Bong Revilla sans plaster

While bold actors easily and smilingly drop their pants at the shout of "Action!" and/or during beefcake pictorials, action stars actually agonize over the decision of whether or not to show even an inch of private flesh in their love scenes. If you notice, when action stars kiss (onscreen), they don’t slobber their partners, not even render the lip service with insatiable passion.

That’s why movie fans will be surprised when they watch Bong Revilla (as an NBI undercover agent) engage his leading lady Assunta de Rossi (as a bar girl), in a torrid love scene in their forthcoming movie, Kilabot at Kembot, maiden offering of Seven Stars Productions owned and managed by Bong and his six brothers and sisters (Marlon, Strike, Rowena, Princess, Andrea and Dianne).

Funfare won’t describe in detail that love scene. Suffice it to say that, for the first time, Bong agreed to bare his butt. It’s such a bold step for Bong that when his sister Andrea and company previewed the movie’s rushes, Andrea nearly fell off her seat, saying, "Si Kuya Bong ba talaga ’yan!?!"

"No," admitted Bong during a chat with movie writers, "I didn’t wear any plaster during the shooting, and neither did Assunta. But we were careful during the ‘take.’ Kaming dalawa na lang ang nagtakipan ng hindi dapat ipakita o makita."

Describing that scene as his sexiest to date, Bong said he was sure that the MTRCB would okay that scene (and give the movie an R-18 rating), but he wasn’t sure if his personal "censor" – his wife Lani Mercado, that is – would approve it. "I think it’s better for her not to watch the movie na lang," smiled Bong.

It must be Bong’s way of sharing with his public the thrill of having shed more than 25 pounds since last year when he ballooned to 210 due to idleness after the elections in May (he lost in his reelection bid for Cavite Governor). What Bong did was go into regular and rigorous workout (jogging, Thai boxing, etc.) and a more-protein-less carbo diet. He now looks as slim as a bold actor.

Kilabot at Kembot (showing simultaneously all over the country from May 29 to June 11), is Bong’s second post-election starrer, following the sex-comedy (Final Answer) he did with Rufa Mae Quinto he did with Rufa Mae Quinto. The movie’s good-box-office result and the consistent good rating of his GMA 7 sitcom Idol Ko si Kap (from which he went on leave during the campaign) are proof that the public has accepted Bong despite his election debacle.

Asked if he has plans for 2004, Bong simply smiled. No comment.

Bong’s exposed butt ("unpowdered," he joked, shown as is) is not the only thing new in Kilabot at Kembot. There’s also the improved logo of Seven Stars Productions which is actually carrying on the legacy the older Revilla (Sen. Ramon who’s now recuperating in San Francisco after undergoing a second surgery on the upper portion of his spinal column at Stanford University Hospital, where Rio Diaz-Cojuangco also had her surgery) left with his children. Ramon closed Imus Productions in 1989 when he prepared to enter politics after a 16-year operation and producing 31 movies (starting with Pepeng Agimat in 1973 and ending with Cris Cuenca).

"The two tigers in the logo represent my Dad and me," said, Bong citing the tiger’s qualities of superiority, dedication and strength as similar to those of his and his father (believed to have an agimat). "The seven rays of the sun represent the year Imus was put up (in the ’70s) and our promise to come up with good films. We are seven brothers and sisters and that explains why we decided to call our company Seven Stars."

Mabuhay ka, Mayor Vi!

It was Manila Mayor Lito Atienza who first announced a plan to reduce the amusement tax by 50 percent (from 30 percent to 15 percent), to be implemented in his city during the Manila Film Festival from June 12 to 24 (Araw ng Maynila). But Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos has beaten Mayor Lito (and all other Mayors in the country) to the draw by approving a resolution (municipal ordinance) for such a reduction which should give the movie industry a relief (little mercies are appreciated especially in hard times like this, aren’t they?).

The unprecedented event was witnessed last Monday by representatives of the industry who drove to Lipa City to personally congratulate and thank Mayor Vi, her Vice Mayor (Fernando Boy Manugerra) and the city councilors.

During the meeting, Mayor Vi thanked the Lipa City Council for being the first provincial city to heed the request of the movie industry. In a stirring impromptu acceptance speech, Mayor Vi acknowledged her roots in the movie industry and thanked the body for lending its support to an ailing industry. She also shared with the council that she believed in her heart that although this move seemed to be reducing money that would otherwise go to the city coffers, this would be returned by the movie industry in the form of more movies which meant more jobs "which meant contributing to the nation’s economy... and contributing to the national economy would only contribute to Lipa’s economy."

She cited individually Vice Mayor Manugerra, Barangay Council President Jose Peping Umali; SK President Rocky Umali; and Councilors Lydia Lopez, Jr., Weng Sombrano, Eric Africa, Romy Macasaet III, Bibong Mendoza, Jun Alvares, Endo Garcia and Nilo Catipon; along with Atty. Mayeth Baroja Igarta.

The movie industry representatives to the hearing of the final reading and unanimous approval of the resolution were Vic del Rosario (Viva Films); Malou Santos (Star Cinema); June Torrejon (PAMI President); Girlie Rodis (PEIFI President); Dolor Guevarra (PAMI Vice President); and director Boots Plata (DGPI).