- Dino Imperial started showbiz as one of the homegrown talents of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic. He used to appear on ASAP as part of the ‘Gigger Boys” alongside Robi Domingo, Aaron Villaflor, and Enchong Dee. When Dino left Star Magic, actor Enrique Gil replaced him on the said group.
- He was 16 when he was bitten by the acting bug and decided to enter the showbiz industry. He was paired off with Empress Schuck back then. He also had a stint as a VJ for Studio 23.
- Dino was last seen on the teleserye “Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin” with Coco Martin, Maja Salvador and Andi Eigenmann back in 2011. It was the last project he’s done before migrating to the US in 2012.
- His previous job in the US had given him the opportunity to work with Hollywood celebrities Kevin Kline, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Douglas.
Dino Imperial is back in town and he couldn’t resist the lure of local showbiz. He plays an important role in the latest ABS-CBN fantasy love story, “La Luna Sangre” where he’s essaying the role he originated from “Imortal” [the second part of the saga which starred Angel Locsin and John Lloyd Cruz] as Jethro, an ordinary guy with extraordinary superpowers he’s not even aware of.
According to him, it was “La Luna Sangre” director Cathy Garcia-Molina who asked people to look for him and asked him to reprise his role. “I play Jethro a misunderstood guy who’s basically human but gifted with super powers. Out of all the roles I’ve ever did, this is the one role that stuck out to me and I really loved,” said Dino.
He admits that he missed showbiz a lot. He was disappointed with his career back then. At the time, he noticed that even without much talent, for as long as you’ve got people to back you up, you had the right connections, you will go places. He was frustrated that even if you’ve got loads of talents, if you’ve got not proper connections, you’re going to be in some kind of limbo. So he decided to pack his bags and left the country to find some opportunity for himself.
He underwent a lot of auditions in the US for go-sees and VTRs. Aside from acting, Dino also dabbles into music, especially doing rap. He’s able to record an album last December entitled “Influenzia” that had 4-tracks and can be downloaded via Spotify and iTunes. He also does painting during his free time because he finds it as a way to de-stress.
Dino came back from the US in 2014 originally for a brief vacation. But someone got him to host for a music festival in Taytay, Rizal. From then on, he’s gotten a lot of offers and gigs that he decided to stay here for now.
When he was in the US, he stayed with his Aunt for three years in Las Vegas where he shared a room with his grandma. He relates that he’s gotten a job in a fine-dining restaurant as a busser—the one responsible to clean the table after a guest was finished eating. And from there, he’s been promoted to be a front liner. He was later assigned to accept reservations in the said restaurant.
And did you know that because of his job, he was able to become an extra in the film “Las Vegas” with no less than Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline and Robert de Niro? He spent 2 shooting days and was paid well.
Dino relates that during the shooting, he was able to experience the equality between Hollywood stars and the staff and crew, because they all ate the same kind of foods at the set. It’s a whole new experience for Dino because in the Philippines, the celebrities eat different catering than the staff and crew.
Dino has worked so hard in the US that eventually he was able to transfer to a penthouse in a condominium along Las Vegas Boulevard and was also able to purchase a sports car on his own.
And he’s also given the opportunity to work with popular international DJs such as Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki and Tiesto. But because his work got really stressful and demanding in the club, he decided to take a respite from it all.
On December of 2016, Dino was hired as regular DJ for Wave 89.1 FM where he hosts a show At The Vibe, from Monday to Friday [from 4PM to 7PM] with a co-anchor.
“I got hired for being myself, I don’t have to change,” said the actor-turned-DJ.
He’s also lucky that his parents support him for all his endeavours.
Dino also looks a lot different now than before. Gone are the boy-next-door look in Dino that we’re all used to. He now sports a beard and a moustache, which is perfect for his role as Jethro in “La Luna Sangre.”
“I’m growing my beard. People treat you differently when you have this. I’m not about the glitz, the glamour, the shine things. I’m about the genuineness,” claims Dino. “I’m really excited to act again. It’s a different element o art form,” ends the 29-year-old actor.
Dino looks forward to make a new film, regardless if it’s mainstream or indie in the future. With that being said, we’re wishing him good luck as he gets a second wind of his showbiz career.
