Cover With no formal background in acting, Emilio Daez committed fully to the craft through workshops and mentorship, proving he’s more than ready for the spotlight (Photo: Luke Abadiano)
With no formal background in acting, Emilio Daez committed fully to the craft through workshops and mentorship, proving he’s more than ready for the spotlight (Photo: Luke Abadiano)
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Find out how Emilio Daez left his corporate job to pursue acting, landing his first lead role in ‘Love at First Spike’ and proving his dedication to the craft
New to acting but already loved by the audience, Emilio Daez took the plunge when he left a corporate career to pursue acting on Philippine television. He recently landed his first lead role as Uno Santillan in Love at First Spike. “It was a dream come true,” Daez says of the audition process, where he was chosen from over 50 other candidates.
Despite his limited experience, Daez takes the craft seriously, making time for workshops, character building and collaboration with directors. With his strong work ethic and clear purpose, Daez is proving that he’s in the industry to stay. He draws inspiration from veteran actors and gets his balance in prayer, reflection and support from his family. He’s setting his sights on action roles, hoping to one day lead a project in the vein of James Bond.
Read more: Elijah Canlas is curating his legacy on screen, one meaningful role at a time
How did you start your journey into showbiz?
During my time in the corporate world, I was also creating content on the side. I had a segment called Lunch Break with Emilio, where, during my lunch breaks—with my team and even my boss—I would share or record where we were eating. I’d show what I was eating and give my thoughts on whether I liked it or not. That was actually how I first broke into the social media space and started to carve out my own niche.
At the time, I was under VCM, my brother’s management company, which specialised in celebrity marketing. They told me there was interest from ABS-CBN, and that I had an audition for a series called Pamilya Sagrado. Of course, I was still working my corporate job then. They asked me, “Do you really want to do this? How committed are you?” That really got me thinking—maybe this was the opportunity I’d been waiting for. I felt like it was my wake-up call, so I thought, why not?
I spoke to my brother, Mikael Daez, and said, “Bro, can you please help me out? I really want to do well in this acting audition.” I had never acted before. I didn’t know what I was doing, so I asked for his guidance. He gave me an acting coach and helped me with my script. I spent about a month preparing—doing a crash course, attending multiple one-on-one workshops. That’s how I got ready.
Luckily enough, I got the part.
At that point, I was still trying to juggle my corporate job and my commitments with ABS-CBN. Eventually, I decided to fully commit to ABS-CBN because I didn’t want to let either company down by trying to do both. I had already struggled to balance my job with content creation, and this was an even bigger responsibility.
When I found out that the taping for Pamilya Sagrado would be on a locked-in setup—meaning I’d be away from Manila and confined to a bubble for about a month—I knew I had to make a choice. I wanted to respect the craft and both companies by giving 100 per cent of my focus to the project. After a lot of prayer, reflection and deliberation, I made the decision to resign from my corporate job.
I knew that the window of opportunity in showbiz is small and fleeting. I was incredibly lucky to have been chosen for this role in such a major project, and I fell in love with it. I had the chance to work with actors like Piolo Pascual, Kyle Echarri and Grae Fernandez. It was an incredible experience—especially working with Dreamscape, one of the premier production companies in the entertainment industry.
And yes, that’s really what kickstarted it all.
Above Daez made the bold leap from a corporate career to acting, recently landing his first lead role as Uno Santillan in 'Love at First Spike' (Photo: Kali Vidanes)
Daez made the bold leap from a corporate career to acting, recently landing his first lead role as Uno Santillan in 'Love at First Spike' (Photo: Kali Vidanes)
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Could you pick a role that you felt was a turning point for you, and what do you think made it stand out in shaping your career?
I think Uno Santillan from Love at First Spike is definitely the most pivotal character in my career. It’s my first lead role, and it’s a project where I’ve been able to show people the hard work I’ve put into the craft. I also love the message of the story and, of course, Uno’s journey. It’s been an amazing experience.
How did it feel to land your first major role in Love at First Spike?
