Aga Muhlach gets real about his weight issue
Aga Muhlach revealed that he’s taking decisive steps to address his struggles with weight, suggesting that a project this year marks a “now or never” moment for him.
“I gotta face this lingering issue in my life, my being overweight. Until I am overweight, I cannot really move on. I cannot really do good projects as much as I want to because it’s very limiting,” said the “Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko” star at a recent presscon for his romantic film with Julia Barretto.
Not a few press have noticed though that he has since lost pounds from the time he held an intimate story conference last year for the same film marking his return to the movies.
“Being overweight is very limiting and I’ve been struggling. And finally! Finally, it’s happening now,” he admitted.
“Probably, some have noticed it already, but I’m there,” he said.
“And in the next four, five months, there’s gonna be a big thing that’s gonna happen.”
Aga didn’t say it during the presscon but a few days after, it was announced that he was set to star in a TV5 sitcom with his whole family — wife Charlene Gonzalez and their 22-year-old twins Atasha and Andres in their first acting project — this 2024.
“And I’ve said, it’s now or never,” he explained. “If I don’t lose this (excess weight), then it just stops for me. Because if I cannot fix that, papaano ako magtatrabaho nang maayos (how can I work well)?”
“So, it’s all happening. It’s all going down this year.”
Meanwhile, the veteran actor and former matinee idol is grateful for the opportunities to work with the younger generation of actors, including his leading lady Julia Barretto in “Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko.”
“And kahit lalake ang makasama ko, like an actor who’s in his 20s and his 30s, I’m happy to do that movie,” he said.
“Even for example, something like I haven’t done… something that’s bound to happen soon, I guess, all in His perfect time. Like a gay role that’s gonna be so serious, older or a younger man.
“These are the things that you can do. Magagawan mo ng paraan na ma-experience yon through acting… That’s why I’ve been saying, it’s really a blessing as an actor.
“We’re all blessed naman in our everyday lives, but I speak as an actor, I’m blessed that at 54, I still get to do movies like this. It may or may not work, I don’t know, but it’s the chance that’s given to me. Parang thank you! I feel so grateful really.”
Aga further disclosed that he has long been pitching a movie project he’s been eager to do, even during the time he was doing films for Star Cinema.
He shared, “It’s one movie that I haven’t done yet and I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. But then, let’s see. It has to be the right time because there are already many similar stories, but there’s also something I want to do that I can’t reveal yet. “I’ve been pushing for it since my Star Cinema days, always mentioning a project I’ve been eager to do, even now. It hasn’t happened. Perhaps it’s not meant to be.”
“But if it’s gonna happen, that will be something really… because I will play a role, a retired gay performer.”
At present, Aga leads the cast of the Viva Films’ pre-Valentine offering, “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko” alongside Julia. The film is written and directed by Gawad Urian Best Director Denise O’Hara.
As per synopsis, the movie begins with Michael (played by Aga) meeting Jas (played by Julia) at a bar where she’s sing
ing badly because she’s drunk. He tells it to her face. Later, they meet again at a choir rehearsal.
Jas is shocked to find out that Michael is their new music conductor. The choir is getting ready to perform at a concert honoring the late George Canseco, composer of some of the most beautiful and sentimental Original Pilipino Music in his time.
While Michael is understandably skeptical about Jas’ musical skills, he recognizes her passion to sing. He personally trains her to be able to keep up with the choir. In between rehearsing for the concert and bonding over their shared passion, their friendship turns into something more.
Michael is separated from his wife, but people around them are against their relationship. While it feels like “it’s you and me against the world” at first, the conflict eventually turns into being between the two of them.
Michael tries to assure Jas that he’s not going to leave her, but she points out to him that he will never be completely hers.
Asked during the presscon to whom he can say the line “Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko,” he said it’s obviously his wife, Charlene.
“Mamamatay ako kapag wala ang asawa ko,” he said.
“It’s really a decision I made 22 years ago, and that decision was the best decision I ever made in my life. We’re always together.
“I wake up and I’m, like, ‘Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord because my wife is so selfless.’ My wife is so giving and so much has changed in my life because of her.”
He continued, “Parang meron din akong tigas ng ulo rin. Meron din akong buhay na binubuhay noon. But then, that came with a lot also and it’s like a total surrender to my wife and I am just the happiest that I did that.
“That’s why when we are going through a lot of things in life — I think the lockdown taught us that also — we shouldn’t look too far ahead.
“We already have our loved ones with us. We’re so lucky to have them in our lives,” he added.
“Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Pipiliin Ko” is now showing in cinemas nationwide.