The ‘Forgiven’: Bong Revilla: The healing has begun

Exactly a year ago today, Joseph "Erap" Estrada, 13th President of the Philippines, was deposed by EDSA II, the second President (after Ferdinand Marcos in 1986) to be ousted from Malacañang in such a manner.

Three days before that historically fateful day, then Cavite Gov. Bong Revilla joined dozens of stars who called for Erap to step down, near-tearfully making his "appeal" to his Ninong before the multitude in that famous intersection of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue. Bong’s move startled a lot of people, especially the Estradas who were like family to him, Erap’s son, then San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada being a barkada and like a brother to him.

Did Bong do it to salvage the family’s reputation after his father, Sen. Ramon Revilla, was denounced by the public for voting "no" to the opening of "the second envelope" at the Erap Impeachment Trial along with 10 other Senators?

Anyway, Bong paid dearly for that EDSA "appeal." He lost his reelection bid for Governor in Cavite, running under the Lakas-NUCD banner (Erap’s party is Puwersa ng Masa Pilipino). He also lost one very precious possession – his good friend and kina-kapatid Jinggoy Estrada.

During a presscon early this month for his starrer Walang Iwanan, Peks Man at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center where he and his father have been detained for eight months now, Jinggoy forgave Bong, doing so in front of the movie press – but Jinggoy qualified that he hasn’t forgotten what Bong did.

Having humbly accepted his defeat and conceded to his opponents, Bong has decided to move on, resuming his rudely interrupted showbiz career by "reinventing" himself (from an action superhero into a romantic idol) in his post-May 14, 2001 starrer, Viva Films’ Mahal Kita, Final Answer, which should firm up his new persona as a "comedian" duly recognized by the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) which named him Best Comedy Actor (for his GMA sitcom Idol Ko Si Kap) last year.

Here’s Bong, "The Forgiven," talking about the "healing" that has begun.

What does January 20 remind you of?

(Takes time to answer) "January 20? It reminds me of EDSA II and ...I don’t want to talk about it anymore. If I could, I’d rather erase from my memory that part of my life. Gusto kong burahin."

But Jinggoy has already forgiven you. When did you first hear about that good news (it is good news, isn’t it?)?

"A friend called to tell me about it – you know, na pinatatawad na ako. So I told myself, ‘Salamat naman at tinanggap niya ako muli." It’s a good way to start the new year."

Jinggoy said that although he has "forgiven" you, he hasn’t really forgotten what you did. He said that "forgiving" is different from "forgetting."

"I know. We can’t blame him naman, e. At the time I did it, I might have thought that that was the right thing for me to do but my biggest mistake was that nasagasaan ko ang kaibigan ko. Na-overlook ko ang friendship namin, I must admit."

Among the barkada (including Rudy Fernandez and Phillip Salvador), you and Jinggoy happened to be the closest, di ba?

"You’re right. ‘Yon ang na-overlook ko, that’s why noon pa, I was already begging for his forgiveness. I don’t want to talk about it lengthily anymore. All I want to say is that I didn’t do it to destroy them, hindi ko ginawa ‘yon para sirain sila. All I said was, ‘Bumaba ka na, Ninong, habang marami pa ang nagmamahal sa’yo.’ Mahal sa akin ang pamilyang ‘yon (Referring to the Estradas. – RFL). I thought at that time na maraming tao na ang naapektuhan and I did what I did para matigil na ang gulo sa bansa natin."

You haven’t seen Jinggoy since then, have you?

"Not yet, although I kept on sending text messages to him even if he never answered. Okey lang sa akin ‘yon; I understand."

In fairness to Jinggoy, in the two times that I’ve seen him, he didn’t sound bitter – or so I thought – when he mentioned your name. Anyway, what’s the first thing that you’d do if you met Jinggoy? What’s the first thing that you’d tell him?

"I’ll just hug him."

You won’t tell him anything?

"I’ll just hug him."

You won’t even ask him, "How are you? Kumusta ka na?"

"I’ll just hug him."

Do you feel better now that you’ve been forgiven? Do you feel lighter now?

