Robin Padilla on Mariel and his exes Sharon, Kris & Vina

Live with no excuses and love with no regrets. — Montel

Global money transfer firm MoneyGram on June 20 renewed its multi-million-peso contract with action superstar actor Robin Padilla as brand ambassador for another year. MoneyGram plans to take him to visit overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon this August.

MoneyGram country manager for the Philippines Dr. Alex Chan Lim says, “Robin is trusted by Filipinos from all walks of life, especially by our overseas Filipino workers. He exemplifies our Moneygrado assurance of fastest, safest and most economical money remittance.”

 The 43-year-old celebrity and martial arts enthusiast Robin Padilla granted Philippine STAR an exclusive interview. Excerpts:

PHILIPPINE STAR: Tell us about your new movie project, 10,000 Hours,  which has been approved as an entry in the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

ROBIN PADILLA: This movie is inspired by the story of Senator Ping Lacson, how he was persecuted and how he evaded arrest abroad for 13 months. Senator Ping is not only a good leader, he is very humble, too.

 â€œInspired by” and not a biopic?

Because Senator Ping Lacson in real life is a  good and faithful husband, but in this movie I play a fugitive who is a playboy na parang (similar to) James Bond.

I heard you will shoot this movie in Europe. Where and when?

Yes, we will shoot in Europe, in Eastern Europe for two weeks, up to Croatia in August, a date I requested because July 20 is the start of the Ramadan and I’m Muslim. Masisira fasting ko bilang isang Muslim, there will be kissing scenes too, and I cannot have those kinds of thoughts during Ramadan (smiles).

Your sentiments about the OFW phenomenon?

I have high respect for our brother OFWs, they are the true heroes and they are the biggest reason behind our strong economic growth.

Zsa Zsa Padilla tweeted me that her age gap of 34 years with the late Dolphy was the same as the age gap now between Vic Sotto and his girlfriend Pauleen Luna. In your case, a 15-year  gap. Your views on younger women with older guys?

The younger woman actually passes on a lot of wisdom to the mature guy. Before Mariel, I couldn’t fully understand my daughters, their generation; I understand my daughters now because of Mariel.

So you think it’s ideal for younger women like Mariel to be with matured guys like you?

Kaya nga ‘yung mga great men sa kasaysayan, binibigyan sila ng mga batang asawa ng Diyos (That’s why great men in history, they’re given younger wives by God). Look at Prophet Muhammad, he was given 11 wives and some were young. Look at the native Americans, they’re given young wives too.

Are you happy you’re allowed four wives as a Muslim?

I would like to quote Moro leader Nur Misuari when he visited Congress with his two wives accompanying him, and the media and politicos were asking him about polygamy. Misuari said: “What the Christians are hiding, the Muslims are practicing.” Nakakulong ako noon (I was in prison then) when I watched him say that on TV.

Your comments on your ex-girlfriend Sharon Cuneta?

She’s my idol  in everything she does. I became an actor because of her. She was shooting her movie Friends in Love on Session Road in Baguio City, I was then a student there, and I ran after her but they were leaving. I said to myself: “One day, I will be able to meet you.” I later on told her that story and she replied: “So that was you?”

How about Kris Aquino? She was your girlfriend when her mother Cory Aquino was then president.

Kris, she’s not a queen, she’s like an empress. Kris was born to conquer kings. I met Kris through Mother Lily… When her father Ninoy Aquino died in 1983, all guys had a crush on Kris, do you remember that time? You could also see her strength then, you didn’t see her hysterically crying.

Your comments on Vina Morales?

The heart of Vina is pure, a true Filipina.

Why didn’t you marry Vina, or Sharon or Kris?

I think it’s destiny. 

You have a nephew who’s a very famous new showbiz star, Daniel Padilla, can you explain his phenomenal popularity?

It’s a blessing from God, because it wasn’t the TV network ABS CBN 2 that built him up. He’s only 18. No, he won’t be the next Robin Padilla, mas higit pa.

Were you so well-connected to then President Fidel V. Ramos that he pardoned you?

No, President Ramos had no choice, because I had served a reduced sentence  and I literally served like a slave. My prison term of 17 to 21 years was reduced by the Supreme Court to 10 to 18 years, then Senator Ramon Revilla (to whom I owe an eternal debt of gratitude) and Congressman Raul Daza lessened the prison sentence of the old Marcos law on illegal possession of firearms to six to 18 years. It was Nur Misuari who personally brought my pardon papers for President Ramos to sign.  I was made an example by Ramos due to my arrogance, but I have no grudges against him.

The late actor Rudy Fernandez was also your Padilla kin?

Yes,  he was my cousin. He was close to our family. The only advice he gave me when he was already sick in the hospital was: “Stop making lousy projects, stop making films just for the money. Stop it. Choose your projects.”

Zsa Zsa Padilla is your cousin too?

Zsa Zsa is my niece. Her father Carlos is my cousin, he was the son of our tiyo (uncle) Leleng.

How are you with your brother Rustom Padilla, now known as BB Gandanghari?

 We brothers, it’s usual for siblings to have misunderstandings; it’s just a question of principle. So far now, we’re not yet talking to each other, but I would not be a true man if ever I saw him and didn’t talk to him.

Is BB or Rustom your younger sibling?

 Kuya, or ate, ko siya (He’s my elder brother, or elder sister). You thought I’m older, because she is more, how do we say that in English, she’s more “beauty conscious” (laughs). Beauty queen siya (She’s a beauty queen).

Are you okay with actor Aljur Abrenica as boyfriend of your  daughter?

There’s no dad who will say a guy is ever good enough for his daughter.

We still have a lot of OFWs, I heard from 1,000 to 3,000 people leaving the country every day for jobs abroad?

I can believe those statistics. Before, if you call for a carpenter in the neighborhood, 10 men would be waiting outside your home immediately. Now it’s difficult to find real good carpenters. It seems all our skilled workers are already abroad.

With your wish for reforms, maybe you’re going to enter politics in the near future?

No, I will just suffer high blood in our politics. Do you want to see fistfights in Congress? Only then will I enter politics. I dislike how our politicos lie.

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