Their eldest son, Rafael Sandino, just tied the knot with his girlfriend of 10 years, Aerica Gayle Laino, a few days at ago at the chapel on the hill in Batulao, Batangas, with reception held at Lorna Tolentino’s Vera Grace Farm, also in Batangas. “They already had a civil wedding in New Zealand, where they live,” says Boyet. “But they had their church wedding here.”
So how is he after losing in his bid as a congressman in the last election? “I’m okay, God is good. Back to work ako agad. Right after the election, this offer from TV5 came to do ‘Misibis Bay’. After this, I go to ABS-CBN for Angel Locsin’s new soap.”
He’s really in demand. He just did “Pahiram ng Sandali” with GMA-7. “Free lancer naman ako, so I’m free to work with all the networks. I’m also producing and doing a play, ‘Lorenzo’, about San Lorenzo Ruiz. I’ll be one of the friars.”
In TV5’s new miniseries, “Misibis Bay”, he gets to act for the first time with newcomer Ritz Azul. How is it so far? “She’s good, very professional. She shows good potential as an actress. This is not new to me as I’ve supported a lot of newcomers through the years. Dati, I’m the younger one involved in May-December affairs, like with Pilar Pilapil ‘Kahit Mundo’y Magunaw’ and the late Charito Solis in ‘Mrs. Teresa Abad, Ako Po si Bing’. Now, baligtad na, I’m the older one. I play the owner of Misibis Bay Resort who has three sons with different moms: Daniel Matsunaga, Victor Silayan and Vin Abrenica. I marry a lap dancer, Ritz, who’s younger than my sons. She was scared when we did our first scene together but I allayed her fears and she was okay, she delivered. First time ko to work with most members of the cast, even Megan Young na judge ako when she joined Starstruck. Ako naman, I’m always excited to work with new younger actors. I enjoy finding where they get their energy and I’m inspired by their enthusiasm in acting.”
He’s also working with a new director, Monti Parungao. How’s it so far? “Walang problema sa’kin working with new directors. Monti knows what he’s doing. He knows how to motivate actors kaya lang, pagdating sa’kin, he tends to just let me do it on my own. Siguro nahihiya siya, but I wish he’d motivate me more.”
We ask the younger actors what’s their experience working with Boyet so far. “I never thought makakatrabaho ko siya,” says Ritz. “Nagkasama na kami sa ‘Kidlat’ but we didn’t have any scenes together. Puro with Derek Ramsay lang siya. When I told my parents about it na kami ang madalas magka-eksena this time, tuwang-tuwa sila kasi idol siya ng parents ko.”
“Growing up, I know Christopher de Leon is really one of the best actors in the country,” says Luke Jickain. “It’s really an honor to work with him and he’ll serve as an inspiration for us younger actors to do better.”
