Mayor Herbert Bautista Feels So Honored To Be Finally Paired With Maricel Soriano In 'Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin'

MAYOR HERBERT BAUTISTA denies he deliberately absented himself at the grand presscon of “Lumayo Ka Nga sa Akin” last week. “Nahiya nga ako kay Maricel Soriano (who plays his wife in the movie) kasi nag-yes ako sa kanya tapos hindi ako nakarating kasi biglang may importante akong meeting,” he says. “It’s an honor for me na makapareha siya sa episode naming ‘Shake, Shaker, Shakest’ kasi we both started as child stars. Naging magkapatid, magkabarkada at neighbors na kami sa movies at sa TV, pero ngayon lang kami naging magkapareha. We play a couple na napadpad sa isang haunted house kasama ang aming mga anak in the episode by Director Andoy Ranay. Spoof ito ng horror movies so watch it at tiyak na sasakit ang tiyan nyo sa katatawa.”

The movie opens today in theaters nationwide. Is it true that his brother, Hero Bautista, and Tates Gana, the mom of his two kids, Athena and Harvey, are both running for councilor in QC? We thought he didn’t want any of his relatives to run while he’s still in office. “What happened was tatakbo sana ako sa senate, so kung wala na ko sa QC, puede na sila mag-run. But after consultations with various sectors and political leaders, I was prevailed upon to run for my third term as QC mayor. E, nag-commit na sila kaya tatakbo na rin sila.”

His two film festivals for Quezon City, Pink International Filmfest and QCinema are both very successful. Will these continue? “Oh yes. Tuloy-tuloy na yan. Gusto naming makilala internationally so we always coordinate with the various embassies for entries from their own countries. Nakatakda na nga ako to meet with them for the next festivals.”

What about the move of the late Kuya Germs for Quezon City to be known as the City of Star? “I’m all for that, pero hindi madaling i-implement yung plans niya, like lagyan ng City of Stars yung Welcome Rotonda. You have to have permission muna from the National Historical Commission. Gusto rin niyang ang Quezon Memorial Circle ang maging hub ng city of stars but it’s not under our jurisdiction but with the National Housing Commission. Yun namang Walk of Fame sa Eastwood, it’s a private enterprise so, sana, may magtuloy and I will support it. I think it’s the local actors guild who should lead that, kasi mga artista naman ang pinararangalan dito. I’m happy talaga na bago pa namaalam si Kuya Germs, isa na ako sa mga naunang nagbigay ng parangal sa kanya as one of the Most Outstanding Citizens of Quezon City. We will all miss him.”