For the average person, you may know Enzo Pineda as an actor. From TV series, movies, to even winning a FAMAS award, you might be more familiar with his image as a charismatic leading man taking on roles of our favorite media and entertainment pastimes. “Looking back, me and my friends had an idea that I might be in showbiz talaga someday. Even though I wasn’t training to be an actor or stage performer, parang may idea na kami ng mga best friends ko in high school na balang araw [I’ll be an actor],” he recalls.
He started out his acting career through the reality talent search competition show, Starstruck, where he won “First Prince” or first runner-up. Soon after that, he took on roles in various shows and movies on GMA Network, opened his opportunities to ABS-CBN, and eventually expanded his acting repertoire with indie films featured in Cinemalaya, Cinema One Originals, and Sinag Maynila. “He Who is Without Sin” won him Best Supporting Actor during the 2021 FAMAS Awards and earned a nomination in the 2021 Gawad Urian Awards.
But, take away the artista factor, who is he? The 32-year-old describes himself as “somebody who does a lot of things, a jack of all trades.” I describe him as someone that’s passionate beyond boundaries. He’s humble in the way he describes life events, easy-going as he ventures into different stories away from the original interview questions, and driven in his pursuits in life. And there’s no telling what he’ll do next.
A Jack of All Trades
When one hears about “a jack of all trades,” they often think of its succeeding words, “a master of none.” This has led to many taking the quote in a bad light thereby preventing them from diving into different paths in life. Rather than going on a journey for exploration, they’d rather focus on what they know and what they’re good at.
But, the reality is that the complete phrase is actually “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
Far from the perceived meaning, a jack of all trades can lead to many opportunities for self-discovery. And this has ringed true for Enzo, who has gone on many paths in his life. “I’m the type of person who wants to try different things. I guess that’s why I’m an actor, ‘cause I like to put myself in other people’s shoes. I like to explore life, and for me kasi, it’s important that you try a lot of things because that’s where you discover your passion,” he shares.
Over the pandemic, he’s found solace in exploring his passions in life, no matter how much it veers away from his intended acting career. A few of his many hats include being EVP for Aces Prestige, joining the ranks as a Navy reservist, getting to be a Culinary Agripreneur student, trying his hand at vlogging, and even diving into the plantito life. This is without mentioning his projects for social change with World Vision and WWF-Philippines.
They say a jack of all trades is a master of none, but they clearly haven’t met one Enzo Pineda who sees hurdles as opportunities and limitations as suggestions. “Sayang naman if you’re going to limit yourself to just being this person because it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.”
Beyond the Pandemic
When the pandemic hit, many film and television productions needed to close down. For actors like Enzo Pineda, this was a significant event as it meant putting a halt to their major occupation. It meant not only an obstacle to a passion they loved most but also an unclear road in their careers.
While this may spell out anxiety for the future, Enzo took it as a time to look at the positive. And in looking at the positive, he decided to spread that positivity everywhere. As an advocate for a healthy lifestyle, he took on Aces Prestige—a health and wellness company—as an opportunity from his girlfriend Michelle’s best friend. And then came Culinary Agriculture in CCA Manila, where he learned farming and food business with his future goal to create a farm-to-table restaurant. Followed by that, he took the health advocacy to the health crisis as he worked on charitable projects to raise funds, pack relief goods, and advocate for underprivileged communities who may have been affected by the pandemic the most.
“The pandemic was a challenging time for everyone, but it was also a time for me to discover a lot of things. I have to admit that yung mga bagay na gusto kong ma-achieve before, came during the pandemic. I didn’t really expect to win my first and second acting award during the pandemic. I didn’t really expect that I’d get to study again… to open a business. I was also able to fulfill my dreams in being in the military.”
Through the trials and tribulations, Enzo shares that one of the most important things he’s learned in his journey is realizing the essential things in life. He talks about different quotes he holds dear, such as Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He counts his weekly Bible group with his friends as one of his proudest achievements. He shows a deep appreciation for the blessings he gets in his life. And most of all, he makes the most out of his time with family and loved ones.
He muses, “I guess the pandemic really pushes you to go beyond your limits and try different things despite of what’s happening. We’ve lost family, friends, but it also pushed us as human beings to become better.”
Get in touch with Enzo Pineda through:
—alike.com.ph
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