"Magaan na ang feeling ko. Light na light. In fact, when I heard about it, I wanted to go to the Veterans Medical Center, maybe just to greet him and my Ninong A Happy New Year but I backed off. I didn’t expect him to forgive me that soon. Hindi ko akalain. I was touched by his gesture. I hope to see him later, in God’s time."

Do you think there are other people who should forgive you?

(Thinks awhile) "I don’t think so... Wala naman akong ibang atraso, e," (Adding with a laugh) "Well, siguro ... my wife si Lani."

Why Lani? May atraso ka ba sa kanya?

(Breaking into a chinky-eyed laughter) "None, nothing. Joke only."

But are there some people whom you should forgive?

"Lahat ng nagkasala sa akin pinatawad ko na. I’ve forgiven those who have sinned against me." (Addressing nobody in particular) "I forgive all of you!"

Are there many of them?

"A lot. Marami. A lot!"

Politics-related ba ang mga sin nila?

"Politics, not showbiz. I concede that I lost in the elections because of what I did at EDSA II. Siguro, it’s my destiny; I believe in destiny, you know. I guess that politics is not my line siguro, but God knows I did my best during my time as a Vice Governor (one term) and then as Governor (one term)."

Why do you say now that politics is not your line?

"Kasi I really belong to showbiz, although while I was in politics I did my best. I guess maganda naman ang record ko as a public official. I received several awards, one of them for my anti-drug campaign from an international organization. I went to New York to receive that award. Talagang ibinuhos ko ang buhay ko sa pulitika. Diyan sa anti-drug campaign, pati buhay ko itinaya ko; I put my life on the line, including that of my family. Napaunlad ko naman ang lalawigan ng Cavite and turned it into one of the most peaceful provinces in the country. As a politician, I did all that I wanted to do even in such a limited time."

No regrets?

"No, no regrets at all. It’s a good thing that some of the projects that I’ve started are being pushed through by the new administration, ipinagpapatuloy nila ’yung mga proyektong ’yon. I talked to (new Governor) Maliksi, I offered my hand in reconciliation. I told him, ‘Let’s forget about politics. You won, I respect the will of the people (of Cavite).’ Past is past. Let’s all look ahead, look toward the future."

So you have no more plans of returning to politics…

"… I don’t know. I can’t say anything definite just yet. Marami sa akin ang nagpu-push up to now… Even Malacañang is asking if I still want to run; mayrooon daw silang slot sa akin for Senator, or for Governor again. Sabi ko, at this point in time I still don’t know. All I want is to win back the friends whom I lost; gusto ko lang maibalik ang aming pagkakaibigan."

What are the valuable lessons that you learned in politics?

"First, before you decide on something you have to think a hundred times. I’m not saying that I regret about anything that I said or that I did; wala akong niri-regret. When I look back, I realize na ang masakit sa ginawa ko ay, ’yon na nga, nasagasaan ko si Jinggoy. That’s why I’m saying, ‘Bago gumawa ng anuman, think a hundred times; isiping mabuti.’ You might think na tama ang ginagawa mo para sa bayan pero ’yon pala may kaibigan kang nasasagasaan. I made a choice, I made a stand, pero ang nangyari parang talo rin ako because I lost a friend. I fought for the country and lost a friend in the process pero ang lumabas, parang mali pa ang ginawa ko. That’s the pain gnawing inside me, ang sakit na dala-dala ko. Sometimes, I ask, ‘Bakit ganoon?’ You know."

How do you cope with the pain?

"After looking back and coming to terms with your mistake, siempre the next best thing to do is to look ahead, to move on, because if you dwell on that painful past baka masira ang diskarte mo."

Do you pray? Are you a prayerful person?

"I pray. I call on the Lord."

Who’s your favorite saint?

"St. Joseph."

Oy, namesake of your Ninong!

"St. Joseph has been my favorite saint even when I was a kid."

What advice can you give actors who are planning to join politics? Would you encourage them or discourage them?

"It’s not easy to enter politics, especially now. Totoo ang sinasabi nila – politics is worse than showbiz, especially where intrigues are concerned, mas matindi ang siraan at intriga, mas madugo. But if they’re really determined, kung talagang desidido sila, they should work hard to serve the people. Dapat galing sa puso ang desire nila to serve the people without thinking of getting back anything in return. Otherwise, if they have selfish motives, kawawa ang bayan, walang mangyayari. If they want to help the people, go ahead. Pero kung magnanakaw lang sila sa (kaban ng) bayan, huwag naman, huwag na lang!"

