What makes a leading man a leading man? Good looks? Great physique? Captivating eyes? A voice that lingers? A jawline that could launch a thousand ships? A smile that leaves you breathless? Or an undeniable chemistry with a co-star?
Could it be an established family background in the entertainment industry? Millions of followers on social media? Or is it a blend of qualities that transcend screens and reach the hearts of audiences?
Despite many changes in the world, the face value of an individual remains one of the most important assets for rising popularity. Face card—as the new generation puts it. A face that graces billboards, ignites social media trends, and leaves hearts racing. But is that all there is to a leading man?
In this feature, a new generation of leading men redefines what it means to be one: it’s not merely a canvas of aesthetics. They bring not only their striking looks but also pure talent and a fresh perspective to the screen—delivering real characters, embracing challenging roles, and adding emotional depth into stories that grapple with moral dilemmas. Here, Kiko Estrada and Marco Gallo reveal what it took to establish their names and prove they are not just the dashing men they are portrayed as.
‘You Can’t Just Dream the Dream; You Have to Live It’: Kiko Estrada’s Journey to Primetime
The primetime slot is the pinnacle for actors—a validation of hard work. It means becoming a part of people’s lives, with characters etched into their hearts and minds. That’s why it’s such a win for Kiko Estrada to have his afternoon action-revenge drama moved to primetime. “I’m so blessed to have this show called ‘Lumuhod ka sa Lupa,’ and we’re breaking the norms from the afternoon slot. We’ve moved to primetime before ‘Batang Quiapo’. It’s a small project, but it bursts to bigger horizons because of our commitment to good content,” says Kiko.
Coming from a family of movie icons, it might seem like Kiko had it easy. But his decade-long journey in the industry proves otherwise.
“I have my share of trials and tribulations in life. And I’m blessed to have people who love and guide me through the way. I made my fair share of mistakes like a normal human being. But at the end of the day, you have to love your own journey in life. Like a phoenix, I rise from the ashes.”
In this age of clickbait and false narratives, Kiko believes in creating truthful content—one that helps people, not misleads them. “We’re trying to change the norms of our industry by making good content. We need more of Carlo J. Caparas, creative people, to stimulate the culture of the Philippines.”
But the movement to create ripples of change in the already-established industry is not as easy as it sounds. Even with a strong family background, Kiko has faced online challenges. “I thank my team for handling my social media.
‘Yung ibang tao, they can handle it, can deflect it, and I applaud them. But for me, I have a heart of glass. Like a normal human being, I get affected a few times. But thank God for the people that we love, who always support us and keep us on the right track.”
Despite the glitz and glamour, Kiko admits he sometimes doubts his capabilities. “That’s always a part of a person’s life. [But you have to learn to] overcome doubt, you work your ass off to fight for your dreams, do well in things that you really want to do well, and just pray for the best, and do your homework and be ready. You can’t just dream the dream; you have to live it. You have to make a plan. You have to do it. Persistence is the key.”
To prepare for his role, Kiko immerses himself in the lives of his characters, conversing with locals, and learning not only their enunciation and accent but most especially their way of life. “I am an English speaker. In the house, I speak English all the time. But as Norman in ‘Lumuhod ka sa Lupa,’ this guy is for the masa. He became a lawyer, a power lawyer defending the poor. So, it’s very far from me. It’s very challenging.”
But Kiko was able to deliver his role very well because of the collaborative effort put together by the staff, crew, and cameramen. These people did not only work for the show but with all of them, making the set comfortable and bringing out the cast’s capabilities. “Can you imagine me saying, ‘Batid nating tayo’y pumapalaot sa kawalan?!” Kiko laughs, referring to a memorable line from his character.
While the actor may seem to have enjoyed and found passion in his acting career, he admits that becoming an actor was actually not his dream, despite having been in a family of actors.
“I never wanted to become an actor. When I was a kid, I always thought I was going to be Batman—or a billion-dollar man. Never in my wildest dream.”
However, seeing how happy his mom is (his biggest fan who watches every episode and critiques him a bit) and how happy he has become in his journey, he realized that a lot could actually change in the course of one’s life. And in the end, he has learned to love his journey, even though it required him to give up his studies. “I have one year left in St. Benilde. I was studying Diplomatic Affairs. And at that time, the network wanted me to choose. Are you going to work full-time on this? I chose acting.”
And while his sacrifices paid off, Kiko believes that the glamour of show business is just a bonus. More than anything else, he values his family and time—his version of love language. “That’s the basic thing you need in life to be happy. As long as I have my family, my loved ones, and people who love me and care for me in my small circle that I feel the same with, that’s a successful life for me.”
The grandson of late movie villain icon Paquito Diaz shared how his grandfather once told him before he died that he was going to replace him. “He was a famous villain, but he was a sweetheart, a very good actor.” Those are big shoes to fill, but Kiko has proven he can blaze his own trail.
On the second day of filming an action scene, he rolled his ankle but still pushed through, performing the stunts and intense scenes despite the injury. Literally giving his blood, sweat, and tears, Kiko delivered what was expected and more. “The character has been through the wringer. How can you not like this character? How can you not do well? How can you not give your best when everyone’s giving their best? It’s good content, plus our directors, producers, and the whole crew are giving their best.”
Truly, life is about evolution and revolution. Like those who want to further hone their skills in acting, Kiko also takes inspiration from great actors like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, but he emphasizes the importance of making acting impactful for the Filipino audience. Yes, there is so much more to work on, but at least change has started. He draws a parallel to how the South Korean market has penetrated the Oscars. In line with this, Kiko has an upcoming movie titled 40 Days, directed by Dado Lumibao and starring alongside Cindy Miranda, showcasing his dedication to continually evolving as an actor.
