40 Questions for Albert Martinez

Forty carats.

If Albert Martinez were a piece of jewelry, he’d be valued at 40 carats, being accomplished and fulfilled both as a man and as an actor. Besides, he turned 40 last April 19 (an Aries through and through).

He’s a happy husband to Liezl Sumilang and an equally happy father to their three children (Alyanna, 16; Alfonso, 15; and Alyssa, 10). Albert and Liezl got married in California, after they eloped the night she turned 18, much to the consternation of Liezl’s mom, Amalia Fuentes, who gave Albert the cold-shoulder treatment for years (but all’s well that ends well).

When the Martinezes came back for good, Albert didn’t have a career to speak of, with his comeback vehicle, Yakapin Mo Akong Muli (with loveteam-mate Snooky Serna, herself now happily married to character actor Ricardo Cepeda), ending up a dud.

But Albert didn’t run back to the States. Instead, he reinvented himself. Today, he’s one of local movies’ very few versatile – and in-demand – actors, his boy-next-door image replaced by a mature, menacing one which is just perfect for the heavy roles he seems to be monopolizing these days, such as the one in Regal Films’ Laman (directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes) where he plays the hustler who gives shelter to a couple (newcomer Lolita de Leon and Yul Servo), only to covet the man’s wife.

At 40, Albert can look back misty-eyed at the challenges he has beautifully hurdled, learning from each one of them, not the least of which was being rejected by some producers who dismissed him, wrongly, as a has-been.

"I bear no grudges against anybody," said Albert who looks more like 14 than 40. "I don’t carry any emotional baggage. I travel light through life."

Meanwhile, let’s ask Albert the 40 questions that should give us a glimpse into his 40-carat heart and soul.

1. Why were you nicknamed Little?

"As a kid, I was called Little Dante because I am a junior, Alberto Dante Martinez. My Dad (a retired character actor) is the Big Dante. The nickname was shortened to Little."

2. What’s so ‘little’ about you?

(Joking) "Definitely not the size. I guess the only thing ‘little’ about me is my nickname."

3. And what’s big about you?

"I have big dreams, I have a big heart."

4. What do you consider your biggest achievement as a man?

"Raising three beautiful children."

5. How are you as a father?

"I started as a disciplinarian when the kids were small and I have ended up as konsentidor now that they’re into their teens."

6. What do you consider your biggest achievement as an actor?

"Winning Best Actor (for Rizal sa Dapitan, directed by Tikoy Aguiluz) at the Brussels International Film Festival (1999). It was a dream role; I was overwhelmed doing that role."

7. What would you have been if you were not an actor?

"A pilot. I’ve always fantasized myself as a pilot, that’s why I took up Mechanical Engineering (UST) preparatory to a course in Aeronautics."

8. Do you have any ugali (trait) that you don’t like?

"I’m too trusting, so some people take advantage of me. I never learn; I’m a sucker. Kailangan mauntog muna ako before I realize that people are taking advantage of me."

9. And what’s your ugali that you like most?

"I’m hard-working, I’m focused. . .and disciplined."

10. Which part of your body do you think needs improvement?

"My height (5’7"), I guess. A few more inches would be useful, I suppose."

11. Which part(s) of your body do you like most?

"My abs (abdominal muscles), my torso. It took me years to develop my body. I work out three times a week; I observe a strict diet (no rice, no fats, no sweets). I stay away from alcoholic drinks. I sleep early, if possible, and I must get eight hours of sleep every day."

12. Of course, you don’t ‘starve’ yourself, do you?

"I don’t deny my body the nourishment that it needs. I’m a careful eater, let’s put it that way. I take protein for two days and carbohydrates for two days. No salt, please! I get my protein from tofu and chicken breast without the skin, steamed and never fried. I get my carbo from potato, pasta or camote."

