Flash-forward two decades later and Regal is again launching a trio who could be the New Millennium’s counterpart of the ’80s Regal Babies. They are (at random now) Cogie Domingo, Danilo Barrios and James Blanco (who are collectively known as the Cool Dudes in the youth-oriented movie of the same title, Cool Dudes, 24/7 (as in 24 hours a day, seven days a week), which marks the movie-directorial debut of Ruel Bayani (formerly with the ABS-CBN pool of writers).
The movie is about three dudes who go to Subic purposely to watch pretty chicks in a Beach Babe Pageant, ending up losing each other and getting into funny encounters with other skirted species.
The Cool Dudes call to mind the same trio launched by Regal in the early ’90s – Mark Anthony Fernandez, Eric Fructuoso and Jomari Yllana, known as the Guwapings. But the Guwapings split up even before they could sparkle to the fullest, with only Jomari gaining greater heights as an actor.
Will the Cool Dudes go on to make more "trio" flicks after their first starrer?
Only the Box Office can tell, of course.
Meanwhile, let’s meet each of them:
Cogie is clearly the most senior in the batch, even if he’s the youngest at 15 (turning 16 in September), having already co-starred with such local-screen giants as Eddie Garcia (Deathrow) and Lorna Tolentino/Christopher de Leon (in Yakapin Mo ang Umaga) after he was introduced more than two years ago in Peque Gallaga’s Sa Piling ng Aswang. Cogie, who’s the Penshoppe endorser/image model, is the only son of human rights lawyer Rodrigo Domingo and the former Zeny Fernandez who were both previously married to other partners.
Danilo is a member of the Streetboys, organized and managed by director Chito Roño. He’s 19, the eldest among the four children of an estranged couple (the patriarch, a cop, has migrated abroad). Danilo beat about a dozen who auditioned two years ago as replacement for Spencer Reyes who quit Streetboys under not-so-friendly circumstances. He did a few commercials, among them for Rexona. Danilo starred with the rest of the Streetboys in Regal’s 2000 Metro Filmfest entry, Spirit Warriors.
James, 21, is a Business Administration junior at the PSBA (Quezon City). He’s the guy in the Lifebuoy commercial who bashfully lends his treasured T-square to his pretty classmate after his hardworking mother gave it to him as a hard-earned gift. He was discovered by a talent scout who saw him in a Rexona commercial. James is a member of the GMA Artist Center and is a regular on two shows, S.O.P. and the soap Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin.
Cool ba talaga kayo?
Danilo: What you see is what you get. Real cool! Very jolly, fun-loving. Pero kapag pagod, tahimik kaming lahat.
James: No tension, no problems. At least, hindi obvious ang tensions at problems namin. That’s why we are called cool dudes.
Cogie: We represent the youth of today – cool. Even in times of crisis, cool lang. Hindi nara-rattle.
Who’s the coolest among you?
Danilo: Me, I guess. Cool na makulit. Sayaw dito, sayaw doon, kahit walang music. When James and Cogie are quiet, I do a lot of things to cheer them up. Nangungulit. Once you’ve cheered them up, they are more makulit than I am. Ma-cool-its.
James: I think Danilo is right; he’s the one. Pinaka-cool-it.
Cogie: All of us are cool in different ways. Me, I’m serious cool; Danilo is lively cool; and James is quiet cool.
Who’s the most moody among you?
Danilo: Me. You can see it when I’m tired. I keep quiet.
James: Me, too. When I’m tired, I get into a nasty mood.
Cogie: I’m the most moody among us, but I try to overcome it especially now that I’m in showbiz. So even if I’m tired, I try to be nice and to smile.
What are your similarities as far as type of girls is concerned?
Danilo: I don’t know what James or Cogie prefers. But when they like a girl, I tell them, "Pangit ‘yan; akin ‘yan!" Actually, ang type ko ’yung simple lang. Rugged type na palaging naka-tight jeans at naka-white shirt.
