Carlo Aquino, 40, admitted he’s aware that many would say about him "suplado naman yan."
But he clarified that in his 34 years in show business, he’s not the type who would ask for VIP treatment on the set or whenever he’s at work.
Speaking to PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), he said, “Ewan ko, ha. Feeling ko sa akin hindi. Baka sa ibang tao may ganun silang feeling na naging ganun ako.
“Parang lagi naman akong just lang. Yung kapag feeling ko medyo naagrabyado ako doon ako mag…”
He backtracked and said that he would rather keep to himself than engage in confrontations.
“Hindi rin kasi ako masalita, e, lalo na growing up," Carlo explained.
"Mas kinikimkim ko lahat. Ngayon na nga lang [ako nagbago] kasi matanda na ako. Baka pag kinimkim ko, atakehin ako," added the talented actor who have had a health scare last year.
Does he feel like he comes off as snobbish because of his aloof vibe?
“Feeling ko," he readily agreed.
Continuing, "Kaya nga mas ano na ako ngayon, mas nagsasalita na ako, kasi yun yung mga dating sinasabi nila na, ‘suplado naman yan. Di naman namamansin yan.’
“Saka siguro maturity din na mas na-appreciate ko na yung buhay.”
Then he suddenly remembered his withdrawn demeanor when he attended the presscon for the movie Goyo, starring Paulo Avelino, in 2018.
Carlo was among the cast members, but he did not entertain interviews at the time.
On hindsight, he candidly remarked, "Ayaw kong sumagot sa mga questions... I was such a douche."
That he's usually guarded and introvert is something he's aware about himself.
Explaining his attitude, Carlo added, "Parang hindi lang talaga ako yung tipo na parang, 'Uy!' Na automatic [na makikipagkuwentuhan].
"Now, mas light na nga ako because of Charlie and my daughter."
His wife Charlie, according to Carlo, brought him peace and direction.
Citing his relaxed demeanor these days, he elaborated, "Mas nagsasalita na ako sa interviews. Dati hindi. Mas okay na ako sa mga presscon. Dati, ako yung huling lalabas. Hindi ako makikipag-usap sa press.
"Ngayon, pupunta na ako sa mga table, magha-hi na ako sa kanila. Yung ganun. Mas naging sociable, mas approachable."
But one thing Carlo’s sure of, his previous aloofness did not come from a "magaling ako" or diva mindset just because of his tenure in the business.
Carlo pointed out, “Kasi kahit ako, hindi naman ako naniniwalang magaling ako."
PEP had an exclusive interview with Carlo during his visit at the Summit Media headquarters following the release of his cover story on Esquire.com.ph.
He considers that cover shoot with Esquire Philippines as a milestone in his career.
"It was fun. Sabi ko nga, nakaka-excite. First cover ko yun sa Esquire. Sabi ko, 'Uy, parang legit ako ha! Legit leading man!" Carlo exclaimed.
CARLO ON LANDING LEAD ROLES
As it is, he still feels surprised whenever he's considered in a lead project.
"Hindi ko alam, e. Siguro lagi na lang nandudun yun at the back of my head," he explained.
Recalling his reaction when he did the lead role in the 2018 movie Meet Me in St. Gallen opposite Bela Padilla, Carlo said, "Medyo hesitant ako. Medyo, ‘Talaga? Sure ba kayo?’ Kinakabahan ako.
"Kasi prior to that, ginawa ko yung Better Half with Shaina Magdayao and JC de Vera sa TV naman nun.
"Up to now, ganun pa din. Hindi pa rin ako ganun ka-confident... Mas confident na, pero, ganun pa rin, may doubts pa rin.”
The same thing happened when he was offered to co-headline the movie Bar Boys in 2017.
It came at a time when Carlo felt like “parang ayaw ko nang umarte.”