Kiko believes videos are the highest form of art, combining visuals and audio like a painting mixed into one.
“It’s never impossible to change industry norms by making good content, as long as the emotion is true.”
‘I’m Always Gonna Want More’: Real Talk with Marco Gallo
But let’s admit: the entertainment industry thrives on facades—the illusion of perfection. In this glittering circus, it takes great courage to stay true to oneself, embrace imperfections, and refuse to trade one’s identity for a standing ovation. This is what Marco Gallo has been strongly standing for through the years of his career—the leading man that he is.
Since his breakout from Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7, Marco has become a familiar face in movies and series, including Di Na Muli, where he starred with Julia Barretto and Marco Gumabao, and the TV adaptation of the hit Wattpad series The Rain in España, with loveteam Heaven Peralejo. Despite eight years of success, like Kiko Estrada, Marco didn’t initially dream of becoming an actor.
Although the Filipino-Italian actor possesses the qualities of a perfect leading man, Marco, now 23, never envisioned this path. “I didn’t think of being an actor or anything. Like, it was never my dream. I thought of it as a way to get away from school for like at least a year. But then I saw a way to live by myself and stay away from the parents and earn some cash for myself,” he shares. What started as teenage angst eventually became a serious career during the pandemic. Realizing the fragility of life, Marco decided he wanted to be recognized for his skills, not just his name.
“It was a pause from everything. It was a time when you could learn more about yourself. And I discovered that I was just not giving my best. That I was just living in this little bubble of show business, thinking that the work was going to be forever,” Marco reflects. During this period, he decided to make a difference in the industry, bringing something new. “I think I really grew up during that moment.”
However, the changing media landscape has also impacted Marco’s career. With more people opting to stream online rather than go to the cinema, production budgets have tightened, adding pressure to create quality projects quickly. “We have to shoot like 16 sequences in a day, which feels rushed because you don’t have a lot of spare time to try different takes,” he explains.
Not only that, but since acting has not been Marco’s dream, navigating the industry’s social dynamics has been such a struggle for him. “The boss is always telling me to smile a little bit more or to mingle more with other people at work. Not that I don’t like doing it, but I’ve just had too many instances where I realized a lot of people were fake or were wanting something out of you. That’s why they were speaking to you.”
As someone who values authenticity, Marco has learned to protect himself and stand true to who he is.
“You can think whatever you want of me. It doesn’t matter what you say or do. People are always going to have an idea of you.”
For the first two years, it affected him, dealing with people who spoke ill of him. He was advised to mingle more to be noticed by brands, but he believes otherwise.
“It’s such an old-style showbiz industry. Filipinos are growing—they can tell when someone is fake. We’re in the 21st century, and with the new generation, they can tell when somebody’s being empty.” Marco stands firm in his belief that what’s meant for him will always find its way.
“If it’s for you, it’s for you. If not, then at least you’re not stuck in an image that’s going to mess you up mentally.”
In this age of social affirmation, Marco emphasizes the importance of understanding boundaries in friendships, especially in the entertainment industry. He notes that while in Italy, co-workers who vibe naturally hang out, in the Philippines, the culture is different. “Here, people often say, ‘Let’s hang out,’ but it rarely happens,” he shares. Marco finds it better if people are upfront about their intentions. He acknowledges the concept of a “showbiz friend”—someone with whom you maintain a professional relationship but lead separate personal lives. While he still struggles with this concept, he is gradually adapting to the formality and understanding that it’s okay not to be close friends with everyone you work with.
Regardless of how others see him, Marco firmly believes in the importance of being kind to everyone in the production, not just those higher up. “It’s a big factor for me. You might be big here in the Philippines, but who the f*ck are you outside the Philippines?” As the American author Dave Barry puts it: A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter is not a nice person.
Staying true to his values, Marco takes pride in his almost decade-long career. “I’m still here, and I’m proud of that.” He takes to heart what veterans have told him—that show business is not a sprint but a marathon. “I’m not doing so bad. I’m not the best in my career. I don’t think I’m at the peak yet, but I’ve seen people come and go. It really does feel like a real-life reality show. Like, let’s see how long you can stay in the game. Let’s see how relevant you can be.”
And while most measure success with a significant list of milestones, Marco shares his uncertainty about what success looks like.
“I don’t know what success or the peak would be. For me, I feel like there’ll always be one on my top. I’m always gonna want more.”
Marco takes inspiration from actors like Christian Bale, who embrace transformative roles. “I’ve noticed that here in the Philippines, when they give you a role, you always kind of see the same actor. They don’t change their looks or accent much. And I was like, what can I bring? What can I offer that nobody has thought of? So, I’ve been trying to change my body, at least, because, with the accent, of course, I struggle a little bit with Tagalog.”
Marco believes that transforming himself into a role is part of the job he signed up for. He understands that dedication and authenticity are essential to creating compelling performances.
Truly, being a man in the industry requires more than just talent, a good face value, and a great physique—it demands perseverance, continuous growth, and staying true to oneself amidst the demands. Both Marco Gallo and Kiko Estrada are leading men not just because of their looks or family backgrounds but because of their commitment to their craft and authenticity—of evolving and revolutionizing the industry, bringing something new and authentic to the table, and proving that true success requires more than just a pretty face.
Creative Direction & Photographed by Em Baun
Video/Video Editor: Mary Jane Manglicmot
Make Up: Kim Roy Opog
Hair: Fely Son of #TeamMVP
Stylist: Van Mercado | @vanmercadoatelier
Assited by: Prisco Ducolan & Noel Orate
Wardrobes: Ega Francisco, Erwin Aguila, Mikael Castillo
Shoot assisted by: Stephen Singson, Trillian Galicia, Yenny Certeza, Rhea Buenaventura
Overall Coordination: Angel Altura | Niccole Mendoza
