MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED: Sept. 11, 7: 21 p.m.) — Are you ready for Datu Baron Geisler?
The royal family of King Raja Mohammadmamay Hasan Abdurajak and Queen Maria Makiling Helen Fatima Nasaria Panolino Abdurajak, the heirs and successors to the throne of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, are conferring the honorary title of Datu to actor Baron Geisler in a ceremony to be held this coming Tuesday, September 10, in Quezon City.
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In a prior meeting with the actor, the royal couple was reportedly inspired by Baron's "remarkable" comeback and was deeply moved by his powerful testimony.
The actor's publicist told Philstar.com the royal couple also believe in his capacity as an "inspirational role model for the youth and ambassador for peace" because of his newfound "spiritual maturity."
Last week, reports said the actor was allegedly set to return to rehab for treatment of severe alcoholism. He is said to have been arranging to still work with Coco Martin on ABS-CBN's longest primetime action series "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano" even as he enters rehab.
Baron is engaged to a psychologist, Jamie Evangelista, from Cebu.
From a child actor in the youth-oriented TV show "Ang TV" in the '90s, Baron became known as a teen idol via the coming-of-age drama series "Tabing Ilog."
Since then, he has been known as a character actor and appeared in various plays, movies and TV shows. Among the accolades he received were Best Actor from the 4th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2008 and Best Single Performance of an Actor from the 2005 PMPC Star Awards for Television for an episode in the drama show "Maalaala Mo Kaya."
Nonetheless, the actor made headlines for a slew of controversies. From 2008 to 2011, he was charged with sexual harrassment by different actresses, including Yayo Aguila (for daughter Patricia), Yasmien Kurdi, Julia Clarete and Cherry Pie Picache.
In 2016, he was involved in brawls with fellow actors Kiko Matos and Ping Media. He was also arrested in 2017 and in 2018 for running amok in a Quezon City bar and for grave threats toward his brother in their hometown, Angeles City in Pampanga.
But late last year, Baron has pledged to try to change by joining religious organizations such as the Maranatha Christian Fellowship in Cebu.
In an Instagram post, he said he has been "touched by God to touch others."
In a statement dated September 11, however, The Royal House of Sulu’s Chancellery said that the actor received a "fake royal title" since the king and queen that gave Baron the title are reportedly "false" claimants to the throne.
RELATED: 'Datu' Baron Geisler explains return to rehab