NANG TALIKURAN NI Lloyd Samartino ang pag-aartista at nanirahan sa US, nasa peak ng kanyang career ang magaling na aktor. After seven years, nagpabalik-balik siya ng ‘Pinas para ipagpatuloy ang kanyang showbiz career. Maraming ispekulasyon ang naglabasan na diumano gay raw si Lloyd. Lalo pang tumindi ang intriga nang mapangasawa niya ang dalagang anak ni President Fidel Ramos.
“When I came back, unfortunately, my wife is my first girlfriend when I was fifteen. My wife is a little older than me but Jackie Lou Blanco is my first love noon. Pilita (Corales), Carmen (Soriano)… it’s really a big issue noong mga panahon na ‘yun. When I’ve come back, I was actually begging for work around. Siyempre, nag-iba na ‘yung industry, seven years akong nawala. Nagtimbre uli ako sa Regal Films na I’m here if you need me. Seven years later, I’ve met my wife during the campaign of Fidel Ramos.
“I know she’s not a tomboy, I’m sure she knows I’m not gay. But the think is she’s very areglado, and I can see people think na napaka-macho naman ng babaeng ito. Ako naman, I’m an artist, but it’s just her way, I know for a fact she’s extremely intelligent, very focused. Ang naging problem namin? ‘Yung irreconcilable differences naming dalawa has nothing to do… hindi ka naman ganito, akala ko ganito, walang ganu’n. Kaya nga we have a child name Sergio who’s fifteen now,” pahayag ni Lloyd.
“Kaya nga, that’s my problem, how do I make myself interesting in write-up? I don’t wanna talk about my personal life, ano ang sasabihin ko? Some attempted to ask me, totoo bang hiwalay na kayo ng asawa mo? I’ve known how to be polite, kill this subject matter na hindi ka makaka-offend,” dugtong pa niya.
Hindi man naging active si Lloyd sa paglabas sa telebisyon at pelikula naging busy naman siya sa sarili niyang negosyo. Sabi nga, puwede naman siyang mag-produce ng sarili niyang pelikulang siya ang bida. “It’s not my priority in my business life right now. Kasi, I’m a part of agricultural group that builds a small building, a three-storey building and apartment building around Makati and I have an investment with that.
“Ngayon, du’n ako nakikiliti, on the side na lang ‘yung acting. Hindi siya ang priority kasi, magugutom naman ako kung acting lang ang hihintayin ko. Puwede rin, the film doesn’t mean to star me, I can direct it, I can produce it, you know, I’m not talking naman 10 million. We’re talking indie film, but right now, as far as my TV and movie career is concerned, I want to be ask, if they don’t ask, I’ll wait. Hindi rin naman ako basta-basta lang na actor parang ganu’n. Pero from a far when you see my work, you’ll understand. This guy is trying to do something decent, that’s all I want. My priority is to establish myself more, business wise and to continue to act, pagsasabayin ko sila and let’s see where it will take me,” turan pa ni Lloyd.
What kind of character you want to portray? “Something that shows two or three sides of me at the same time. I’ve want to portray disturbed people. I can be a disturbed doctor and two-timing husband, ‘yung whatever they want, you know. If the role merits something… at this point, mabobola ba ako ng director na kailangan? I want to explore that also. If it’s artistic, explore it. That’s my feeling. Now, I realize the time that I’m away from acting, my showbiz career, I miss it! I love the showbiz click. I don’t love all of it. Ang gusto ko lang kaya ako nag-comeback para ma-casting sa soap o pelikula. ‘Yung role very challenging, na hindi ko pa nagagampanan like corrupt government official, bank president, father role, etc.,” aniya.
AYAW Paawat!
by Eddie Littlefield
