Demand for FPJ movies soars

DAVAO CITY — His movies are selling like hotcakes all over again and all it took was for him to declare his bid for the presidency.

Actor Fernando Poe Jr.’s presidential bid has boosted his movies’ sales and all the world wants to get to know this action movie king making a bid for the presidency in 2004.

The demand for Poe’s films "has tremendously increased, especially after he declared last Wednesday that he was seeking the presidency," said Conrad Poe, the actor’s brother. "There were many interested groups, especially foreign film buyers, including Japanese entrepreneurs. They are getting (copies of the films) from me now."

The actor, also known as FPJ and Da King, has acted in, directed and produced several films, including movies set during the war in the Pacific in which his alter-ego slew many invading soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army.

"I do not know exactly why there has been an increase in demand," Conrad said. "Maybe they really want to know who exactly is my brother. They want to know him more even (if it is ) through his films."

Conrad, who manages FPJ Studios, said he had to rush back to Manila on the first flight out yesterday to attend to the increasing demand for his brother’s films.

He arrived in this city Thursday with other showbiz personalities, including Tony Ferrer, Bert de Leon and Roberto Reyes - better known as Amay Bisaya — for a series of shows.

The interest shown by the Japanese buyers in Poe’s films comes in the wake of circulating text message jokes that Japanese investors would shun the Philippines if Poe wins in the presidential derby because of all the Japanese soldiers he "killed" in his movies.

"Japanese businessmen want to buy the rights to several of his films to be translated into the Nihongo (Japanese) language," Conrad said. "I understand that they are also eyeing the big group of Filipino overseas workers in the area (who may want) to see his films," he added.

Several other groups from Mexico, South America, Eurpoe and a number of cable companies in the United States also expressed interest in Poe’s movies.

Among the most sought-after films were: The four-movie Panday (Blacksmith) series, which Poe starred in and directed: Perlas ng Silangan , in which his wife Susan Roces played his leading lady; the epic Agila (Eagle); Pagbabalik ng Lawin, the 1960s film Zamboanga, Pitong Gatang, and Umpisahan Mo, Tatapusin Ko.

Poe’s movie Muslim Magnum .357 was also a best seller in the Muslim communities than make up the majority in Mindanao.

"They want the film shown all over again and there is even one television channel wanting to buy the rights to the same films that were already shown on another channel, with whom our contract is about to expire," Conrad said.

Poe reportedly has a library of over 180 films that span the 40 years he has worked in Philippine cinema. These films were all done by his movie outfit, while he starred in about 100 other movies by other producers.

Silver Screen Magic

Conrad said the roles played by his brother in these films were mostly of lowly or oppressed persons. Poe shows up onscreen as the common Juan del a Cruz - a taxi driver, farmer, mechanic, or a righteous policeman and an ex-convict who cannot find work because of his criminal past. Poe brings these characters to life on the silver screen and gives them a heroic edge all common people long to either have or see.

His legion of fans identifies totally with Poe’s onscreen persona that reports circulated that armed moviegoers in Mindanao shot at Poe’s enemies while watching his movies, punching bullet holes into the screen upon which the movie images are projected.

However, as popular an actor as he is, Poe’s announcement that he is throwing his hat into the political ring sent jitters through the country’s markets and triggering the peso’s plunge to 55.85 to $1.

Conrad defended his brother, asking why "they blame my brother for it, when he is not even with government yet."

"If only they (could) see my brother as a person with a heart, they would appreciate him and his sincerity," Conrad said.

People should also not rake Poe’s lack of political experience against him, Conrad said. "My brother knows what he is doing. It was by choice that he declined all those chances (at joining politics in the past) because he did not go for them. He knows best why, this time, he goes for it."

While mudslinging is to be expected as the presidential race heats up, Conrad said, "I assure you, you will never hear my brother destroying somebody else, even his opponents, when the campaign time comes. He will take all those criticisms in stride. He knows what he got into.

Mixed Reactions

In Nueva Vizcaya, the reaction to Poe’s declared bid was varied, with political leaders and ordinary folk both for and against his candidacy and declared intent to seek the nomination of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

"Where will we go under a Poe administration? I don’t think it will make us better. Our country needs a strong and intellectual leader," said Cagayan Rep. Manuel Mamba of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.

"FPJ for president? No comment," Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy (Nationalist People’s Coalition) said.

"That’s good for democracy," Isabela Rep. Georgidi Aggabao (NPC) said. "We have now a broader choice of (presidential) aspirants. Integrity-wise, I think (Poe) is more than quilified. His integrity is unquestionable. But, intellectually, he is at the lowest level among the possible aspirants."

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) spokesman Thompson Lantion, who is also the Nueva Vizcaya provincial chairman of Lakas-CMD, said the ruling party welcomes Poe’s entry into the presidential derby, where he will run against President Arroyo, who is the ruling party’s standard-bearer.

"That is (Poe’s) right as a Filipino-born citizen. It’s the people who will decide it," Lantion said.

"We welcome Poe’s declaration (that he is) running for president," LDP chairman for Cagayan Valley and House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla said. However, Poe will have to undergo the LDP selection process, Padilla said. "We have to scrutinize his qualifications and program of government."

Engineer Purisimo Tiam, president of PLT College, one of the leading tertiary schools in the region, said Poe should reconsider his presidential bid for love of country.

"(Poe) may have the best intentions, but I hope God shall give him the humility to reconsider his bid for love of (our) country, now in its darkest hour," Tiam said.

69-year-old Lorenza Carnate said, "I will vote for (Poe). I believe in him. He is sincere in helping the poor." — With Charlie Lagasca