And then he suddenly got a call from director Kip Oebanda, asking him to be part of the movie which he co-headlined with Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda, and Kean Cipriano—the sequel of which was shown in the recent 2025 Metro Manila Film Fest entry.
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"Para kasing, para lagi akong may doubt nga, e. Parang every time na nawawala ako, parang ayaw ko na.
"Laging ganun. Kapag may space sa trabaho na wala akong ginagawa. Nagkakaroon ng doubts, ganun."
But his love for the craft prevails with every project he says yes to.
"Pero para sabihin ko na sobrang galing ko," Carlo firmly said, "Hindi. Hindi manggagaling sa akin."
Carlo mused that his self-doubt possibly stems from having experienced an awkward period in his career when he was transitioning from being a child star to a mature actor.
Read: Carlo Aquino and Charlie Dizon: A relationship timeline
G-MIK DAYS
It didn't matter that he already experienced fame as a teen star from youth-oriented shows like G-Mik (1999-2002) and Berks (2002-2004).
Back then, thoughts of career direction or sustaining longevity in showbiz was far from his mind. He was just a kid making the most out of his experience as an artista.
Of his G-mik days, Carlo fondly recalled: "Parang at a very young age kasi hindi naman ako nakakapag-travel kasi hindi naman kami ganun kayaman.
"Yun yung parang first chance ko, opportunity, na makasakay ng eroplano, makapag-perform.
"And I've always loved performing kasi yung sa side ng dad ko mga kumakanta, ganun.
"Although hindi ako singer na singer and dancer na dancer, doon ko na-hone yung skills ko, sa G-mik Nation.
"Kasi parang every day may rehearsal. Kailangan maganda yung show. So yun yung mga di ko makakalimutan. Yung mga [travel sa] Dumaguete, Iloilo... yun yung mga na-enjoy ko.
"Saka siyempre yung mga tapings na every weekend. Saka yung mga, hmmm... puppy love."
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BATA, BATA PAANO KA GINAWA?
Looking back at his career beginnings, he went on to say that one of his favorite projects was the movie Bata, Bata... Paano Ka Ginawa? starring Vilma Santos.
It's a film adaptation from the novel of the same title of Lualhali Bautista, who also did the screenplay for the movie.
Carlo was only 11 years old at the time, but he's got the charm and the talent that complemented that of a seasoned and acclaimed actress such as Vilma.
Every '90s kid would probably remember his iconic line, "Akala mo lang wala! Pero meron! Meron! Meron!" in a heated confrontation scene with Vilma, who was playing as his mom.
"Tsaka may isang beses dun, pagkatapos ng sampal. Kasi, di ba, magwawala ako doon sa couch? Ilang beses din yun take na yun. Ilang beses ko siyang nasisiko.
"Sorry ako nang sorry kay Mommy V. Sabi niya, 'Okay lang yun, anak, okay lang.'
"Kaya siguro mahal na mahal ko si Mommy V., kasi pinabayaan niya akong ilabas yung emotions ko doon sa eksena na 'yon. Kaya na-appreciate ko sobra si Mommy V."
Asked what he learned from the Star of All Seasons, Carlo told PEP, "Iyong pagmamahal sa trabaho. Yun talaga yung pinakita sa akin ni Mommy V.
"Na kahit na gaano siya kapagod, kahit gaano siya kahirap na sa eksena, pag sinabi ni Direk Chito [Roño] na, 'O, isa pa [na take].' E, lalo na pag pelikula, talagang paulit-ulit, e.
"Kasi may shot siya dito, tapos another shot, dito naman sa kabila. So, paulit-ulit, e."
Citing a scene where Vilma expressed her joy as a mother and heartbreak over her struggles, Carlo recalled, "May isang eksena dun, natatawa-tawa siya tapos umiiyak-iyak siya. Paulit-ulit din talaga yun.
"Sabi ko, 'Ah, okay. Mahal niya talaga yung ginagawa niya.'"