James: I also like simple girls, ‘yung hindi sexy magdamit. ‘Yung may pagka-conservative, like Donita Rose.
Cogie: I prefer simple girls, too, ‘yung hindi masyadong conscious sa sarili niya. Like who? Like Kaycee Concepcion.
What about movies?
Danilo: I want a little action pero mas gusto ko talaga drama. Sometimes, I watch comedy for a change.
James: Light drama, with a touch of romance.
Cogie: Action movies. But when I’m tired and I want to relax, siempre I watch comedies.
Favorite actor(s)?
Danilo: Christopher de Leon and Robert DeNiro. They’re both flexible. Kahit saan mo ilagay, magaling. Good in any kind of role.
James: Tom Hanks. He’s very good in Forrest Gump, isn’t he? Cesar Montano, my idol.
Cogie: Nicolas Cage. I like the type of movies that he does. Bida or kontrabida role, bagay sa kanya. His face looks meek, pero may kulo sa loob.
How are you different from each other?
Danilo: Our moods. I’m moody at a certain time when James or Cogie is not. We are all moody in different ways.
James: He’s right. When I’m not in the mood, I’m quiet. You know, "Puede ba, mamaya mo na lang ako kausapin?"
Cogie: When I’m not in the mood, I excuse myself and stay inside my car. But most of the time, especially when I’m not tired, I’m just as super-kulit as Danilo and James are.
Isn’t there any rivalry (professional jealousy) among you?
Danilo: None. We treat each other like real good friends. There‘s no intrigues among us – none yet, so far. Actually, we haven’t really gone out together for gimik; I’m with them only at work. When I’m not with James and Cogie, iba na uli ang mundo ko.
James: We’re happy together.
Cogie: Like brothers. Nagtutulungan, hindi nagsisiraan.
How are the Cool Dudes different from the Guwapings?
Danilo: Ang dating namin, cool; sila, iba rin ang dating.
James: It’s hard to compare us to the Guwapings. The Guwapings represented something else; we represent the youth of today, what their likes and dislikes are, what their gimmicks are, what their adventures are.
Cogie: But you can say that, maybe looks-wise, Guwapings din naman kami, di ba?
What’s your favorite fantasy?
Danilo: I’m flying, not a plane but like Superman – with a pretty girl beside me, karay-karay ko.
James: My favorite fantasy? Simple lang. I fantasize myself to be a superhero who’s saving somebody in distress, parang Captain Barbell.
Cogie: I also want to be a hero – not a superhero, just an ordinary hero… hero ng mga babae.
What about your dream girl – you know, one you dream of spending even only one day with?
Danilo: Liv Tyler. If I could spend even one hours with her, I’d be the happiest man in the world. How would I spend my time with her? I’d just talk and talk to her; I’d ask her about herself and about everything that I’ve been wanting to know about her. Her likes and dislikes. I-interview-hin ko siya.
James: Julia Roberts. Ang ganda kasi, e! Slim na slim pero seksing-seksi. I’d bring her to the tourists spots in the Philippines and I’m sure she’d never forget me for that.
Cogie: Jennifer Love Hewitt. Kahit anong porma niya, bagay sa kanya. Sobrang simple pero sobrang malakas ang dating. I wouldn’t bring her to any tourist spot in the country; all I would do is let her see and observe the usual things that I do everyday. I’d want her to see what an ordinary Filipino teener does, how he lives and works.
If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?
Danilo: Popeye. He’s lovable, isn’t he? He’s thin, but the moment he takes spinach, he becomes unbeatable. I want to be like him, ‘yung akala mo lalampa-lampa pero ’yon pala nasa loob ang kulo.
James: Donald Duck. When I was a kid, he was my favorite cartoon character and he still is now that I’m grown. I notice that he’s also the favorite of many kids today, so there must be something about him that makes him such a wonderful character. Hindi nagsasawa sa kanya ang mga bata.
Cogie: Bugs Bunny. Why Bugs Bunny? I don’t know. Basta gusto ko lang siya.
