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| power couple sen. bong & mayor lani with photobombers behind them |
SEN. BONG REVILLA is all set to start taping his new GMA-7 show, “Agimat ng Agila”, on February 8, with airing in either late March or early April. It will be directed by Rico Gutierrez, who has directed him several times before.
“We polished the script muna to make sure it will be a good show for the whole family at puede maski sa mga bata,” he says. “Ibang-iba ang attack at treatment nito, pati special effects, binusisi. Very fresh and the viewers will surely be delighted and pleased.”
He has also met with Star Cinema for a movie with them, a father and daughter story where he’ll co-star with Kathryn Bernardo. He also has a prospective entry in the next MMFF with his popular Budots dance as the peg.
“Sabi nila, nakatulong daw yun ng malaki kaya nakabalik ako sa senado, so sige, gawin nating movie,” he adds.
Is he sore at Janine Gutierrez for her “oh God” comment when it was reported that he’s doing a show on GMA? “No, I respect everyone’s opinion. Right nila yun, so hindi problema sa’kin. Mahal ko lahat ng nasa industriya at gusto ko, magturingan tayo bilang magkakapatid. Maliit lang ang industry natin so, let’s just move on, magtulong-tulong na lang tayo.”
What if Janine would be a guest in “Agimat ng Agila”? “It’s all up to GMA-7, ipaubaya na natin sa kanila kung sino ang gusto nilang i-guest sa show. Okay lang naman sa’kin, no problem. Sa ngayon, I’m just thankful to GMA thay they welcomed me back pagkatapos ng pinagdanaan ko. Nandiyan pa rin sila at hindi nila ako pinabayaan.”
Sen. Bong and his wife, Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado, were together in hosting a special lunch for the press who showed them unstinting support all these years. Bong is very proud of Mayor Lani for immediately helping the victims of Taal eruption in Cavite and also in Batangas.
“Unang araw pa lang ng pagputok ng Taal, ni hindi nagsabi sa’kin, sumugod na siya roon on her own,” says Bong. “May sarili siyang initiative.”
“Agad naming dinala roon ang aming mobile kitchen to help feed the people,” says Mayor Lani. “Pati ang aming medical team. We allotted P3.5 million na pantulong sa kanila and we adopted 400 families na pinatuloy namin sa Bacoor. Si Bong naman, he visited several affected towns himself in Cavite and Batangas to offer relief goods.”
Since he took office last July 2019, Sen. Bong has filed 296 bills and resolutions and enacted Republic Acts involving salary standardization law, establishment of Malasakit Centers and the postponement of the SK and Barangay elections. He plans to call a meeting with theater owners, bookers and producers to help the local film industry.
“Marami nang nagsabi sa’king masyado silang namamahalan sa ticket prices sa mga sinehan, ranging from P300 to P400, na mataas talaga for a regular wage earner. Baka naman puede nilang babaan para mas dumami ang mga manonood at makakabawi rin sila.”
His good friend, former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, is now also back doing a movie, “Coming Home”. “I am so happy for him. Binibiro ko nga siya kung marunong pa siyang umarte. Ginto ang puso niya, a true friend na hindi ka pababayaan so hindi rin ako mawawala sa pagsuporta sa kanya. I will support him all the way. Narito lang ako anytime na kailangan niya.”
Their ex-future daughter in law, Jodi Sta. Maria, is now also a producer for iWant. What if she asks them to work with her? “Okay lang, I have nothing against Jodi. She’s a very nice person. Dinalaw pa niya ako noon sa Crame. I can appear in her projects and siguro, she can also appear in ours.”
And how’s their newly married son Jolo Revilla and his bride, Angelica Alita? “Naku, maligayang-maligaya ang bagong kasal,” it’s Mayor Lani who replies. “Busy yata sa paggawa ng baby, para madagdagan pa ang limang apo namin. They will be building their own home soon.”