It was another audition. I auditioned for the role and was up against around 50 to 70 other guys, so it was really tough. Of course, going into an audition, you never really know what to expect. You just have to do your best and hope, and pray, that it’s enough.
There were two days of auditions: the initial round and then the callbacks. That was it. It felt like it went by slowly, but also really fast. It was only two days, but it felt like an eternity waiting, checking and hoping to get the call.
As an actor, I’ve always dreamed of starring in a lead role. This was truly a dream come true.
What role have you played that you think pushed you the most emotionally?
I think Leon from Pamilya Sagrado and Wilson from Saving Grace both pushed me equally to be better. I learnt so much from playing Leon and Wilson. Of course, they’re very different characters, with different experiences and different lessons. I carried everything I learnt from each show and each character into Uno in Love at First Spike, because Uno is a completely different character from those two.
It was a really enjoyable experience preparing for the role. I place a lot of emphasis on preparation as an actor—that’s been a key part of my process. Hopefully, I can continue to carry that into the next projects I take on.
How do you prepare for your roles from script to screen?
The most important part for me is understanding my character. I usually take my time and read through the script thoroughly. Then I create a character sketch. I have a notebook where I write all my notes. I don’t want to give away too many of my secrets, but that’s generally how I prepare.
Of course, the workshops provided by ABS-CBN have been amazing. Collaborating with my director is also something I’ve found to be incredibly important. I’ve learnt that having a strong relationship with the director really helps, because they’re the captain of the ship, guiding me towards the vision we want to bring to life.
I’ve also found that working closely with your castmates is just as essential—building rapport and creating a sense of comfort on set really makes a difference.
How do you stay grounded and focused on your craft, given the pressures of the industry?
One thing I really appreciated about my Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) experience is that I lived without a phone. It allowed me to truly focus on one thing at a time, and that’s something I’ve carried with me outside the house—just focusing on what I need to do each day, not looking too far ahead, and making sure I improve little by little every single day.
My family has been my backbone, my foundation—along with my management, my Star Magic family, my VCM family and my friends. They’re the people I truly look up to.
And of course, prayer. That’s something that really helps keep me grounded, and I hold it in very high regard. I read the Bible every day.
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Can you recall any major challenges you faced when starting out in your career?
I think one of the things that was challenging for me was the acting itself, the craft. I had little to no experience, and I know how important experience is when it comes to acting. So, with every opportunity and every project I’m given, I really put in 100 per cent effort to make sure I learn as much as I can—and I do learn every time.
I try to keep an open mind and approach each role like a blank canvas, ready to be shaped by my directors and even my castmates. I know I still have so much to learn, so I’m really putting on that student cap and making sure I soak everything in and fully understand the process.
Are there any dream projects or genres you’re hoping to explore in the near future?
I would love to star in an action film or TV series. I really look up to Batang Quiapo, they’ve truly made their mark. Hopefully, I can do something similar one day. If there’s a Western comparison, maybe something like James Bond. That would be super cool.
What message would you like to share with aspiring artists who look up to your journey and want to break into the industry themselves?
I always go back to what I said in the PBB house—being a good person. That’s something my brother, and many of the veteran actors I’ve spoken to, have always emphasised: be kind and work hard. That’s the message I’d share with aspiring actors.
Things will eventually work out, but you have to be patient. There are so many things beyond your control. But if you stay kind, work hard and stay grateful for the opportunities you are given, I believe that things will fall into place.
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Photography: Luke Abadiano
Photography: Kali Vidanes
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Jessica grew up writing letters for everyone, on every occasion. Little did she know that her hobby would eventually turn into a true passion. She believes that content should be relatable yet factual, engaging yet straightforward.
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A journalism graduate, Jessica never stops learning and honing her craft. She began her career as a Global Content Editor for a travel company, inspiring readers and travellers to explore the world. Currently, she writes on topics ranging from entertainment, health, sports and travel to in-depth stories about influential and impactful personalities.
For any leads, you may reach her through jessica.zapata@tatlerasia.com via email.
