Bryan Revilla has thrown his hat in the political ring. The firstborn of Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado and Senator Bong Revilla, actors and politicians both, prayed and prepared himself before finally deciding to run for a national post.
At a recent press conference, the 35-year-old said growing up and seeing his relatives’ passion for the entertainment industry and also public service has served as impetus for him to go into both fields.
He started by working behind the scenes – as the chief of staff of his and also as actor-director in their family-owned Imus Productions. Deciding to finally run for a national post is about the right timing, he said.
“It’s something na I knew was inevitable,” he told members of the press at a recent press con, “I think na eventually, darating din naman ‘to. I’ve been preparing for this for the longest time.”
“It’s been something that I’ve been always exposed to. It’s just a question of when, it wasn’t a question of ‘gusto mo ba talaga?’ Parang sa akin, I knew it was already in my heart but was just (waiting), kelan ba ‘yung right time?”
He is aware of the negative comments being heaped on him and his family, said Bryan.
“Nagugulat na lang ako. Ganito pala ako [sabi ng bashers],” he said, “Pero kung alam mong ‘di ka ganun, bakit mo papatulan?”
Detractors rarely enter family conversations, but if they do, he has adopted an attitude he learned from them.
“We don’t engage. The fact na sinabi mo ‘yan, it’s more on you. It’s not my loss,” he said.
His deep faith in the Lord has also taught him to focus on what’s important.
“Nung napalapit ako sa Panginoon, I’ve learned to not cling on certain things but cling on what’s more important.”
Bryan, a graduate of Consular Diplomatic Affairs from the College of St. Benilde, said what’s important for him as first nominee of Agimat Partylist is to work for the good of the poor and the Filipino workers. Agimat Partylist, he said, will focus on the workers, not just in the entertainment industry, but in the whole country. If he wins, he plans to work on increasing the minimum wage and in controlling inflation. He said he also wants to help and encourage more micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises to grow by introducing tax incentives.
He did not say that he will completely turn his back on showbiz if he wins in the elections.
He believes the future of their family-owner Imus Productions rest on the shoulders of their whole family. He saw this firsthand after watching the old movies of his grandfather and hearing the stories of his aunts and uncles on how they all worked and contributed in their own way to help the family business.
“I believe we all have a stake on that,” he said, “I think we all have our part to play on continuing the legacy of our grandfather; it’s not just tatay ko, si Jolo or my titas and titos.
I think it’s up to the whole family to be able to continue my grandfather’s legacy. My grandfather would not have done it alone. He did have help sa lola ko, business partners sila ng lola ko. That’s Imus productions, it’s family. It was not about one man. Of course, we see one man, but the work was done by the whole family.”