If you were a Hollywood actor, who would you be?
Danilo: Robert DeNiro or Samuel L. Jackson. Mga macho, e!
James: Brad Pitt. Kasi, whether naka-rugged at unshaven o naka-formal at clean-cut, guwapo pa rin!
Cogie: Steven Spielberg. I want to find out how he does all those blockbusters.
If you were an animal, what would you be?
Danilo: A lion. I want to be the king of the beasts. Besides, I’m a Leo (Aug. 6).
James: A tiger. It’s versatile, isn’t it? Kahit saang lugar puede. Like me, kahit saan ilalagay, puede.
Cogie: A lion. I’m also a Leo (September), like Danilo. Maraming qualities ang lion na mayroon din ako.
If you were somebody else, who would you be?
Danilo: Christopher de Leon pa rin. I’m with him in Dekada 70 (the Star Cinema movie directed by Chito Roño, based upon Lualhati Bautista’s Palanca-winning novel) where I play one of his children (with Vilma Santos playing the mother).
James: Cesar Montano pa rin. Before he became a superstar, he started with small roles. I’ve seen his old films on video and he was playing supporting roles, with Gabby Concepcion as bida. Sinubaybayan ko talaga ang career niya.
Cogie: Nicolas Cage pa rin. His acting style is natural; he’s believable in any role, whether a good guy or a bad guy. Maamo ang mukha, nag-a-adapt sa role niya.
What about your "baptism of fire" — you know, when and how did you lose your innocence?
Danilo: I’m still innocent. I’ve never lost it. I don’t think I’ll ever lose my innocence. I’ll be innocent all my life.
James: Ano ba ‘yung innocence? (Feigning ignorance)
Cogie: Not guilty! I’m innocent!
When you like a girl, do you make the first move? Or do you wait for her to notice it?
Danilo: I talk to her; I try to befriend her, especially if we’re working together para naman we’d be comfortable with each other.
James: I show her at once that I like her. Wala nang paliguy-ligoy pa. I’m direct to the point.
Cogie: I don’t make the first move. Because no matter how much of a chickboy you are, when you’re face-to-face with a girl you like, nato-torpe ka talaga. I make her notice me in some other way, ‘yung hindi masyadong halata.
Who’s the No. 1 chickboy among you?
Danilo: Siya! (Pointing to James)
James: Siya! (Pointing to Cogie)
Cogie: Siya! (Pointing to Danilo)
How has showbiz changed your life?
Danilo: I’ve become more patient. Before, I was irritable. Sa mga kapatid ko, when they were makulit, napapasigaw ako. Natatalakan ko sila. Not anymore.
James: My sleeping routine. I used to sleep eight hours a night. Normal sa akin ‘yon. But now, if I get four to five hours of sleep, masaya na ako. Of course, when I go out now people recognize me. Noon, walang pumapansin sa akin.
Cogie: A lot! Now, I’m careful with what I say and with what I do. My time with my friends and family nabawasan ng malaki.
What do you do with your earnings?
Danilo: It’s Boss Chito who handles our earnings (including those of the other Streetboys members). He keeps them in our (respective) bank accounts. He just gives us our allowance every 15th and 30th of the month. Unless you’re spending it on something really important, Boss Chito won’t give you extra amount, baka nga naman gastusin mo lang.
James: It’s my Mom and I who set aside my money.
Cogie: Mommy ko ang bahala diyan. I ask from her na lang when I need money. She always reminds me, "Save, save, save!"
How would you describe each one of you?
Danilo: Si James, cute. Laging nagpapa-cute. Cogie is the quiet type.
James: Si Danilo, magulong-makulit, hindi mo makausap ng seryoso. Si Cogie naman, sometimes seryoso na, nagbibiro pa. Pero matinong kausap… kung minsan.
Cogie: Si James, moody. But once nailabas mo ang pagiging kulit niya, makulit na makulit ‘yan. Si Danilo, forever makulit ‘yan. Tahimik lang kapag tulog.