Paulo Avelino

Early life

Paulo Avelino was born on May 13, 1988 as Michael Paulo Lingbanan Avelino in Baguio City, Philippines. He is the son of Roberto Puigcerver Avelino, an influential Spanish-Filipino from Calbayog City, Western Samar and Jennilyn Lingbanan. He is second out of four siblings, Honey, Gabriel and Angela. His grandfather is Baltazar Avelino, former governor of Samar and is a great grandson to former Senate President Jose Avelino.

He attended his primary education at Baguio City SPED Center Elementary School before graduating at the Baguio Patriotic High School for secondary education. He studied Entrepreneurial Management at Saint Louis University in Baguio City but quit during his first year. He continued the same course at the Ateneo De Manila University in Quezon City.

2006-10: Discovery and early projects

Avelino joined the reality show StarStruck 4 under GMA Network in 2006, wherein he got eliminated from the Top 8. Even though he lost in the talent search, Avelino had acting roles in 2007 in GMA shows. According to him, "Ever since I was a child, I really wanted to act... I think acting is really my calling."

He first appeared in Magic Kamison: Black Jewel In The Palace episode in 2007. In the same year, he appeared in minor roles: two series of Sine Novela and Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan. The StarStruck 4 cast had their first regular show titled as Boys Nxt Door, an award-winning youth-oriented situation comedy for the network's 57th anniversary.

In 2008, he appeared in a supporting role in Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita, a remake of the 1989 movie of the same title redeveloped by Don Michael Perez and produced by GMA Network. Avelino appeared in an afternoon series Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan and in a primetime series Luna Mystika. The year marked the debut of Avelino on film, having been cast in a Metro Manila Film Festival entry of Regal Films: Desperadas 2.

In 2009, Avelino started a regular stint in GMA's then Sunday variety show SOP Rules and finally landing major roles on famous Kris Bernal-Aljur Abrenica tandem, with Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? and All My Life. He was also cast as Robert in a GMA Films-VIVA Films project, Patient X and as Pepe in a Filipino action fantasy film, Ang Panday. In 2010, he appeared in a supporting role in a primetime series Ilumina. In the same year, his career turned up as he replaced JC de Vera for a lead role in the fantasy series Panday Kids. According to an interview of Philippine Entertainment Portal, he's happy and feels blessed because he was chosen by the network for a big project. His last show with GMA Network was playing a lead role in the afternoon fantasy-drama Alakdana, with Louise delos Reyes and Alden Richards.

2011-12: Transfer to ABS-CBN and breakthrough

In 2011, Avelino signed a contract with ABS-CBN in the presence of channel head Cory Vidanes, business unit head Deo Endrinal and his manager Leo Dominguez. According to ABS-CBN News, Avelino said he wanted to explore out of his comfort zone and, at the same time, reinvent himself as an actor. Avelino debuted as a lead actor in a film alongside Lovi Poe on Regal Films' Aswang, which marked his first project as a Kapamilya actor. He acted in a film titled Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, an entry to the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival. He appeared for the first time in an ABS-CBN show through a guest role in 100 Days to Heaven. He appeared as a rich executive named Teddy Ledesma, alongside veteran actor Phillip Salvador. He also appeared in Wansapanataym, Maalaala Mo Kaya and Ikaw Ay Pag-Ibig as a warm up for his future projects.

Avelino played the role of a bisexual in the 2011 Cinemalaya film Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa alongside Rocco Nacino, wherein he won as Best Actor at the Gawad Urian Awards. This marked the actor's first ever award. In his speech, he thanked the movie's cast and crew and said the award would be an inspiration to him. According to him, "When I first accepted the script, to be honest, I didn’t understand it... It’s mostly poems or songs. It’s something really different, and that’s the reason why I accepted it." In 2012, Avelino achieved his biggest break through a major role in the hit primetime series Walang Hanggan, alongside Coco Martin and Julia Montes. He revealed that he learned a lot from his multi-awarded co-actor Martin, who played the lead role. In the same year, Avelino once again appeared in 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival through "Lost Command" episode of a famous horror trilogy Shake, Rattle & Roll 14 produced by Regal Films. According to him, he considers doing horror projects a little more challenging compared to doing drama.

Aside from movie and television acting, Avelino became a recording artist releasing his self-titled album under Universal Records on October 1, 2012. Paulo Avelino is composed of six-tracks covers of OPM classic hits. The album was preceded by the first single, a cover of Restless Heart's "When She Cries". Avelino released a music video for his second single, a cover of Alamid's "Your Love". Other tracks included "Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan", "Yakap Sa Dilim", "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal" and "If You Believe".

2013-present: Recent and future projects

Avelino started the year 2013 in the pre-primetime series Kahit Konting Pagtingin, together with Angeline Quinto and Sam Milby.

He appeared on two independent films for Cinemalaya. The first was directed by Alvin Yapan and was titled Debosyon. He explained that he signed up on the film because of the surreal and magical treatment of the story about faith, religion and forbidden love. The dialogue is written in very poetic Bicolano. The other one was directed by Jerrold Tarog titled as Sana Dati, a bizarre story of a videographer and a bride.

He appeared as leading man of actresses Lovi Poe and Jennylyn Mercado on a highly charged erotic-drama romantic comedy film directed by Joel Lamangan, The Bride and the Lover.

Avelino later returned on the small screen with two Maalaala Mo Kaya episodes: "Notbook" and the first tandem with Angel Locsin on "Mask". Avelino did a tandem to Locsin after reports surfaced that he allegedly refused to work with the actress. He had backed out of Locsin's upcoming series The Legal Wife (formerly Hanggang Kailan Kita Mamahalin) which they were supposed to headline. Avelino appeared in a lead role in the family drama series Honesto, wherein he reunited with his Walang Hanggan co-stars Melissa Ricks and Noni Buencamino. He also appeared on a romantic-comedy film directed by Chris Martinez titled Status: It's Complicated, with Jake Cuenca, Solenn Heussaff, Maja Salvador, and veteran comedian Eugene Domingo. The movie is inspired and remaked by the 1979 classic sexy-comedy film Salawahan directed by Ishmael Bernal. In the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival, he appeared in two entries: a lead role on Star Cinema's horror film Pagpag and a cameo in Kimmy Dora: The Quantum of Kiyeme.

In 2014, he starred as part of the main cast of Sana Bukas pa ang Kahapon, with Bea Alonzo and Albert Martinez.

In 2015, Avelino plays a challenging role in the soap opera Bridges of Love, with Jericho Rosales and Maja Salvador.

Avelino was cast as Simon Evangelista in the Primetime Bida Show, On the Wings of Love. He was the third wheel to James Reid and Nadine Lustre.

In 2017, Avelino will be starring with ABS-CBN newcomer Ritz Azul in the upcoming television series The Promise of Forever.

Personal life

Paulo Avelino had a relationship with fellow Starstruck alumna LJ Reyes. They have one son named Ethan Akio Reyes Avelino.