Lee O’Brian is here to stay

It was love that brought Hollywood actor Lee O’Brian to the Philippines where he has found maybe not just a second but a permanent home.

“My future is here,” Lee told Funfare at the presscon for Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi, directed by Jun Lana for the 2nd Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP, opening today and good until the 21st). “I’m not totally schooled on Filipino culture but I am learning a lot about it.”

Lee, 43, is the partner of Pokwang (Marietta Subong in real life, who is turning 45 on Aug. 27) with whom he has a seven-month-old beautiful baby named Malia Francine O’Brian, conceived after Pokwang suffered a miscarriage. Malia is Pokwang’s third child, coming after a son by a (Japanese national she married in 1993 while working in Japan) who died of a congenital brain ailment, and Mae Subong, Pokwang’s daughter by another Japanese she had a relationship with in 1996.

Although Lee has been tabloid fodder since he met and fell in love with Pokwang in 2014 while shooting Star Cinema’s Edsa Woolworth in the States, not much is known about Lee. Here’s a thumbnail backgrounder on Lee:

…Lee with Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi co-stars (from left) Markus Paterson, Sue Ramirez and Jameson Blake

Lee O’Brian was born on Sept. 29, 1975 in Walnut Creek, California. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, in the town of Orinda. After attending college at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he played varsity football and lacrosse, he embarked on two backpacking journeys, first through Europe and then through Central America. The second journey led him to moving to Latin America, where he lived in Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and Ecuador, over a 10-year period. It was there he became fluent in Spanish, while also learning Portuguese, and where he got his start in acting. By 2012, he continued his acting career in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he appeared in such films as Edsa Woolworth and Forgive Me Father. In 2015, after beginning work in Manila, Philippines, he appeared in Kano Luvs Pinay (TV5), On the Wings of Love (ABS-CBN) and Ang Probinsyano (ABS-CBN). He also appeared in the 2016 hit Mercury is Mine.

In Ang Babaeng Allergic sa Wifi, Lee is perfectly cast as the father of Jameson Blake and Markus Paterson, both half-Brit/half-Filipino who play brothers in the movie that asks this timely question: Have you ever imagined living in a world without WiFi?

The story revolves around Norma (played by Sue Ramirez), a typical millennial who is dependent on WiFi in her daily interactions with friends and her boyfriend (Markus), until she develops an allergy to WiFi and is thus compelled to live with her grandmother (Boots Anson-Roa) in a faraway province where she’s not exposed to any radio waves that can worsen her condition. The story easily resonated with millennials, with its online teaser drawing a few million views just days after it was posted.

Produced by The IdeaFirst Company (of Jun Lana and partner Perci Intalan), Cignal Entertainment and OctoberTrain, the movie also stars Yayo Aguila (as Sue’s mom), Kiko Matos (as Yayo’s boyfriend) and a few newcomers.

“I enjoy working with the newcomers,” said Jun. “They are professional, hard-working, hindi sumusuko maski sa mahihirap na eksena na inuumaga ang shoot.”   

Other stars of the movie, from left: Boots Anson-Roa, Yayo Aguila and Kiko Matos

Back to Lee…

Being a first-time dad, he said that he’s learning about “baby-ing” from Pokwang as far as preparing the feeding bottle and changing diapers are concerned.

“She’s a strong lady,” admitted Lee, “she’s one heck of a mother.”

Pokwang has expressed a desire to have one more baby. Asked if he’s up to it, Lee smiled, “Yes, I am.”

Some trivia about “allergy” (inspired by the movie’s title):

• Jameson confessed that he developed an “allergy” (some kind of temporary phobia) after he was bashed for asking a free artwork from any graphic artist for whom he would “compensate” with a shoutout. Jameson said that he kept to himself in his condo unit for a week and stayed away from social media. “I’m okay now. I really didn’t have any intention to downgrade any artist.”

•Jun: “Allergic ako sa late.”

•Boots: “Sometimes you can be irked by people who have bad habits, so hindi ka mapakali or makatulog. I learned from my husband King (Rodrigo’s) dad who didn’t let himself be bothered by those kinds of people. He’s right, talo ang pikon.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)