It’s true in the case of Robin Padilla.
Everybody knows, of course, that Robin served three years at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City for illegal possession of firearms.
But did you know that he married three women, the first (and only remaining wife) being the ever-faithful, ever-true Liezl Sicangco, mother of Robin’s four children, who has, like Robin, converted to Islam? The second was a sexy actress (who will remain unnamed so as to keep you guessing) from whom Robin has been "divorced;" and the third, well, Robin would rather not comment about her. (As a Muslim, Robin is entitled to four wives but only, as per the Muslim law, if he can support them.) Strike three.
On the set of his latest movie, GMA Films and Viva Films’ joint venture Till I Met You (opening in Metro Manila on Wednesday, Oct. 11), Robin jokingly offered his leading lady, Regine Velasquez, marriage but Regine said, "No, thank you!" because, Robin said, she didn’t have to be just "one of them" but "the one and only." No sharing as far as Regine is concerned. (She said that she has been going steady with somebody for four years now but she didn’t say who the guy is, again, like Robin, keeping showbiz-watchers guessing.)
Directed by Mark Reyes, Till I Met You is the second team-up of Robin and Regine (their first was Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw) and Robin’s first starrer since he won the Best Actor (for Unitel Pictures’ La Visa Loca) plum at this year’s Urian Awards (and another one from Gawad Tanglaw). She plays an ambitious, jaded girl who has lost faith in love. Nevertheless, she agrees to marry a rich man (played by Eddie Garcia) but their marriage is thwarted by the rich man’s henchman (Robin) and foster son who feels that she rightfully belongs to him.
Another trivia about Robin: He is among the 42 (only those "documented") children of the late Assemblyman Roy Padilla (of Camarines Norte), by half a dozen women, one of them Robin’s mom, former actress Eva Cariño who bore the productive elder Padilla five other children (including two girls and three boys, Rustom, Rommel and Royette).
So what are the other three’s in Robin’s life?
Read on.
2. How to be God-fearing. People say that my mother is strong-willed and matapang. Even if my brother Rustom said (on national television) that my mother would scold him when he was a kid, I insist that my mother is religious, maka-Diyos siya.
3. My mother is supportive. The public has seen for itself the kind of support that my mother has been giving her children. Even we’re in the wrong, she stands behind us. Sobra-sobra ang suporta niya sa mga anak niya.
2. She’s a good mother. She has brought up my children properly.
3. She’s matiisin (roughly translated as "suffering in silence"). < B>
2. The star system hasn’t changed. The star gets all the benefits but the small workers, like the stuntmen, hardly get any. It’s not fair. Hindi patas.
3. The back-stabbing and character-assassination are rampant. Siraan nang siraan; the crab mentality is very strong. Instead of rallying behind each other, industry people would do everything to pull down everybody else. If the one who’s making a headway is not the talent (alaga) of somebody, the poor guy will be cut to pieces.
2. When I was jailed at the National Penitentiary. It was a good experience. Why good? Well, my three years "inside" enlightened me on so many things. It was while I was in prison that I converted to Islam. Becoming a Muslim is a great experience for me. I’ll never forget that.
3. Of course, when I won two Best Actor awards for La Visa Loca – one from the Urian Awards and the other was from the Gawad Tanglaw.
2. Utol Kong Hoodlum. I also fell in love (with leading lady Vina Morales) during the shooting. Umusbong uli ang pag-ibig sa puso ko.
3. Till I Met You. Did I fall in love again (with leading lady Regine Velasquez)? Umusbong ba uli ang pag-ibig? Yes, it did. But no way. Hindi puede. Regine said she already has a boyfriend. (Asked who, Robin said with a knowing smile, "I don’t know. Hindi ko alam, eh." Asked further if it’s true that he offered Regine marriage, Robin smiled, "We didn’t reach that stage. I asked her if it’s okay with her if a man has several wives and she said no. I didn’t pursue my intentions. It’s painful to be busted." – RFL.)
2. In love, what’s important is not what you can get but what you can give.
3. Love shouldn’t be selfish.
2. ...Masarap...
3. ...at masarap pa! Sex is good, good, good!
2. Women are the inspiration of men.
3. Women are the downfall of men. Ang mga babae ay kasiraan ng mga lalaki.
2. To put up an orphanage in Mindanao, for children orphaned by the war there.
3. Right now, I’m putting almost all my money in my foundation, the Liwanag ng Kapayapaan Foundation. I’ve talked to Liezl about this already – that I won’t be sending money to her (in Australia) because I’m donating (almost all my) earnings to the foundation, also for the benefit of my fellow Muslims who are poor. Also, one of my goals is to explain to the whole world that Islam is for peace, not for terrorism.
2. I’m a loving person.
3. I’m God-fearing.
2. I have a temper – but I’m trying to control it. Hindi na ako violent. Violence has no place in Islam. You don’t hear people say that I get into a fight, do you? Hindi na ako nakikipag-away.
3. I am gullible, a sucker for sob stories. I don’t know how to say no.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)