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| sue ramirez and RK bagatsing at CUDDLE WEATHER presscon |
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| RK and Sue with Mother Lily and Director Rod Marmol |
RK BAGATSING is a latebloomer in showbiz. RK stands for Ramon Khino and he turned 31 last May 9. We first noticed him doing indie films like “Sitio”, “Slumber Party” “The Dreamweaver”, most remarkably playing the role of a young mayor in the indie film, “Apocalypse Child”, for which he got best supporting actor nominations.
But before that, he did TV shows like “The Half SIsters” with GMA-7 in 2015, then ABS-CBN got him to do “Be My Lady” in the same year, plus several episodes of “Ipaglaban Mo”. But it was in “Wildflower” that he really made a mark as Mayor Arnaldo Ardiente Torillo opposite Maja Salvador. He also did “Araw Gabi” with JM de Guzman and he now plays another lead role in “Nang Ngumiti ang Langit”. He later did supporting roles in mainstream films like “The Revengers” and “Kasal” for Star Cinema and “Goyo, Batang Heneral”.
Raymond Bagatsing is his older brother. Their dad is Ramon “Boy” Bagatsing, and they have a sister who also used to be in showbiz, Monina, who now lives in California. He had to go go through many rejections in various auditions before he got that much needed break as an actor. Didn’t he have second thoughts accepting his role in “Cuddle Weather” as a male prostitute?
”I like the story kasi naiiba siya,” he says. “Also, ang role ko is very different from anything I’ve done before, lalo na sa TV na hindi puedeng gawin ang ganitong klase ng sensitive material about sex workers. At bida ako rito, e. My last movies, support lang ako. Pagkakataon ko nang magbida, so why won’t I accept it? Isa pa, ang ganda-ganda at ang sexy ng kapareha ko, so tatanggi pa ba ako?
How did he prepare for his role? “Kami ni Sue, pina-interview sa amin ni Direk Rod Marmol ang real life sex workers connected with an escort service. More than their work, nalaman namin kung paano sila mabuhay at magmahal kaya hindi sila basta dapat husgahan ng mga tao. I think yun ang message ng movie, don’t be so judgmental kasi di mo naman alam ang pinagdaraanan nila.”
How sexy is he in the movie? “Siempre, I have to show some skin. My bedscenes ako with Sue Ramirez and with my clients in the movie. Pero may takip naman ang private parts namin. Yung sa clients, wild, trabaho lang, but yung kay Sue, magical kasi may halong pagmamahal.”
How is it working with Sue? “First time namin magkakilala rito and our first shoot was for the film’s poster na nakapatong siya sa akin. Bilib ako kay Sue kasi matapang siya kaya nawala agad ang insecurities and inhibitions ko. We had a workshop at nag-click kami agad kasi wala siyang arte sa katawan at magaan siyang katrabaho. We both enjoyed working with Direk Rod Marmol kasi very collaborative siya and open to the suggestions namin ni Sue. Ang dami ko ngang adlib sa movie na inokay niya.”
Didn’t he try wooing her since she admits she has broken up with her BF singer Joao Constancia? “Actually, when we were shooting the film, dumalaw pa yung boyfriend niya at na-meet ko pa and he’s okay. DIto na lang sa presscon ng movie ko nalamang nag-break na pala sila.”
Wasn’t he linked before with Jane Oineza when they were doing “Araw Gabi”? “Yes, we became close while we’re taping that. But hanggang friendship lang kami. I think she was with someone else that time. Now, I’m seeing someone, but non-showbiz.”
