“AGIMAT NG AGILA” is now the number one show in its slot on Saturday nights.
They had a presscon on Valentine’s Day with Sen. Bong Revilla plus the three beauty queens in the cast: Rabiya Mateo as Agent Asha Raj, Michelle Dee as villain Serpenta and MJ Lastimosa as Rosebud.
Bong says he is so pleased with Rabiya.
“She surprised a lot of people kasi magaling pala siyang umarte,” he adds. “She listens to suggestions and learns easily. May dance sequence pa kami rito. We danced the tango. Nag-aral kami with an instructor on how to do it.
"Magaling sumayaw si Rabiya pero first time niya to do the tango kaya ilang beses niya akong natapakan. This is one scene which helped para mas maging close kami sa isat isa kasi sabay kaming nag-aral kung paano sumayaw ng tango. Diyan din nakita na we have quite a good chemistry on screen.”
How different is Season 2 from the first one?
“Siempre, we need na mas mag-level up to surpass season 1. Mas pinalaki, mas pinatindi, heto puro beauty queens ang leading ladies na kasama ko ngayon. Feeling ko, ang pogi-pogi ko, joke! Pero masaya ako kasi hindi lang sila magaganda kundi puro magagaling na artista silang mga nakasama ko. Well, bagay sa kanila ang roles nila and I’m glad sila ang napili ng GMA.”
What does he think is the reason why the show is clicking with viewers?
“Unang-una, because of the story. Season one laid down the ground work to introduce the origin and universe of my character as Gabriel Labrador na nabigyan ng agimat ng agila.
"Sa second season, tuloy ang pag-search niya as the hero sa earthly artifacts na may superpowers. Part yun ng quest niya as the hero. This time, he is looking for the talisman ng dragon.”
What is this talisman exactly?
“This will come from another villain with powers of the dragon. So the story will be a conflict between Gabriel as Agila versus the dragon character. Maganda ang sagupaan nila sa climax ng story. Very thrilling kasi we don’t just rely on CGI kundi bakbakan talaga.”
He says the thrilling action scenes also help attract the viewers to watch the show.
“Walang gumagawa ng action films ngayon kaya naman for those who like watching action, makikita nila ito sa ‘Agimat ng Agila’. Our action scenes are all well conceived, well choreographed, well executed.
"At maraming salamat that we have a good director, si Direk Rico Gutierrez, who makes sure that every episode of ‘Agimat ng Agila’ is very entertaining to watch from beginning to end.”
He also wants to take GMA Network for all its full support to the show.
“Yes, hindi nila tinitipid ang production values ng ‘Agimat ng Agila’. Makikita nyo naman na parang pelikula ang treatment namin dito. The action sequences are spectacular so thanks to GMA for their all out support.
"We are really so happy kasi napakaganda ng feedback from viewers who have watched the first two episodes of Season 2, so huwag kayong bibitaw kasi paganda nang paganda ang bawat coming episode.”
He started his acting career when he was only 18 years old, introduced in “Dugong Buhay” where he co-starred with his late dad, Ramon Revilla Sr., in 1983.
Now, after nearly 40 years in showbiz, his career remains going strong whereas some of his contemporaries have faded away. What is his “agimat” that gives him strong staying power in the business?
“Wala namang agimat. Basta mahalin mo at pagbutihin mo lang lagi ang trabaho mo. Ang tunay na agimat for me is yung agimat ng pagmamahal mo para sa lahat ng tao and you should always just spread the love.”
How does he deal with his acting job and his duties as as senator simultaneously?
“Hindi ko naman napapabayaan ang trabaho ko sa senado. I only do tapings kapag wala kaming session. People can look at my records at the senate para makita nilang hindi ako nagkukulang doon.”
