MOTHER LILY MONTEVERDE hosted a solo presscon for Billy Crawford at Regal because he was absent during the grand presscon of “That Thing Called Tanga Na” as he was then in the hospital due to pneumonia. He says he had a great time working with Director Joel Lamangan and acting with Eric Quizon, Martin Escudero, Kean Cipriano and Angelina Quizon as his best friends in the hilarious comedy about love and friendship among gays.
“Masaya kami lagi sa set, tawanan lang nang tawanan,” he says. “At enjoy ako kasi maganda yung role ko as a security guard dito ni Eric Quizon na akala mo, machong-macho, balbas sarado pa, yun pala, closeta. May ka-live in ako rito, si Paulo Gumabao, then he died suddenly. Nung wala na siya, lumitaw ang nanay niya, si Vangie Labalan, at lahat ng gamit na napundar namin ni Paulo, kinukuha sa akin.”
But didn’t he have second thoughts about playing a gay role? “I did. I was worried baka hindi ko kaya. But my manager, Arnold Vegafria, told me it’s a good project and when I learned kung sinong mga makakasama ko, I agreed. I also wanted to work with Direk Joel Lamangan. Intimidated ako nung una kasi sanay ako sa relaxed style ng late Wenn Deramas who directed me several times. But nagkasundo rin kami agad ni Direk Joel. I was not sure about my role but he guided me all the while. He’d say, o bawasan mo dito kasi straight acting ka pa rito. Then he’d say, o dagdagan mo pa kasi buko ka nang bading ka dito. I had fun. At saka parang homecoming ko ito sa Regal dahil original Regal baby ako as a child star in 'Pahiram ng Isang Umaga' and 'Sandakot na Bala'.”
He seems pretty sure about his relationship with Coleen Garcia. “Oo naman. And I’m very proud of her performance in the last episode of ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’.. Sa bagay, magaling din siya even in the movies she did before. Bale two years na kami and I feel so touched when she wrote sa social media account niya that she’s so blessed to have found someone like me in her life. I inspire her raw to do better and I’m the best partner she could ever dream of having. That’s really very flattering.”
Do we see them facing the altar soon? “We’ve talked about it. Sobrang close na ko sa family niya and, she to my family. But I want her to grow more muna and fulfills her dreams as an actress. Pag nagpakasal kami, gusto ko, mag-focus na kami sa family namin. But she’s still so young at 23. 10 years older ako sa kanya, e. As of now, we’re just going with the flow and haven’t set any altar date.”
Hasn’t he also been linked to Luis Manzano? “Yes, 12 years old pa lang ako, tsinitsismis nang bading ako, e. Kami ni Luis, may bromance daw kami. But we’re not affected kasi we’re both secure naman about who we are.”
