Why Lady Luck continues to smile on Robin

Robin Padilla is one of our most bankable action stars today.

This is proven by his consecutive hits, Tunay na Tunay, Gets Me, Gets Ko for Star Cinema with Jolina Magdangal, and Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw for Viva Films with Regine Velasquez.

No wonder then that he was chosen by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation to be honored as the Box Office King of the Year 2000.

"I guess I’m really very fortunate and has a lot to be thankful for," Robin says at the presscon of his latest movie, Ooops, Teka, Diskarte Ko ’To, for Star Cinema, his first team up with Claudine Barretto. "I really should thank all the moviegoers who continue to support my films."

While he was still serving his prison sentence, did it ever cross his mind that he would make a showbiz comeback as successful as what he is experiencing now? "Naku, hindi po!," is his quick reply. "I just kept on praying that I’d be given a second chance to return to acting. I was willing even to do supporting roles, makabalik lang. But I never thought the moviegoing public would accept me this warmly once again. When I think of my being Box Office King at that, my goodness! I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not just dreaming. And offers just keep on coming in so I’m never without a film project. Even before the movie with Regine has been shown, I already started shooting Ooops, Teka Lang with Claudine. And even before this is released, here I am doing Buhay Kamao for Viva, with Rica Peralejo."

How come he seems to be paired with a lot of young stars lately?

"That’s the decision of the companies who hire, so we can help each other out at the box office," aniya. "After Rica, I’m hoping I’ll next be paired with Judy Ann Santos."

When he was paired with Jolina, it was rumored that they are having an off-screen romance and it took a long while before this died down.

"I also cannot understand why we were linked when it’s not true at all," Binoe says with a shake of his head. "Kesyo na-in love daw sa akin si Jolina nang husto and I even threatened to hurt those being linked to her, like Marvin Agustin. I don’t know where rumor mongers get all those stories."

How come he is not being linked to Claudine now?

"Well, that won’t be credible at all because it is common knowledge that Claudine has a boyfriend, Rico Yan, who often visits her at the set of our movie," he says.

How different is Claudine from Jolina as a leading Lady?

"Jolina is a natural comedienne, so we had a perfect teamup in the comic scenes of our movie. In my movie with Claudine, she does more of drama and I really salute her when it comes to dramatic scenes because she is so good at it. Even if she was laughing before the take, once our director, Jose Carreon shouts ‘Action,’ you can see tears welling up her eyes right away. But both Jolina and she are very professional sa trabaho. Unlike other young stars who are happy go lucky, they take their work seriously. Claudine and I even had a contest as to who can report on the set first when we have a shooting."

He says he had a really good working relationship with Claudine.

"In our pictorial for the movie, she was even the one who applied gel on my hair to straighten it. I had it curled kasi for my movie with Rica. I’m afraid I might lose my curls, but she assured me that the gel would wash away right after I’ve taken a shower and babalik ang kulot ng buhok ko, na siya namang nangyari."

What is his role in Ooops, Teka Lang, Diskarte Ko ’To?

"I play the role of Dario, an honest cop who was set up and dishonorably discharged for allegedly setting free a dreaded drug lord, Tonton Gutierrez. Claudine Barretto is Marian, a would-be nun who took a vacation from the convent to look for her missing sister, Bernadette Allyson, who was kidnapped by Tonton and his psychotic brother, Renzo Cruz. Since I know the island where Tonton has taken Bernadette, Claudine enlists my help to get her back. With the help of Vhong Navarro and Raymond Bagatsing, we go to Alupihan Island, located near Subic, to rescue Bernadette. In the process, Claudine and I fall in love with each other even if she’s about to become a nun."

Is it true his wife, Liesl, and their four kids (Queenie, Kyline, Zenzen and the only boy, Ali) are now staying here for good?

"The three girls have returned to the Gold Coast in Australia at the end of January yet to continue their studies there," he says. "Classes there open in February. Queenie is in grade 4, Kyline in grade 3, Zenzen in grade 1. Liesl is still here with our baby boy, but they’re flying back this March to Australia. We realized they can lead more normal lives there. Liesl’s entire family has migrated there. But it’s difficult to be a long-distance father dahil magastos sa telepono. I have to call them up frequently to keep in touch so they won’t forget who their father is."

How does he spend his cold lonely nights without Liesl?

"We’re allowed in the Muslim religion to have up to four wives," aniya. "For a while, I had a second and third wife, but I am now divorced from them."

And who may this women be?

"Please don’t ask me to reveal their identities anymore since we’re already separated. I don’t think that would be nice of me. Basta ang isa sa kanila, taga-showbiz. And the other one is not. That’s all I can share with you."