Cesar Montano allows son Diego to join showbiz

CESAR MONTANO is one film-TV actor who should also do musical theatre as he really sings so well. He did four songs at the launch of his new self-titled album, his first for Sony Music, and sang effortlessly while accompanying himself on the guitar. This is actually his second album after “Subok Lang” with Star Records. “Subok lang talaga yung una,” he says. “This time, seryoso na.” He told his manager, Shirley Pizarro, that he has composed some songs and Shirley talked to Rudy Tee of Sony about it. The result is an 8-tracked album with four of the songs composed by Cesar himself: “Patawarin”, “Bago Maging Bato”, a novelty song used as the theme of his new GMA-7 sitcom “Andres de Saya”, and “Awit ni Melvin”, a tribute to a boy who was one of the victims of the tragic “kamoteng kahoy” poisoning in Mabini, Bohol where Cesar hails from. Produced by Ferdie Marquez, the other songs in the album are the first single “Darating ang Araw”, an original by Ramon Nestor Cajipe, plus revivals of “Oh Babe”, Rico Blanco’s “Panahon Na Naman” and John Lennon’s “Love”. Perfect for easy listening, the best songs for us that can be potential hits are “Patawarin” and “Bago Maging Bato” that many local listeners will be able to identify with.

Which song is nearest to his heart? “’Patawarin’ as it’s so sweet and romantic,” he says. “”Biro mo, it says forgive me for loving you so much.” Is it meant for his wife Sunshine Cruz? “Yes.” How about a song for his late son Angelo? “I wrote ‘Awit ni Melvin’ after I visited the classroom in Bohol of the ill-fated poisoned students. I was with Angelo then. Melvin could have been the first honor if he didn’t pass away. Tuwang-tuwa si Angelo sa song at kinakanta-kanta niya yun.”

How about his other son, Diego, who’s now appearing in ABS-CBN’s “Mara Clara”? “He has heard most of the songs kasi I was playing them inside the car with him.” So Diego now has his blessings to join showbiz? “Yes, but I told him not to forget his studies. Gusto ko, yun pa rin ang priority niya. Sana makatapos siya sa Ateneo, kasi yun ang pangarap ko.” Having grown up in Australia, how’s Diego’s Tagalog? “Dapat talaga, kausapin niya ko palagi. But he’s a fast learner. Nagugulat nga ako. Andami na niyang alam na Tagalog words. Tuwang-tuwa ang sisters niya when they saw him acting on TV.”

Cesar started taping ‘Andres de Saya’ yesterday, with Iza Calzado as his domineering wife. Teen stars Elmo Magalona and Julie Ann San Jose are with them. He’ll also soon start a film, “Sa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig”, that he himself will direct and star in, to be partly filmed in China. Aside from his showbiz work, he’s completing his new collection of paintings for an art exhibit in the U.S. late this year.