EXCLUSIVE: After years of being called ‘Pee Mak,’ Wilbert Ross will portray the role in PH adaptation 

Wilbert Ross transforms from a fan-favorite lookalike into the leading man of the highly anticipated Philippine adaptation of Thailand’s biggest blockbuster.

It’s a full circle moment for actor Wilbert Ross, who is set to headline the Philippine adaptation of the hit Thai film “Pee Mak”—a role that, in many ways, has been years in the making.

Long before landing the part, Ross had already been living with the name. In fact, he revealed that he has been using “Pee Mak” as his name on personal accounts on Facebook and even on Viber—proof of how deeply the association has followed him over the years.

“Unknowingly, I’ve been called P’Shone since high school because of ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ ni Mario Maurer. Then when ‘Pee Mak’ came out, some of my schoolmates started calling me Pee Mak too—and I carried that name with me growing up,” he shared.

That resemblance followed him even into showbiz. “When I first appeared on TV in ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan,’ Vice Ganda immediately said, ‘Kamukha mo si Mario Maurer.’ After that, social media was flooded with similar comments,” he added.

Ironically, Ross said the likeness almost became a hurdle early in his career. “Because of that exposure, someone from ABS-CBN even told me, ‘My only concern is you look too much like Mario Maurer. It might be hard for you to stand out and build your own branding.’”

Despite that, the actor never actively chased the role. “It wasn’t really in my mind. It started as someone else’s dream, not mine. It felt too big—parang impossible mangyari. So I had no expectations at all,” he admitted.

Still, he acknowledged quietly wishing for it when talks of a local version surfaced. “When I heard there might be a Philippine adaptation, I had this thought—‘Awww, how I wish. Ang ganda siguro nun, especially since I’ve been called that name for so long.’”

When he finally got the role, Ross described it as deeply emotional. “I was lying in my room when I found out. I told myself, ‘Wow, this is a full circle moment.’ Hindi lang siya simpleng project—I realized that dreams really do come true for those who wait and persevere. Kahit 0.0001 chance pa yan, possible pa rin—basta hindi zero.”

Taking on an iconic character originally portrayed by Mario Maurer comes with expectations, but Ross is determined to make the role his own. “I know that in the original, a lot of the comedy comes from Mak’s four friends. But here, I will really do my best to bring out the humor using my own experience in comedy,” he said.

He added that the Filipino version will carry its own flavor. “I’ll let Pee Mak shine in the comedic scenes—and hopefully, in our Philippine version, we can add our own touch to it.”

Viva One earlier announced that Ross will star opposite Bea Binene in the local adaptation of “Pee Mak,” the 2013 Thai blockbuster that blended romance, horror, and comedy. The film, originally led by Mario Maurer and Davika Hoorne, became one of Thailand’s highest-grossing movies and remains a pop culture favorite across Asia.

While details about the release and full cast are yet to be revealed, anticipation is already building as fans look forward to how this beloved story will be reimagined for Filipino audiences.