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IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY
As for his recent projects, Carlo earned praises for his portrayal in the Kapamilya adaptation of the popular K-drama It's Okay To Not Be Okay, which aired from July-October 2025.
He made his own mark playing the role of a person with autism, originally played by South Korean star Moon Sang-tae.
Talking about the project, Carlo said: "Napanuod ko parang first two episodes lang, e, kasi nga ayaw kong madagdagan yung... Kasi sobrang pressure na, e.
"Parang may following kasi talaga yung It's Okay To Not Be Okay.
"So, ginawa ko lahat ng kailangang kong gawin. Nag-workshop ako, nag-immerse ako sa isang special school. Parang three days kami doon.
"Ginawa ko yung kailangang trabaho. Tapos minahal ko si Matmat. Kaya yun lumabas."
To internalize his character, Carlo said his wife Charlie Dizon helped him understand the "core" of Matmat.
"Kumbaga, ang anchor ko ay yung kagustuhan ni Matmat na magkaroon ng pamilya. Ayaw niya na maging mag-isa.
"Na kahit na alam kong ganito ako, may kakulangan ako sa pag-iisip at saka sa physical, gusto ko pa rin maging kuya kay Patpat [played by Joshua Garcia].
"Gusto kong maging responsible brother para sa kapatid ko. Yun yung kinapitan ko."
He was so immersed in his character that he got carried away in one of his crying scenes with Joshua Garcia and Anne Curtis.
It was the one shot in Siquijor after what was supposed to be a fun trip for the trio.
Carlo recalled: "Iyak ako nang iyak doon sa scene na yung nasa camping van kami.
"Kailangang mag- take two or take three ni Direk Mae [Alviar] kasi hindi ako makapagsalita kasi iyak ako nang iyak na sinasabi ko kay Joshua na, 'Okay na, magsama na lang kayo. Kaya ko na ito Magtatrabaho ko for you guys.'
"Hindi ako makapagsalita. E, ayun yung parang early morning 6 a.m. pumunta kami ng Siquijor. Karga ko na yun scene before umalis ng hotel."
Carlo explained that he has to be in character few hours before a heavy scene so he can better prepare for it.
"Example, my call time is 8 a.m. Gising na ako ng 5:30 a.m. E, beachfront kasi yung hotel namin.
"So para akong nagme-meditate every day. Kailangan kong hanapin yung balance ko. Kasi mabilis akong madi-distract, e.
"Halimbawa pag nagti-take, may nagsasalita, mawawala ako kaagad. So kailangan nakatono ako being Matmat."
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A SPECIAL MEMORY
This 2026, Carlo's new film with Bela Padilla, A Special Memory, will finally premiere in cinemas in March.
A Pinoy adaptation of the Japanese drama series Pure Soul, it tells the story of a man whose wife (Bela) gets diagnosed with a rare early onset of Alzheimer's disease.
It's a reunion for him and Bela eight years after doing Meet Me in St. Gallen.
"Hindi ko nga ine-expect na magkakaroon kami ulit ng movie dahil si Bela umalis, di ba? Nag-stay siya sa U.K. ng napakatagal. Akala ko mag-aasawa na siya doon," Carlo remarked.
"E, biglang umuwi. Gumawa ng Isang Daang Awit. Tapos itong A Special Memory, hindi pa sa amin in-offer na una. Ang dami pang nagiging artista."
But Carlo said he fell in love with the project after reading the script for the film adaptation written by National Artist Ricky Lee.
"Nung binasa ko yung script, umiiyak na ako sa bahay. Tinatanong ni April, 'Anong nangyari sa yo? Bakit ka umiyak?' 'Sabi ko, 'Hindi, ang ganda ng script.'"
Carlo's also excited because it gave him the chance to work again with director Jerry Lopez-Sineneng, who was his director when he did the Kapamilya series La Vida Lena in 2020.
"Napakaganda. Na-excite ako," he concluded.