"(The year) 2001, thank God, has been a pretty good one for me," replies Eddie Garcia with a smile. "I was able to go back into film directing with Viva Films’ Abakada Ina. As an actor, I had three releases: the drama Syota ng Bayan with Priscilla Almeda for Crown Seven Films, the action-comedy Sanggano at Sanggago with Bayani Agbayani for Viva, and the sex-comedy Kapitan Ambo, Outside Da Kulambo with Klaudia Koronel and Isabel Granada for FLT Films.
"Aside from that, I did a couple of months’ stint in GMA-7’s sitcom, Idol Ko si Kap, while its regular star, Bong Revilla, was campaigning for the last elections. Before the year is over, I was also able to finish a hard-action film, Bro...Kahit Saan Enkwentro, with Ronald Gan Ledesma for MMG Films that will be shown right after the Metro Manila Film Festival. I really cannot complain."
Eddie is aware, though, that other people are not as blessed. "The world experienced a lot of tumultuous events this year," he says. "Here in our country, I feel sad that the first actor who was elected from office was ousted from office. It was his chance to show that actors can also be good leaders of the land. Up to now, our economy is still struggling and this has badly affected the entertainment industry. I wish we could recover in the New Year.
"I also feel bad about the string of tragedies that happened to many showbiz citizens. So many of them went to the great beyond this year. But I feel the saddest for Nida Blanca. I feel quite close to her, you know. She won so many Best Actress awards for Miguelito, Batang Rebelde, where I played her leading man. I played the father of her son, Aga Muhlach, who took our child away from her. When she scored a grand slam as Best Supporting Actress awardee for her role as Dina Bonnevie’s unforgiving mother in Magdusa Ka, I was the one who directed the film. I was also her leading man in the domestic comedy about number twos, Public Enemy Number Two. I really feel bad that someone who is so good, so pleasant, so well-loved in the industry would go that way. I’m praying that justice would be served as soon as possible because she certainly did not deserve such a cruel fate."
Eddie joined moviedom in 1949 as one of the late Manuel Conde’s Siete Ynfantes de Lara. After more than a decade in the film business, what lessons about one’s life and career can he impart to the public?
"About one’s career, I love my work as an actor and that is really the first thing anyone should do about his profession: love your job," Eddie replies. "Try to be good at it and don’t give your bosses and your co-workers any headaches. In my case, I know that my last film is my best recommendation so I always try to do my best so that my director and producer can remember me for their next projects.
"Also, I love showbiz so much that when people from outside the industry ask me about my colleagues, I tell them I don’t indulge in idle gossip. They tell me, ‘You’re with showbiz and you don’t know what’s happening?’ And I tell them I just mind my own business and I don’t meddle with the affairs of other stars. As for life itself, I’ve long realized that the best philosophy one can have in life is to follow the Bible’s golden rule. Just do unto others what you want others to do unto you and you can never go wrong."
Is Eddie a religious person? "I won’t say I’m that religious," he replies, "but I do have an active spiritual life. I never forget to thank the Lord for all His blessings. I pray before going to bed and I pray upon waking up in the morning. I hear mass every Sunday and every holiday of obligation. One should always acknowledge the Lord in his life."
At his age, does Eddie still look forward to the Christmas holidays?
"Oh yes. I have many godchildren, sa binyag at sa kasal," Eddie says. "I always prepare something for them. And also for my seven grandchildren. When my eldest son, Eddie Garcia, Jr. died in a motorcycle accident in 1973, I took care of the two kids he left behind, Elaine and Eduardo Garcia III, and sent them to school. Now, they are both Business Administration graduates and are also married and have their own children. Both of them also have good jobs in Makati and I’m really very proud of them."
After Eddie Jr. who appeared in some films, didn’t anyone else among Eddie’s children or grandchildren aspire to follow in his footsteps as an actor? "No one did, and I’m happier that way," he notes. "It’s difficult to be in showbiz these days because of the cutthroat competition. They’re really better off having some other careers."
We notice that in the layouts for Bro...Kahit Saan Enkwentro, Eddie shares topbilling with co-actor, Ronald Gan Ledesma.
"That’s just fine with me because Ronald is a very competent action star," Eddie says. "He is very quiet on the set, a conscientious worker who takes his work seriously. I enjoyed working with him and his family so much that I am now making another movie with them, Black Tiger, which is being filmed on location in the island of Romblon. In Bro, we play father and son. I’m Sgt. Delfin Mijares, a veteran soldier who is about to retire, and he is my junior. As a PMA graduate, he is a lieutenant, so he is superior to me in rank. In Camp, I salute him as his subordinate and he gives orders to me. But in our home, I make sure I’m the one who is king. Jean Saburit plays my wife and Yam Ledesma plays Ronald’s younger sister. Ronald is paired with Alma Concepcion. Bro has many big battles scenes as the film shows us battling some insurgents, but this film is not only hard action as it also has touches of drama and comedy. The director is Roland Ledesma, with whom I’ve worked before in Iligpit si Supremo."
Ronald and Eddie are up against several villains in the movie. "Among them are Bob Soler, Roland Dantes and Efren Reyes. But our biggest enemy is Simon Ovarte, played by Eddie Gutierrez, the head of a big narcotic, kidnap-for-ransom and gunrunning syndicate who is using a congressman (played by Dante Rivero) as his front. They’re also performing acts of terrorism to destabilize our country. This is a big movie and I’m glad to be a part of it. We blasted several trucks and military vehicles in the battle scenes alone. Those who love war movies will enjoy watching it."
What is Eddie’s wish this new year?
"For myself, I don’t really wish any-thing much," Eddie ends. "I’m thankful that the Lord continues to bless me with good health. My wish is for the local film industry to recover from the slump it is in right now and I pray that there will be peace and progress in our country."