"We just came from St. Luke’s Medical Center," says Marc Nelson, Dyan Castillejo’s Sports Unlimited co-host and Patricia’s immediate ex-boyfriend and still her very best friend. "She has been feeling sick these past few days."
Patricia orders a plateful of vegetables while Marc settles for pasta (same here). Unable to finish her food, Patricia passes her plate on to Marc who willingly eats the leftover. Well, that’s what friends are for, aren’t they?
In the flesh, Patricia looks petite, her face small. She looks like any typical pretty girl, unmistakably middle-class ("A bit lower pa nga," Patricia humbly admits) but to whom only very few women from such exclusive enclaves as Forbes Park or Ortigas Center can hold a candle as far as sexiness is concerned. Patricia (with Janna Victoria and Carlos Morales) bared her rich natural resources in, besides the big screen, the Stargate glossy pictorial magazine Flesh for Fantasy, remember?
A lot of people, mostly men, are crazy about Patricia who, no doubt about it, occupies their fantasies, especially as Patricia looks (photos on this page prove it beyond doubt) in the posters of Hartmann of which she (and singer Luke Mejares and basketball player Alex Compton) is the image model.
Because she is Body Beautiful, our Conversation first revolves around her body, with her popular Sprite "Magpakatotoo ka!" TV commercial (with Ryan Agoncillo stranded with her inside an elevator, naughtily asking her, "Are you in heat?" and getting a big slap for that obvious invitation to sin) as touch-off point.
What would you do if you were stranded inside an elevator?
"At first, I’d be frightened, that’s for sure. But I’d soon calm down. If I were alone, siguro matutulog muna ako until somebody could come to my rescue."
What if there were a rapist-looking guy stranded with you?
"I’d keep my cool, unlike in the Sprite commercial where I slap Ryan. If the guy made any suspicious move, I’d ask him pointblank, ‘May dala ka bang condom? Kasi may sakit ako; baka mahawa ka.’ Ini-negative psychology ko siya."
Wouldn’t you deliver a kick to him or apply any martial-arts technique you must have learned from Marc?
"I know how to fire a gun. I learned it from my father who is a cop (in Antipolo)."
What other kind of self-defense did you learn from your father?
"Kick the aggressor between the legs to paralyze him and then run as fast as you can."
Have you tried it on Marc?
Marc (Deadpan): "Oh, she has!"
Patricia (Deadpan, too): "Hindi ko sinasadya!"
What if the guy inside the elevator with you looked like Marc?
"Magpapa-cute na lang ako. I would talk to him and befriend him para hindi ako ma-bore."
Aside from Marc, who would you rather be stranded inside an elevator with?
"Definitely not Osama Bin Laden baka pasabugin niya hindi lang ’yung elevator." (Thinks hard) "Aside from Marc. Nobody else. But it would be more fun if I were stranded with my best female friend, Monica Herrera. We’d spend the whole time gossiping without anybody else listening. Or Jessica Lopez, ‘yung talent ko."
How did you bag that Sprite commercial?
"They asked me to have a VTR. A few weeks later, hayun, pinatawag na ako ng agency."
How come you were trying to deny that you were the girl in that commercial?
"At that time kasi, I was starring in a bold film (Viva Films’ Ang Kabit ni Mrs. Montero, directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes) and I was told not to talk about the Sprite commercial kasi wholesome ’yon, e."
Before using Patricia Javier as screen name, you were known by another name, weren’t you?
"I was known as Genesis, no surname, and that was when I joined That’s Entertainment, ka-batch ko si Ara Mina. But I wasn’t very active sa That’s because I was still in school at that time."
Isn’t Ryan your type?
"Ryan was fun to work with, palaging naka-smile kahit pagod na. But no, he isn’t my type. Kasi mahilig ako sa matatangkad, e. Si Ryan is the type na parang gusto mo lang i-treat na kapatid. Very harmless."
Aside from height (at least 5’11"), what other qualities do you look for in a man?
"He must be down-to-earth; ayoko ng pasosyal at sobrang macho dahil nakakaduda ’yon. Baka front lang, baka may itinatago. Dapat sweet and gentleman, ‘yung may pagka-baduy ng konti. ’Yung confident enough to carry a bagful of pancit. ’Yung secure sa sarili."
Are you the clinging-vine type?
"No. I’ve always been independent and self-reliant. I started earning a living when I was in grade school. Mahilig ako magtinda ng mga accessories na gawa ko. I would pick guava in our backyard and sell them to my schoolmates. Until I graduated (from grade school), hayun, nagtitinda ako ng bayabas kaya lagi akong may pera. In high school, beads na ang tinda ko, mga accessories."
Which part of a man’s body do you notice first?
"The eyes. ’Di ba if a person, whether male or female, can’t look at you straight in the eyes, he/she is not sincere, may itinatago? Also, ’yung smile niya. Even if a person is goodlooking pumapangit kung laging nakasimangot."
And which part do you think is most vulnerable?
"’Yon, I guess." (Breaks into a big blush)
In your case, which part of your body is most vulnerable?
"My stomach. When I’m nervous or under stress, I feel butterflies in my stomach."
Do you believe that the easiest way to a man’s heart is through the stomach?
"Not anymore. Noon ’yon. The easiest way is through his heart. Once you win his heart, you’re a winner all the way. ‘Yung pagluluto, you can learn it anyway. Kailangan hindi ka selosa or possessive so the guy will stick to you."
Meaning you’re not the selosa type.
"Well, I was — before. Noong kami pa ni Marc."
Ano ba talaga ang status n’yo ni Marc ngayon?
