Dennis Trillo: From primetime to punchlines
Believe it or not, it was Dennis Trillo—the shy, soft-spoken one—who actually convinced wife Jennylyn Mercado to start making those now-viral, laugh-out-loud TikTok videos.
“People from my previous talent management were already pushing me to make my own social media accounts long before Jen and I got married. Now that we share the same manager, they kept telling me I needed to be more visible online. It was only recently that I realized that, yes, I actually need it,” Trillo told Lifestyle in a recent interview. “I gave it a shot—and when I saw all the positive comments, I kept going.”
As of May 2025, the Kapuso Drama King’s online presence is thriving. On TikTok, he has 2.2 million followers and over 45.7 million likes—thanks to his unexpected mix of wit, charm, and just the right dash of silliness. His Instagram boasts 815,000 followers, while his official Facebook page has 1.1 million.
“Tinuloy-tuloy ko na,” he said. “It’s had a good impact on my career. People started seeing me in a different light—one they don’t usually see on TV or in movies because I’m a dramatic actor. It made them more curious.”
Same thing happened with Mercado, he added. “She’s actually super funny in real life, but not a lot of people know that. So I told her, ‘Let’s do this together—it’ll help your career, too.’ At first, she didn’t want to be seen dancing like other celebs. That’s why we stuck to content that’s funnier, less cutesy.”
Engagement
The comments section became their daily motivation. Fans from all over—not just the Philippines—started messaging them about how relatable their videos were. “Even OFWs are watching our reels. It really warms our hearts to know we’re able to make a lot of Pinoys happy,” Trillo said.
One standout video, where he pulls off a hilarious “victory dance” while channeling a full-on “jejeboy” persona, has racked up 6.2 million views. He posted it shortly after winning Best Actor for “Green Bones” at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival. Another reel, poking fun at how much he supposedly changed after a year in Thailand, has hit 7.3 million views. And in yet another, he turns a simple dental appointment with Mercado into a full-on comedy skit, with 4.7 million views and counting.
Every day, Mercado sends him videos for inspiration. “We pick from there—what we think will resonate with our followers. But honestly, tamad si Jen. I’m actually the one who pushes her. I’d tell her, ‘Kulang pa. Ulitin mo.’”
Trillo is very hands-on. While they used to shoot and post everything themselves, they’ve now hired a small team to level up production. “I still sit in during editing,” he said proudly.
They’re game for almost anything except politics. And when asked which platform he’d keep if he could only choose one, his answer wasn’t TikTok. “Sure, TikTok has the biggest impact—everyone’s on it. But it’s Facebook where we actually get monetized for our reels,” he explained.
‘Safe space’
So, what made him commit to social media? “It lets people see a different side of me—and that’s important,” said Trillo. “If people only see your serious side, it’s hard for them to relate. But laughter is universal. Even non-Filipino audiences get it.”
He added, “What you see in my videos—that’s really me. I don’t usually get to show that side in public. But if I feel like I’m in a safe space, marami akong naiisip na kalokohan.”
Trillo and his team now dedicate one day a week to shooting social media content. “But of course, it’s not all silly videos. We also post about our interests, advocacies, projects, and the brands we endorse. We owe a debt of gratitude to the people who trust us,” he said.
One such brand is Beautéderm, which recently hosted a media conference to mark Trillo’s ceremonial contract signing as the newest endorser of Belle Dolls Zero Filter sunscreen. At the event, Trillo was asked what it’s like being a “girl dad.” He and Mercado have a 3-year-old daughter named Dylan.
“For me, it’s more challenging to raise a daughter—they’re more sensitive. But this time, I’m more hands-on. My wife and I are involved every step of the way. We’re trying to make up for what we lacked as parents to our older kids,” he said. Trillo has a son, Calix, with former partner Carlene Aguilar, while Mercado has a son, Jazz, with ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia.
“Back then, we were still learning how to be parents—we were young ourselves. Now, we’ve learned from raising our boys. We’re trying to correct our past mistakes. I can say we’re better parents because of those experiences. I always say Jen’s strength is discipline while that’s my weakness. My heart melts when I hear Dylan cry. I believe she’ll grow up to be a good person because of her mom. Jen’s the disciplinarian. I tend to overindulge.”
Beautéderm president and CEO Rei Anicoche-Tan shared her own parenting insight: “Kids today are more emotional and outspoken. Dennis and I are both in our 40s—we were raised by disciplinarian parents. We grew up obedient but strong-willed. As parents now, we have to be more patient, more communicative. Kids don’t open up easily, so we have to make the effort to ask how they’re doing. Dennis’ daughter is only 3—he still has a long way to go.”
And as for handling bashers and negative comments, Trillo said he always keeps it simple: “Just ignore them. If not, you’ll just feel sad. I focus on the positive. That’s why I post the kind of content I do—to inspire people, to spread positivity.”
