Sen. Lito on why he can’t quit showbiz

Showbiz is forever as far as Sen. Lito Lapid is concerned. “I can leave politics but not showbiz,” Lito confessed to a group of movie writers during a recent get-together. “Puede kong iwan ang pulitika pero hinding-hindi ang showbiz. It’s showbiz that helped me get into politics. Kung hindi sa showbiz, wala ako sa pulitika.”

That’s why Lito (who served as governor of Pampanga before he was twice elected senator) is never too busy with work at the Senate to find time for showbiz.

In fact, he has put to can an action-thriller inspired by the Liam Neeson starrer Taken. Titled Lumang Bakal, the movie (during this interview several weeks ago) produced by Star Cinema was already being dubbed and edited, just waiting for a release date (which might take a long time considering the current crisis). In the story, Lito plays an ex-convict who has to dust off his gun as he tries to rescue his kidnapped daughter (played by Yen Santos).

Asked what the bakal in the title means, Lito (last seen in a Coco Martin’s Probinsyano-spinoff movie) explained, “Bakal refers to a gun. Gun is steel, bakal. During police operations in nightclubs, they check customers kung may dala silang bakal. Actually, I have used the gun in my previous films, para din yung Kalibre .45 na identified with FPJ.”

Although he has to choose the roles offered to him (in deference to his status as Senator), Lito said that he is open to doing more movies.

“Kung may offer, why not? Sayang din ang kikitain.”

A touching little story

As a breather from the bleak news about COVID-19, here’s a little story to cast a bright light upon the dark and gloomy scenery, forwarded to Funfare by STAR (Remember When?) columnist Danny Dolor who said he got it from a friend.

“It’s a great story,” said Danny (who didn’t know who the author was), “and your readers will love it. It will make their day.”

Here it is:

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.” The young man held out this package. “I know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture... “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.”

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?”

There was silence...

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.”

But the auctioneer persisted, “Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?”

Another voice said angrily, “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh’s, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!”

But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?”

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

“We have $10, who will bid $20? No one? Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.”

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel... “Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!”

A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now let’s get on with the collection!”

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction is over.”

What about the paintings?

“I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything.”

God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: “The Son, the Son, who’ll take the Son?”

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!

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