He then did more serious and relevant films like “Marino” (about seamen), “Patikul” (about coffee planters in Mindanao), “Sigwa” (about the First Quarter Storm), “Dukot” (about political abductions), “Deadline” (about murders of media people), “Pink Halo-Halo” (about the war in Mindanao) and “Migrante” (about OFWs in Israel.) He has since won more acting awards.
Now, he goes back to doing a sexy film in Director Mel Chionglo’s entry in the Sineng Pambansa, “Lauriana”, written by Ricky Lee, which got an A rating from the Cinema Evaluation Board.
“Sexy ito, but with a difference,” he says. “May mahabang nude love scene kami ni Bangs Garcia as Lauriana, very tender, and in contrast marami kaming love scenes na violent kasi abusive ako sa kanya rito. This was offered to me kasabay noong ‘Lihis’, but halos sabay ang shooting so my manager chose this for me. We shot this on location in Tulay Buhangin in Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon. I play a very complex character as Samuel, a PC captain na akala mo ang bait-bait, pero may tinatago palang violent streak. His mother committed infidelity at nakita niya kaya naging obsessive ako rito kay Bangs. Sa sobrang selos, nilagyan ko siya ng chastity belt. Pag galit ako, binubugbog ko siya, tapos, remorseful ako, nagsisisi, hihingi ng tawad, then the cycle is repeated all over again.”
Can he identify with his character? “Not at all. It’s so not at me. I’m not violent by nature. Hindi ako nananakit ng babae. Hindi rin ako nao-obsessed sa kanila. Sila ang nao-obsessed sa akin,” he laughs.
So how is Bangs as “Lauriana”? “She’s great. I was the one who recommended her. Kasi nag-back out yung unang napili, si Nina Jose. Then nag-interview sina Direk ng ibang actresses pero maraming hesitations sa role. That time, Bangs plays my sister in the movie ‘Burgos’. Sabi ko, gusto ba niyang subukan. They gave her the script and she agreed to do it. Magkasama rin kami noon sa ‘Migrante’ kaya comfortable na kami sa isa’t isa. Naging madali yung bedscenes namin. Ang mahirap, yung bugbugan scenes. Nag-usap kami na okay lang kaming magkasakitan. At yun nga ang nangyari. Nagkapasa-pasa siya. At dahil lumalaban siya, ako naman, puro kamot niya. But it’s worth it dahil ayan, naka-A kami and everyone who’ve seen the film, gustong-gusto nila.”
The film starts in the 50s and shows him growing old in the 70s. “The story is told from the point of view of a boy, Carding, played by child star Adrian Cabido. He idolizes me but bad influence ako sa kanya. Tinuturuan ko ng wrong values like manigarilyo, mambabae, then nakita niya kong ginugulpi si Bangs at na-trauma siya. Our final scene shows him as Victor Basa, visiting me na bulag na ako, kalbo na, may skin disease, sobrang guilty sa ginawa ko kay Bangs, sobrang nakarma. Nilagyan ako ng prosthetic makeup that took five hours to apply. Tapos, pinabago ni Direk Mel pati voice ko. I’m really proud of what I’ve done. I think this is my best work so far.”
“Lauriana” will have its premiere tonight at SM Edsa The Block then it opens at SM Cinemas nationwide on September 11. Allen is also in Joel Lamangan’s “Burgos” which has a special whole-day advanced screening at SM on October 18.