"Friends. Iba na ang level namin ngayon. We’re the best of friends. Yes, it’s possible for you to be good friends even after you break up. Marc is not the jealous type, so I can confide in him; I can tell him kung sino ang mga lumiligaw sa akin. He makes friends with them." (Marc: "I tell them to look for other girls.") "Kami ni Marc, no more commitment but we still care for each other. No pressure, no demands. We’re even more comfortable with each other now."
Which part of your body do you like most?
"My eyes. That’s what a lot of people also like in me. My eyes. Mukha daw akong kawawa. If you want to know what’s inside me, what’s in my heart, just look at my eyes. My eyes say it all." (Marc: "She was little-girl-lost eyes and I love them!").
If there’s any part of your body that you have to change or improve, what would it be?
"My hips, I guess. I notice that it’s getting bigger. (Measurements: 34-24-35.) If ever, chest ko siguro. It’s a bit small."
Do you look the same now as you did (in 1998) when you competed in the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant (won by Tisha Silang as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, Colette Centeno as Bb. Pilipinas-International and Rachel Soriano as Bb. Pilipinas-World)?
"Almost the same. Nothing has been changed, nothing has been repaired. Lahat ng parte ng katawan ko natural at original.
Was the Bb. Pilipinas the only beauty contest that you joined?
"There were others. You know, sa kahirapan ng buhay ginagawa ko nang racket ang pagjo-join-join ng beauty contests. Sa school, sa Rotary Club at kung anu-ano. Never naman akong umuwing luhaan. Always, mayroon din akong prizes kahit hindi ako nananalo. Gift certificates, groceries, etc. When I joined the Binibini, I told my Mom, ‘After this, ayoko na! Last na ’to.’ Hayun, I lost. But beauty contests (the Binibini specifically) paved my way to showbiz. Doon ako na-discover sa Binibini."
How do you take care of your body?
"I don’t gain weight because I don’t eat a lot. I avoid meat. More ako sa chicken at vegetables. I’ve been advised by my doctors to eat more liver because nga I’m anemic. My metabolism is fast. These days, I get only five hours of sleep a day when I should be getting at least eight or nine. Kaya siguro ako naging anemic dahil sa kapupuyat. Maraming trabaho, e."
Aside from Kirara (GMA 7), what are you busy with?
"I just finished doing a movie, Marital Rape, where I play the battered wife (of Raymond Bagatsing). It’s my sixth movie in four years (after Ang Kabit ni Mrs. Montero, Unfaithful Wife, Matalino Man ang Matsing, Gusto Ko Nang Lumigaya and Alas Dose)."
What’s your boldest outing so far?
"’Yung kay Pops (Fernandez, Gusto Ko Nang Lumigaya). I was bare from the waist up; kita ’yung taas. But never pa ko nagpakita ng ibaba."
Any do’s and don’t’s before doing a love scene?
"Beforehand, I tell the director what I can’t do, kung ano ang hindi ko kayang gawin. Okay lang magpakita ng breast pero ayoko nang hinahalikan ’yun. No touching. As much as possible, sana naka-plaster ang ka-love-scene ko para naman ‘safe,’ di ba? I’m lucky because ’yung mga naka-partner ko (Eddie Garcia and Gardo Versoza among them) are professional, not the type who would take advantage of you."
Aren’t you the gimikera type?
"Not so much. Even before I joined showbiz, hindi ako palalabas. I prefer to stay home, experiment with cooking. When I joined showbiz, ang naging image ko ay ‘bold’ so I avoid going out and I don’t want people to think that I’m doing in real life what I do in the movies. I’d rather stay home para walang gastos. I’d rather save. Ang hirap kitain ng pera, di ba? Sometimes, what you earn for one TV appearance doon lang mapupunta sa isang gabing gimik, di ba? Sayang naman. On Sundays, I visit my family in Antipolo."
Did you come from a big family?
"I have three brothers; I’m the eldest among the children. I’m helping my family; I want to build a house for my family. Sila muna ang inaalagaan ko before I splurge on myself. I’m helping my brothers through school."
How does your family feel about your bold image?
"Okey lang. They know naman that it’s just work, trabaho lang at walang personalan."
Have you ever met any fresh guys who can’t resist, you know, touching you?
"’Yung mga nanghihipo? Ilag ako sa kanila. So when I do shows in the provinces, I see to it na naka-jacket kaagad ako after the show. One time, somebody touched me in the buttocks, kaya hinarap ko siya. I told him, ‘Hihipuan mo rin lang ako, bakit diyan lang?’ Napahiya siya. Next time it happens, watch out, tatadyakan ko sila doon."
What about any indecent proposal? Has anybody, a DOM maybe, ever dared made that kind of offer to you?
"Not indecent proposal, more of ‘courting.’ You know nanliligaw kunwari. How do I drive them away? I don’t. I’m polite to them. Ini-explain ko. ‘You know, you’re much older than me. If people see us going out together, they might think that I’m only after your money.’ Hayun, natatauhan sila and we end up just friends."
Are you a one-man woman?
"Yes, I am."
Lana Asanin posed for the German edition of Playboy in 1992 (when Lana said she was barely 15). Asked who among local actresses she thought was good enough for Playboy, Lana mentioned you and Assunta de Rossi (who said she wouldn’t show "that piece of triangle" she’s reserving for her future husband, not even for a million dollars). Would you pose for Playboy?
"I’d like to thank Lana na sa dinami-dami naming bold stars, isa ako sa napili niya. I’m flattered. If ever there’s an offer, why not? Kung maganda ang concept, why not? Who knows, that might open new opportunities for me; baka gumanda ang takbo ng career ko."
How much would you charge?
(Tongue-in-cheek) "Is P2 million good enough?" (Lana said she was paid $20,000. – RFL)
Can you tell if a man wants only your body?
(Smiles knowingly) "I can, easily."
How?
"I follow the direction of his eyes. As I’ve said, the eyes reveal many things, including ulterior motives and evil intentions."