Steven Seagal breezes through Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Without much fanfare, Hollywood actor Steven Seagal made a brief stop in Cebu en route to a Boracay holiday at the invitation of his long-time friend, former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson.

The 63-year old star of action flicks such as “Above the Law,” “Under Siege,” “Hard to Kill,” and “Out for Justice” arrived 9 p.m. Monday at Mactan Cebu International Airport, according to Robby Alugar, who was in charge of inviting Cebu media for Seagal’s meet and greet.

Seagal and company went straight to Chibori, a Japanese restaurant at Cebu IT Park. The group reportedly left before midnight and were driven to Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa where they spent the evening before flying to Boracay yesterday.

Alugar said Singson brought Seagal to the country “to show the possibilities for his future projects. Singson has also been telling him how nice Cebu is.”

The Freeman’s account executive Vicky Vencilao, who was present at his meet and greet, said that Seagal looked jetlagged, understandably so, since he flew in to the Philippines from Moscow, Russia. She added that the hulking American-Serbian rarely broke into a smile and seemed “strict.”

Seagal did oblige answering a few questions, describing Filipinos as “very gentle and very musical.”   

Noting that he was also a musician, Seagal said that he shared a special affinity with Filipinos since “so many of my Filipino friends are great musicians, they are into singing and playing instruments.”

This is not Seagal’s first trip to the Philippines.  He had visited once during the Marcos regime and again when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (whom he refers to as a “friend”) was the president. A TV report stated that Seagal was shocked when told Arroyo is currently under hospital arrest.

Aside from being an actor, Seagal is also a screenwriter, film director, Aikido instructor, martial arts expert and reserve deputy sheriff. He first began teaching Aikido in Japan, later moving to Los Angeles, California, where he worked as a martial artist instructor on the James Bond film “Never Say Never Again” starring Sean Connery.

Last week, Hollywood actor Owen Wilson also spent a few days in Manila for some R&R.– VAB (FREEMAN)