BEMBOL Roco is turning 70 this November. Next year, he’s celebrating his 50th anniversary in showbiz. He was discovered by the late Lino Brocka in 1974 and introduced him in the trilogy film, “Tatlo Dalawa Isa.” The next year, he was launched in “Maynila: sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag” that won him the Famas best actor award.
After five decades, he’s still very much around doing both TV shows and films. On TV, he was last seen in GMA-7’s action-fantasy “Lolong.” On the big screen, he’s now shooting “Pieta” which reunites him with three great actresses he has worked with before: Nora Aunor, Gina Alajar and Jaclyn Jose.
“It’s an honor to work with three of our best actresses,” he says. “In ‘Pieta’, Alfred Vargas plays Nora’s ex-convict son and I’m his best friend in jail.”
How is his son, Dominic, who was arrested in October of last year in a buy bust operation in Quezon City?
“Some writers tried to interview me then but what for? I didn’t see any reason why I should give any interview to the press. ‘Yung iba, bira nang bira. I want to stress that Dominic is just a user, not a pusher. Nasangkot lang siya. So I told him to be careful with his friends na nagsangkot sa kanya.”
He says Dominic is now under the supervision of his mom, former model Coco Artadi, and a police officer who monitors his movements. says. “My kids now have their own lives pero siempre, pinapaalalahanan ko sila na mag-ingat kasi iba ang environment natin ngayon.
Kaya it’s important to choose your friends, the people you go out with.”
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Nathalie Hart was last seen with John Arcilla in Vivamax “Reroute.” She’s now back on the big screen in “Kunwari… Mahal Kita” which is now showing in theaters nationwide. So what is her role?
“I play Cindy Soriano, the career-oriented wife of Joseph Marco as Greg,” she says. “She’s a workaholic, career-driven woman and she’s disappointed with her husband who’s an artist at nasa bahay lang.
“I’m a go-getter, the type na nakukuha ang anumang gustuhin niya. And since she’s disgruntled with her husband, gusto na niyang ipa-annul ang marriage nila. But when she sees Joseph with Ryza, she realizes she still loves him.”
How is it working with her co-stars and their director, Roderick Lindayag? “Joseph and Ryza are both fun to work with. Si Direk Roderick, nakatrabaho ko na rin before and he is so nice, not a terror director so enjoy lang kami sa set.”
Last year, she announced her official engagement with her foreigner fiance, Brad Robert.
Are they planning to face the altar anytime soon? “Not yet. Hindi naman kami nagmamadali. We are taking our time. Right now, we are both so busy. So no need to rush.”
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‘Yes, at mas malala ang mga ginawa namin sa ‘Domme’ kaysa roon
– Ava Mendez’
Ava Mendez is being launched to full stardom by Viva playing the title role in “Domme,” which means the dominant partner in BDSM or bondage, domination, sado-masochism. Did she see the movie “Fifty Shades of Grey” that is about the same kind of sexual relationship?
“Yes, at mas malala ang mga ginawa namin sa ‘Domme’ kaysa roon,” she says, laughing.
Has she ever tried BDSM in real life? “Not yet. But adventuruous naman ako, so feeling ko, parang kaya ko at gusto kong i-try. Curious din kasi ako.”
In “Domme,” she plays Estelle, a dominatrix who Mark Anthony Fernandez, a successful chef, hires to have kinky sex with. Can she relate with her character?
“Si Estelle, she has a strong personality. She’s somewhat similar sa akin, kasi strong talaga ako. Even in my other roles, laging bida-kontrabida ako kasi malakas nga ang dating ko. I did my own research and nalaman ko, may mga dominatrix pala talaga rito sa Pilipinas.
Akala ko, hindi ko makakaya. But before the shooting started, we had a workshop at it helped a lot para magawa ko yung role ko.”
It’s common knowledge she was recently linked to local rapper Skusta Clee who had a child with popular influencer Zeinab Harake. How are they now? It’s Direk Roman Perez who answered: “Single siya ngayon. Kaya mas nakakapag-isip niya nang maayos.”
“Yes,” she agrees.
“Single ako. At basta walang nangyari sa amin, wala naman akong naramdamang kahit ano!” she says, laughing.
