Three top leading men

Then: Written March 6, 1991

With all their bases loaded last year, it is easy to name the top three leading men at present as Richard Gomez, Gabby Concepcion and Cesar Montano.

The Adonis-like Richard has the advantage of a regular TV sitcom and his erstwhile love affair with Megastar Sharon Cuneta put him in the forefront of showbiz news events.

At the presscon of his latest movie Ang Huling Bala, entertainment writers went out of their way to be nice to him as he was obviously still reeling from his separation from Sharon.

“I wanted to go to her birthday but people from the station asked me not to. They gave their reason so I was not able to see her. But I sent flowers.”

From the audience, it’s sigh and double sigh as incurable romantics figure out what’s best for the two young lovers. In local showbiz, private feelings are hardly given private moments.

Now comes Gabby from his pretty boy roles to dramatic actor and even some action pictures in between. Richard and Gabby have a common denominator aside from their mother studio — and that is Sharon. Gabby and Richard are Sharon’s exes.

As of this writing, Gabby is in the eye of a controversial storm. And that is The Kiss. The so-called kiss happened while filming with Kris Aquino, the presidential daughter known for her Pido Dida movie. Kris is also known to be sweet with Gabby. That’s where the problem lies for Gabby is still technically married to Sharon and therefore verboten to someone like Kris. Horrors if we get a repeat of the Tommy Manotoc episode when Imee was presidential daughter.

But the kiss did happen and this was documented by camera. Hence the furor. Gabby, the gentleman, was aghast, but later he deemed it better to say “sorry.” He may have kissed mayors’ daughters in the past, but it seems that kissing a presidential daughter has its pitfalls.

Gabby’s manager Lolit Solis raised a fuss. During the presscon of his movie, Mahalin Mo ang Asawa Ko, Regal’s PRO Ethel Ramos admonished the press to ask about the movie and forget about the “kiss.” Fear of Ethel made some showbiz writers behave for a while.

No matter. The fact remains that all the fuss about the kiss just made Gabby more in demand as a leading man. His role in Mahalin Mo ang Asawa Ko shows his growth as an actor.

Just like Richard and Gabby, Cesar Montano was kept in the public eye by controversy. A multi-awarded actor who can come out good even in a bad film, Cesar figured in showbiz news last year when he decided to sue his mother studio so that he can get the court to interpret the details of his contract. He lost a lot of time while the case was going on and the whole machinery of his mother studio went full time to make him look bad. A lesser man would have given up.

But Cesar, aside from being effective on screen was also effective in making a compromise agreement with Robbie Tan and now it seems all is well between them both. Cesar is the favorite leading man of Seiko beauties like Gretchen Barretto and Rita Avila. His love life is getting exciting and the hottest property of Viva, Nanette Medved can attest to this. His next project is Sumayaw Ka Salome, where he plays someone who suffers mental anguish to the point of derangement.

Now: June 20, 2010

It has been 19 years for Richard, Gabby and Cesar in the business.

Richard is active on television. He has married the lovely Lucy Torres who is a talented TV personality. Richard was seduced by politics but there were banana peels thrown along the way. The latest was a question of his residence when he announced his candidacy for Congress in Lucy’s hometown. Lucy became a last substitute for Richard and she won. It is understood that Richard will be very much behind Lucy in her congressional post.

Gabby is back on the scene stronger than ever. After his long hiatus in the US he is back on television as a leading man in Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo, a popular soap on primetime. Then he has a movie with daughter KC Concepcion which led to his reconciliation with former wife Sharon. The movie is doing well at the box-office. There is a chance that Sharon, KC and Gabby might do a movie together.

Cesar reached the peak of his career with movies directed by Marilou Diaz Abaya like Jose Rizal, Bagong Buwan and Muro Ami. He has gone into film production with his CM Films. He produced and directed Panaghoy sa Suba. This film was honored with awards but did not do well at the box-office. Cesar is taking it easy after he lost in the last elections where he ran for governor of Bohol. Like Richard, Cesar has been seduced by politics twice — first to run for senator and for governor in the last elections in Bohol. He is married to the lovely Sunshine Cruz and they have three adorable daughters. At present he has television offers and another independent film to produce.