He knows he’s playing what maybe considered a villain role in “Lauriana”, that of Bang Garcia’s abusive husband who beats her up. “It’s a complex role. Not one dimensional. It’s actually a demanding bida-kontrabida role. Captain ako sa Philippine Constabulary, pero may pagka-bipolar. I have my own wife, Rich Asuncion, living in another town. Si Bangs naman, ibinabahay ko in another town at sa kanya lang ako napakalupit kasi parang na-obsessed ako sa kanya.”
He has just finished a similar role in “Maalaala Mo Kaya” recently, that of Rica Peralejo’s wife-beating husband. “Yes, pero iba itong sa pelikula. Mas malalim ang pinanggagalingan.”
He has also just finished filming “Burgos” for Direk Joel Lamangan. “It’s a very quiet family drama about the search for a missing son. Ako si Sonny, ang eldest son ni Ms. Lorna Tolentino who plays Mrs. Edith Burgos. Kasama rin dito si Bangs, as the youngest sister in the family. Magkakasama kami sa paghahanap sa nawawalang kapatid namin, si Rocco Nacino. I play a painter here at ang most difficult scene ko rito shows me while painting na wala akong mai-paint dahil naiisip ko yung nawawalang kapatid namin.”
Is he satisfied doing nothing but indie films? “Oo naman. Wala naman akong ilusyong John Lloyd Cruz ako na hari sa mainstream films. Happy ako na I get to play socially significant films like ‘Dukot’, ‘Migrante’, ‘Sigwa’, ‘Patikul’, ‘Burgos’ at itong ‘Lauriana’. Napapansin naman ako’t nananalo pa ng awards, so I cannot complain.”
