But of course, he also has not forgotten directing. His newest movie, “My 2 Mommies”, will open in theaters on May 9 as Regal’s Mother’s Day presentation and even before this is show, Mother Lily Monteverde has asked him to start another one as a solo vehicle for Maricel Soriano, tentatively titled “Widow/Widower”, that Eric himself has conceptualized for his good friend.
“Sabi ni Mother Lily, huwag na raw ako magdirek sa TV, sa kanya na lang, which is okay lang naman sa’kin kasi mas mahirap magdirek sa TV, ang dami mong kakausapin at mas maraming reguirements,” he adds. “Sa Regal, si Mother o si Roselle lang ang kausap mo, mas madali kaysa they give you artistic freedom at di ka pa tinitipid. After the movie with Maricel, may follow up project agad na iniisip, ‘Titas of Manila’, that will reunite the trio of Ruffa Gutierrez, Aiko Melendez and Carmina Villaroel now that they’re all moms themselves with teenage kids.”
Now 51 years old, Eric considers himself as a Regal baby. He won several best supporting actor awards in 1989 for Regal’s “Pahiram ng Isang Umaga”, which he did with Vilma Santos, directed by the late Ishmael Bernal. “Last year, I did ‘That Thing Called Tanga Na’, for Regal, where I’m one of the lead actors. And now, director naman ako. I’m so happy with ‘My 2 Mommies’ kasi ang bilis-bilis ng project na ito. Last February, we’re having sa house of Mr. Tony Tuviera. Kasama sa guest sina Mother and Roselle and Joey was in a nearby table. I heard him telling Mother and Roselle, you know who’s best in doing this movie, si Eric! Sabi ko naman, ano yun? Yun pala, they want to do Joey’s script at naghahanap sila ng director then he saw me at itinuro ako. He sent me the script, I like it, by March, nagsu-shoot na kami at ngayon, ipalalabas na. Mabilis talaga.”
How is it working with Maricel, Paolo Ballesteros and Solenn Heussaff? “Maricel and I have made so many movies together sa Regal kaya talagang gamay na namin ang isa’t isa. It’s my first time to work with Paolo and Solenn and they’re both very professional, magaan katrabaho. Wala kaming naging problema at all. Paolo has won internaional best actor awards for ‘Die Beautiful’ and he’s really brilliant, very smart and witty. Kahit ilang takes mo ipagawa ang eksena, walang reklamo and he always delivers something new. Si Solenn naman is so effortlessly sexy and a joy to work with. Wala siyang diva complex at kung anuman ang ipagawa mo, kuha niya agad. We all enjoyed making this movie together and the viewers wil see that on screen when they watch the movie on May 9.”
