Allen Dizon: From sexy to serious

MANILA, Philippines - Allen Dizon was only 12 when his father Emer, a Pagcor employee in Manila, was gunned down. The motive was never known. It was apparently a case of mistaken identity. And the effect on the family was traumatic.

Many years later Allen, in an instinctive method style of acting, would recall the tragedy when he would be called upon to shed tears during dramatic moments in his films.

The father’s death may be said to be ironic because when Allen was still in his mother’s womb in their native Santa Ana, Pampanga, his dad was being forced to join the NPA. To keep him out of harm’s way and precisely to avoid a possible violent end, the family migrated to Mindanao (Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental). Allen was born there, but after a few years the family returned to Pampanga.

His mother Rebecca never remarried and, along with her father Romeo Tiqui (at one time a bit player of Sampaguita Pictures), dedicated herself to taking care of her children. Allen was her second son. He took up Hotel & Restaurant Management at De Ocampo Memorial College and eventually graduated.

While still a student, however, Allen decided to help his mother make ends meet by entering showbiz and, lo and behold, he became a Regal Baby and lead of Viva Hotmen. In these skin flicks, Allen and his colleagues, male and female, pranced around in skimpy underwear and, well, showed a lot of skin.

The Dizons are a conservative, well-off clan in Pampanga and his mother disapproved. He had to explain that he only wanted to make money for the family and help in the education of his siblings.

By 2006 he had grown tired of these sexy movies. What may be called his last bold role was in Mel Chionglo’s Twilight Dancers. He was cast as a fading macho dancer. By this time, he had learned the craft of acting, so he gave the role his all. The result was two acting awards: Star Awards and Famas for Best Supporting Actor.

Last year he followed this up with a Famas Best Actor award for Joven Tan’s Paupahan.

The shift to serious acting became even more pronounced in Dukot, megged by Joel Lamangan and sponsored abroad (the most recent in Hong Kong) by human rights organizations. If Chionglo is “cool,” Lamangan is “intense,” according to Allen; and he gave a sterling performance as an activist tortured and eventually killed (along with his fiancée played by Iza Calzado) by the military during the present regime.

The result was yet another award, and from the academicians, at that: Gawad Tanglaw Best Actor.

To be shown Feb. 17 is Marino (Call of the Sea) by Paul Santa Ana, in which Allen plays a chickboy-seafarer with a wife (Ara Mina) and a mistress (Krista Ranillo). Hmm, a familiar scenario. Art imitating life? What will Manny Pacquiao and Aling Dionisia say?

In the drawing board is another political drama by Lamangan, Sigwa (a Cinemalaya finalist under the Open Category), in which Allen plays a Deep Penetration Agent, or a government spy let loose among NPA rebels.

Now a successful businessman (after several false starts), Allen, 32, is married to Crystle Dizon, an accounting graduate. They live in an imposing, three-storey house in a subdivision in San Fernando City, Pampanga, and have three children: Nella, seven; Felixia, four; and baby Lucas, more than a year old.

The years have left the still young actor almost philosophical and, apparently, serene. “Para sa akin ang buhay ay isang pakikisama,” he says. “No man is an island. You have to consider all the people around you. You have to adjust. In business, you have to make mistakes to learn. May time nalugi ako. I just prayed that those who fooled me will change.”

He is very grateful to showbiz: “I’ll be nothing if I didn’t join showbiz. I got recognized because of showbiz. You surely have the edge if you venture into business and people know you.”