecting with his roots — art imitating life, in a way.

Iñigo admitted to turning to his famous father, Piolo Pascual, for advice. "I always ask Papa, especially when I have to give everything in heavy drama scenes. I ask him what I should be thinking — should I use my personal pain or should I be the character? And my dad says, 'Whatever works for you and whatever works in that situation.'"

Iñigo Pascual PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM/INIGOPASCUAL

It's no secret Iñigo has long lived in his father's artistic shadow, but he's always taken the comparisons in stride.

"For me, being the child of a celebrity is something that will always be there. What people don't understand is tjat being the child of a star doesn't guarantee an easy or quick path to success. [In fact], when you enter the industry, the expectations are already high. People expect you to be great at what you do right away and you don't have the space or time to be a beginner," he explained.

"But I never saw it as a burden or a challenge. It's true that my dad gave me a path, but it's up to me how I interpret that. And for me, I see it as a blessing. It's an honor, of course, to be compared to my dad, who's an amazing actor and a good person."

Blessings are something Inigo has been counting more consciously in recent years — especially as his schedule takes him back and forth across the Pacific. "It's not really planned," he admitted. "It's whenever it's possible. But as much as I can, I try to be here more. The plan is to stay in the Philippines longer."

Still, Hollywood isn't off the table. Inigo is currently preparing for another film project in the US.

"I'm really excited for it," he said. "I can't say much about it yet, but I'm happy I get to come back here and at the same time do auditions in the States."

"Whenever I say auditions, it doesn't mean I always get in," he shared candidly. "And it's hard. If it's already difficult to be an artist in the Philippines, imagine how much harder it is in America. You face so many more competitors, and they have so many more options."

He takes the same balanced, patient approach to his music. After releasing "The Heartbreak Trilogy" last year, Inigo is aiming to switch things up with "more happy songs" this 2025. "I think I'm going to go back to my roots, kind of go back to the sound of 'Dahil Sayo,'" he said.

Beyond the spotlight, he's also venturing into business. "More on hygiene, more like hair products and self-care type of products — which I've been wanting to do for a while now," he said. "It's my first business venture, so that's also in the process of being finished this year."

Whether it's acting, music, or building a brand, Inigo seems to be growing into his own pace, his own style — and his own name.

"After so many years, it's like, 'Hey, I'm still here,'" he said. "With every project and every time I come home to the Philippines, I'm just happy people are still there for me. And I'm grateful, of course."