What have been the changes in your life since the elections in May last year?

"It has been a big adjustment on my part. When I was in public office, as soon as I woke up, ang dami nang tao sa bahay, asking for help… telling me all sorts of problems, all sorts – problema sa tubig, problema sa pagpapalibing, problema sa kung anu-ano. My leaders would also be there, including those from the smallest and remotest barangay. Problema ng patay, problema ng buhay. All of them hinaharap ko. Suddenly, all those responsibilities were gone at nanibago ako. My schedule is easier and lighter, I have less headaches, but I do miss interacting with the people."

Aren’t you glad that you now have more time for yourself?

"Yes, more time for myself and for my family." (He and Lani have six children – Bryan, 15; Jolo, 13; Inah, 11; Gianna, 9; Loudette, 6; and Ram, 2. – RFL)

How did you spend the Christmas season, your first out of politics in many years?

"The whole family spent Christmas in Alabang. It was different from our past Christmases. Ngayon lang ako nakapag-Pasko exclusively with my family. In the past, it was always with the people. It was a peaceful and quiet Christmas."

Did you get your New Year’s wish?

"My only wish is for my career to run smoothly. Politics? I just leave it to God. In the meantime, ang concentration ko is showbiz."

Are you waiting for some kind of a sign for you to go back to politics?

"All I can say at the moment is that mahal ko pa rin ang mga Caviteño and they if they want me to help, then I will help."

As far as showbiz is concerned, your comeback is okay, very smooth, unlike other actor-politicians (who lost in the elections) who seem to be having a hard time making a showbiz reentry. You were even named as Best Comedy Actor (for the GMA sitcom Idol Ko si Kap) by the Philippine Movie Press Club’s Star Awards for Television. It’s a new career for you – as a comedian.

"In my new movie, you will see a ‘reinvented’ Bong Revilla, parang Richard Gere ang dating."

Or parang Mel Gibson (in What Women Want) and Clint Eastwood (in Bridges of Madison County). Action superstars turned romantic heroes. Bagay sa ’yo because you’re romantic…

"… and lovable!" (Followed by self-deprecating laughter)

Your shift from rugged action to pure comedy seems to be smooth and effortless…

"… The movie is comedy-romance na may kahalong drama. Rufa Mae reprises her Booba role while I play a self-made man. It’s a poor-girl-meets-rich-boy story done in a novel style. Mahusay ang pagkaka-direk ni Ike (Jarlego, Jr.)."

Please explain the title. Is it a tie-up with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (host Christopher de Leon appears in a cameo role as himself)?

"Not really a tie-up, although Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is an important part of the story. Pati nga title – Final Answer – is taken from the question Christopher asks a contestant if his answer is already the final one. In the story, Rufa Mae is fond of joining gameshows, one of them WW2BAM where she reaches the grand finals. On the day she’s supposed to aim for the P2-million jackpot, nagkaroon kami ng lovers’ quarrel but she doesn’t know that I follow her to the studio. For the last question, the final answer is supposed to be ‘I love you… mahal kita.’ When Christopher asks her the question, she sees me entering the studio, asking her if she loves me and she blurts out, ‘I love you!’ and that’s her final answer. Christopher then declares her the jackpot winner."

Oh, I see! And what’s your final answer to the persistent rumor that Rufa Mae and you are having an affair (although Rufa Mae has denied it several times, saying in a recent interview with The STAR that she didn’t want to be a mistress)?

(With a straight face) "Bakit, mistress ko ba siya?"

Okay, next question – and your final answers. What’s the first thing that you’ll do or say if you bump into the following… Phillip Salvador?

"I have no problems with Ipe. I guess we understand each other. We talk, we go out."

Rudy Fernandez?

"Same. Wala kaming problema."

Erap, your ninong?

(Thinks awhile) "Maybe I’ll tell him, ‘You’ll overcome all this. Isang pagsubok lang ’to sa buhay.’"