IT wasn’t the Big Araneta Coliseum Dome. But the 500-seater circus-themed comedy and music club Zirkoh along Timog Avenue in Quezon City, was a good way to test Dennis Trillo’s vocal aptitude and, as important, gauge his drawing power. Ganda pa ng spin: a birthday concert, his first ever singing performance, a retinue of guests cherry-picked from Eat Bulaga, a nice casual show title, Maiba Naman.

The verdict?

Dennis Trillo can do no wrong.

On the night of May 12, Zirkoh was full to bursting. When Dennis’s name was announced after a comedy front act, a largely female contingent forgot their dates, their beers and their heaping servings of taco salad and calamari, screamed, stood up in unison and held camera phones and digicams aloft.

The newly minted 25-year-old opened the show with a little funky drumming and then easily segued into a repertoire consisting mostly of midtempo, kinda emo-laden rock songs. One reckons the selection is personal to Dennis, who once said he was partial to rock. And anime. And, when he was younger, tattoos?

Tattoos?

Yes, although that seems a little out of character for the soft-spoken, shy-looking boy-next-door, the kind of guy every Mother would love their daughters to be involved with. Not to mention the incredible breaks he’s had since he was chosen to become part of ABS-CBN’s Star Circle in 2002. Though he learned a lot from the workshops he took with the kapamilya network, and appeared in bit parts, he was ready for more, which GMA 7 was ready to offer. True to form, Dennis Trillo was up to the challenge of the back-breaking star machinery.

From Click to Love to Love, he also appeared in Mulawin, Darna and now Majika. He has had a string of product endorsements, from wristwatches, to the clothing brand Molecules to—get this—a sanitary napkin! Appearing in his first movie Aishtemasu last year, Dennis was so outstanding, he won a total of 11 awards! From a slew of award-giving bodies, Dennis was cited for being best supporting actor, best actor, most promising male star, best new movie actor and received a youth achievement award form the Guillermo Foundation, among a kilometric list of others.

This year, he appears in Regal Films’ horror movie, Pamahiin. Dennis plays the role of Noah, a balikbayan who wants to know the true reason behind the death of his best friend Damian (Paolo Contis). Noah is convinced that Damian did not commit suicide as it was reported. He conducts his own investigation with his clairvoyant-girlfriend Eileen (Iya Villania), until he runs out of logical explanations and starts being haunted by spirits as well.

In addition, Dennis is set to be the voice of Steve in the Tagalized version of the phenomenal Voltes V cartoon series which is airing soon, and he has three more movies scheduled this year.

As much as he is in demand, Dennis appears solidly grounded—cultivating his aw-shucks good boy persona to the hilt and coyly hinting that his relationships with the opposite sex involve only his deep love for his mother and his two sisters.

Of course we’ve seen the likes of teen idols like Dennis before. And we’ve seen the sheer drop a number of them have suffered. But if Dennis plays his cards right—and it’s already stacked in his favor with his incredible looks and equally incredible talent—then we’re going to hear a lot more from this guy.

Hey, maybe in a concert scheduled for the Big Dome by the time his next birthday rolls around, and perhaps, sooner, on a CD coming your way.