NAGKAROON AKO NG pagkakataon na ma-interview si Robin Padilla sa Inside the Ci-nema on Cinema One. It was my first lengthy interview with him. The moment I saw him on the studio, mas lalo kong napatunayan na iba talaga ang taglay na karisma ni Binoe (palayaw ni Robin). He came to the set not in his trademark leather jacket and denim pants but in a linen suit na mas lalong nagpatingkad sa kanyang kaguwapuhan at kaseksihan. He is magnetic kaya naman hindi nakapagtataka kung bakit maraming tao ang naa-attract sa kanya.
Sinabi ni Robin sa akin during the interview that he wanted to be a priest, a soldier and then an actor. Nagkuwento rin siya tungkol kay Deo Fajardo who discovered him. “Sa mga nagsasabi na walang tunay na mga kaibigan sa showbiz, hindi totoo iyan. Dikong (Deo) called all his friends to get me roles and they were all helpful,” Binoe said. Si Deo ang kanyang tumayong manager noong siya ay nag-uumpisa pa lang sa showbiz and throughout his rise to superstardom. Noong 1984 raw nang sabihin niya kay Deo na gusto niyang maging isang artista. Deo said, “Hindi ka puwedeng mag-artista. Hindi ka mestiso.” Sagot daw niya, “P’wede naman akong maging kontrabida.”
Binoe worked in Regal as a stuntman where he played double for several actors. He was also on the television show Pinoy Thriller. Napanood si Binoe sa mga pelikula gaya ng Bagets Gang, Public Enemy No. 2, Alega Gang, Delima Gang, Hindi Pahuhuli ng Buhay at Carnap King. But the real push to superstardom came with Anak ni Baby Ama and the rest they say is cinema history.
Marunong tumanaw ng utang na loob si Binoe and he is forever indebted to Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Bong Revilla, Eddie Garcia, Edu Manzano, Fernando Poe Jr., former President Joseph Estrada, Vic del Rosario, Mother Lily, among the many others who have helped him in his career.
Sinasabing ang buhay ay parang isang gulong – kung minsan ikaw ay nasa itaas, kung minsan naman ikaw ay nasa ilalim. One of the most harrowing episodes in his life was when he entered prison. He was sentenced to 21 years for illegal possession of firearms. He served three years and a half but in 1998 siya ay nakatanggap ng presidential pardon mula kay da-ting President Fidel V. Ramos. Binoe was a freeman and ready to face the world. And he was successful in his comeback to the career he left behind.
Binoe is so in-love with his wife Mariel Rodriguez. He appreciates it that Mariel begins and ends her day by thinking about his welfare.
Ngayon ay napapanood si Binoe sa primetime teleserye na Guns and Roses opposite Bea Alonzo. Sabi niya, “She will make you feel that she is in love with you. ‘Pag sigaw ng direktor ng ‘cut’ alis agad, wala na.”
Walang duda, Robin will remain a superstar in the hearts and minds of the Filipinos.
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
