REY VALERA’s filmbio is like a combination of a documentary narrated by Rey himself and music videos of his hit songs strung together.
It starts in his childhood and shows that he comes from a broken family.
He and his brother go back and forth with their parents, played by Gelli de Belen and Ariel Rivera, and they cannot make friends in a single place as they are always moving from one house to another.
He had a stepmom, played by Ara Mina, who’s not friendly to him and another uncle also maltreated him.
People make fun of him as he is not good looking. He learned to sing better as a member of their church choir and he later became a member of a band.
He went to Vicor Records in Raon and they got his song ‘Ako si Superman’ which he wrote for Rico Puno who said it’d be better if he’d sing it himself, so he sung it, but it was when he wrote songs for Sharon Cuneta, “Mr DJ” and “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko” in 1978 that he really hit it big as a songwriter.
He met his wife, Ditas (Meg Imperial), as a member of their church choir and he wrote the song “Pangako Sa’Yo” sung in their wedding scene.
The movie then becomes a series of music videos featuring Rey’s best known songs, with guest stars to interpret them, like Rosanna Roces as a pokpok in the cemetery who takes good care of her invalid husband, Ronnie Lazaro, and who has an ardent admirer in Dennis Padilla.
Rey says the song “Walang Kapalit” was requested from him by the late comedian Ike Lozada.
It’s a song for gays who continue loving their object of affection without waiting for anything in return. In the music video of the song, Ike is portrayed by Ricky Rivero and it also shows the sacrificial love of a gay man, Gardo Versoza, for his lover, Aljur Abrenica.
The movie also touched on how Rey’s career was affected by an impostor who used his name and committed crimes like rape, carnapping and borrowing money using his name.
He even lied low in his career as he was so affected by it and only returned to showbiz a few years later.
Of all the songs he composed, he says the one he regrets the most is “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo”.
He said a lot of people told him they broke up from their partner because of the song. That’s when he realized that songs can create a lot of impact to the people.
He also reveals that his most favorite song is “Malayo Pa ang Umaga” and he means it for our country.
Everytime he goes to other countries and sees how progressive they have become, he cannot help but feel so sad for the Philippines. “Malayo pa ang umaga para sa atin,” he adds.
Rey is very thankful to Director Joven Tan for making this tribute film.
“Akala ko, yun lang mga patay na ang binibigyan ng tribute at yung mga kriminal like Asiong Salonga and Nardong Putik.
"But this movie shows na kahit pala buhay ng isang nerd or introvert like me, puedeng gawaan ng pelikula.
"I admire Direk Joven kung paano niya nagawang balansehin ang lahat sa buhay at career ko. Hindi madaling gawin yun but he did it.”
RK Bagatsing played him in the movie and he says he really prepared for it.
“Familiar po ako sa songs niya kasi yung lola ko, pinapakinggan siya. And after they got me to play him, kinuha ko yung songs niya at ginawaan ko ng playlist. I listen to it even when I’m driving.
"His songs are very easy to relate with kasi lahat ng tao, pinagdaraanan ang emotions reflected in it. I also watched yung interviews and concert niya online at isinapuso ko ang performance niya.”
RK delivered a good performance but, truth to tell, we were distracted by the wig he was made to wear all throughout the movie.
For enduring that wig alone and not letting it get on the way of his portrayal of Rey Valera, he deserves a best actor nomination in the coming Summer Metro-Manila Filmfest that will start showing in theaters nationwide on April 8, Black Saturday.