Gerard needs a ‘guardian angel’

Bumped into Gerard Madrid recently and took the chance to ask how he was doing. He said, “Okey lang, may mga project sa GMA.”

Gerard said he appeared in an episode of Magpakailanman, hosted by Mel Tiangco. It was the story of Rusell Contemplacion, daughter of the doomed maid in Singapore, Flor, played by Alessandra de Rossi. He’s also cast in Home Sweet Home.

He recalled that his last soap was also for GMA, Cielo de Angelina.

Any movie offer?

Gerard said there’s one, meant for Cinemalaya. Yes, sexy, very, “May frontal nudity. Kung talagang maganda ang role, okey ako. Pero kailangang mag-workout ako. Dapat maganda ang katawan.”

Years back, Gerard starred in a gem of a movie produced by Regal and directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, Sana Pag-ibig Na. He played the son of Nida Blanca and Chinggoy Alonzo who fell in love with his father’s mistress (played by Angel Aquino). It was an impressive directorial debut for Jeff and Gerard merited his share of good reviews.

Sana Pag-ibig Na was one of the so-called pito-pito movies produced by Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde who was roundly criticized for wrapping movies in seven days (thus, the tag). But what was wrong with that? Lino Brocka shot Insiang, one of his best works, in seven days, thus proving that what counts is not how long it takes you to do a movie but how well you do it.

Time has, of course, vindicated Mother Lily, proving her right. Her pito-pito projects paved the road for the indie movies that now practically rule the industry. Another pito-pito discovery was Lav Diaz (whose directorial debut was Ang Kriminal sa Baryo Concepcion).

Gerard was billed “the promising actor of the year” in that unlamented pito-pito era.

So what happened?

Well, Gerard confessed there were wrong choices he made, missteps and mistakes on his way to stardom, which didn’t come.

He fell in love with Alma Moreno, the sex symbol of the ’80s and the “fantasy” of his youth. It lasted for three years and contrary to common beliefs, Gerard claimed it was “true love.” He abandoned his family and neglected his career.

At times, like Vivien Leigh as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Gerard depended on the “kindness of strangers” and generosity of well-meaning friends.

Gerard is thankful to directors who cast him in their movies, especially Maryo J. de los Reyes who handpicked him to play a priest facing a personal crisis in Nandito Ako…Nagmamahal Sa’yo.

He regrets disappointing his parents, not finishing his studies at Colegio de San Lorenzo Ruiz, reaching only second year in Business Administration. His father is Dr. Emilio Gabriel Madrid Jr., coming from an old rich  family in Parañaque and Pasay. Gerard remembers his relatives (Gabriel’s side) saying that their ancestors donated the land where the Baclaran church (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) now stands.

No matter, this time around Gerard is focused on his career. Goodbye, “wayward ways!”

2012 Miss Tourism International Rizzini Alexis Gomez flanked by her brother Kim and dad (former PBA player Ruel Gomez)

So there. Who’ll give Gerard another good break? Who’ll be his angel de la guardia?

2012 Miss Tourism International keeps an eye on showbiz

Like most beauty queens before her, Rizzini Alexis Gomez, 2012 Miss Tourism International who won in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 31 last year, might join showbiz when the right offer comes.

“Though it’s not my priority at this time, I’m not discounting the possibility of joining showbiz,” said Rizzini at a recent presscon. “If given the chance, I would like to be involved in News and Public Affairs or probably a travel and tourism show that will highlight the beauty of our country and innate charm of the Filipinos.”

Rizzini first joined the searches for Bb. Pilipinas 2012 and then the Miss World Philippines but failed to reach the semi-finals. Her hard work paid off when she joined Mutya ng Pilipinas in August last year and bagged the Mutya Tourism title. Her win as Miss Tourism International duplicates the victory of fellow Mutya, Esperanza Manzano, who won Miss Tourism International also in Malaysia in November 2000.

“It is indeed a great finale for a bountiful harvest of international beauty titles for the Philippines in the Beauty Pageant Arena and a good start for the Mutya ng Pilipinas Pageant for 2013, as we prepare for a much bigger and grander search on our 45th-year anniversary this year,” said Jacqueline Tan, the first lady president of Mutya ng Pilipinas, Inc.

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