“He’s an original Regal baby,” says Mother Lily. “He started with us a child actor in films like ‘Oh My Mama’ and ‘Ten Little Indians’.”
“Nalipat ako sa Viva when they got me for ‘Bagets’ in 1984,” says Bistek. “So ngayon, balik ako sa Regal full circle, with ‘Shake 14’. When Mother told me, gawa tayo ng movie, akala ko di seryoso. But when she saw me again Singapore by chance, she reminded me about it. Pagbalik dito, nag-story con kami, then shooting na agad.”
In “Pamana”, he’s reunited with Janice de Belen and Arlene Muhlach who were also part of “Shake 1”. Janice was in the “Pridyider” episode while Arlene was in the “Baso, Spirit of the Glass” episode. “Kami ni Janice go back a long way dahil magkasama kami sa ‘Flor de Luna’ on TV in 1978 and it ran for four years. Now, we play cousins in ‘Pamana’ na puro hard up, then we were told that an uncle died at may pamanang iniwan for us. So nagpunta kami roon not knowing nakakatakot pala yung pamana sa amin. Kasama rin namin sa episode sina Dimples Romana, who plays a ghost, Dennis Padilla, and young stars Empress Schuck, Ivan Dorschner, Gerald Pesigan, sa direction ni Chito Rono, na first time akong naidirek. I was quite nervous noong una kasi mataray raw sa set, naninigaw. But he turned out to be a wonderful director. He’s very controlling pero para hindi umalagwa ang acting mo. He tells me kapag nagiging slapstick ang acting ko at kung kulang sa drama ang emoting ko. Nanibago rin ako kasi noong araw, they used 35mm
film and just one camera to make movies. Ngayon, puro digital cameras na at tatlong cameras ang gamit bawat eksena. At bukod kay Direk Chito and the director of photography, meron pang CGI director who helps guide the actors. I’m really glad to be making movies again.”
Was he bothered when it was rumored that Vic Sotto or Kuya Germs will be running against him as QC mayor? “Oo naman. Siempre, mga institution na yan at kilala rin sila sa pagtulong.” But now, he’s said to be running unopposed in his re-election bid. “Hindi naman. May tatlong independent candidates na nag-file din para tumakbo.”