13. Do you get indecent proposals?

"I do get them even now that I’m 40, married and have children. Flattering, honestly, but I just laugh them off. No, they don’t name the ‘price,’ hindi pa naman umabot sa ganoon. One (a rich gay) offered me a ‘future’ (his word). He told me, ‘Hindi mo na kailangan mag-artista.’ I politely told him, ‘Thank you but I’d rather earn my own money and enjoy my craft at the same time.’ It happened two or three years ago. I told Liezl about it and she just laughed and laughed. I’m a hard worker and whatever I need I have to work for. I don’t have to sell my body to earn a living."

14. Do you get aroused in your sexy scenes?

"Doing love/sexy scenes is not that easy, contrary to the impression you get when you’re watching them on the big screen. During the shooting, there are many people around – the director, the cameramen, the lighting men, so many people! How can anybody get aroused in that kind of a situation?"

15. How does Liezl feel about your sexy roles?

"Siguro she gets offended by some of them, like my sexy scenes in Ekis (with Sunshine Cruz). So I try to avoid doing scenes that I think will offend Liezl. Now, I ask her to read the script first before I accept an offer."

16. Did Liezl really walk out on you because of that Ekis incident?

"I’d rather not talk about it."

17. What about your kids?

"They are old enough; they understand. They know that I’m just playing roles in the movies. They know what their dad really is at home, away from work. They are even proud of me."

18. With your busy schedule, how do you find ‘quality time’ with your family?

"When I’m free, I stay home. Or Liezl and I eat out with the kids. I’m not the ma-barkada type; my barkada is my wife and the kids. These days, for the past two months, I get only as much as five hours of sleep every day so I try to catch as much sleep as I can. In showbiz, you have to take advantage of the offers and the opportunity. It’s not often that you are working regularly; you never know when the next offer will come along."

19. What’s your boldest role so far?

"The one in Sidhi (directed by Joel Lamangan) with Glydel Mercado – the batalan (makeshift bathroom) scene. Glydel and I were not nude in that scene but the way it was shot, para kaming hubad na hubad. It was only in Sidhi where I did a totally-nude scene, shot from the back, showing me walking in the countryside – pero long shot."

20. Do you have any dream role?

"I can’t think of any. I’ve played a priest in a telemovie, a Japanese officer also in a telemovie, the lover of a gay (played by Eric Quizon) in Pusong Mamon – I’ve done all sorts of roles. I even played an Igorot (Mumbaki), a devil (in Ika-13 Kapitolo) and a Dance Instructor (in Segurista). Oh, yes, I want to play a president, maybe President Manuel Quezon whose life story is very interesting." (Note: Albert is the same size as Quezon; they look alike, don’t they?)

21. What’s your biggest fear?

"It’s not really fear, you know. . .It’s about my children. Liezl and I are always praying that they’ll have a good life as soon as they are on their own; we’re hoping that everything works out well for them. Wala akong fear for myself, except perhaps losing my family. I guess everybody has that fear, di ba?"

22. Who do you admire most?

"My parents, who brought us up very well even if we went through hard times. Napag-aral kami sa magagandang schools; we were taught good manners and right conduct. My mom (Margarita Pineda Martinez) married my dad when she was 14; at 15, she gave birth na to me."

23. What or who is your most precious possession?

"My wife and my kids. I can lose everything but not them. The age-gap between Liezl and me is six years but we get along fine. We’re now into our 18th year. Tama lang, kasi ang babae mas mabilis mag-mature kaysa sa lalaki, di ba?"

24. What was your happiest moment?

"When Alyanna was born. It was unforgettable. The sight of my first child was something I cannot describe. Until now, the feeling hasn’t been surpassed. The first time I saw Alyanna, I felt na kumpleto na ang pagka-lalaki ko."

25. What’s your most embarrassing moment?

"It happened in Hong Kong, after the plane landed. I had a bum stomach and I didn’t have time to go to the bathroom. It happened in the cab – the most embarrassing moment. As soon as we reached the lobby, I ran to the wash room at the lobby. I pretended to be cool and composed all along so my companions never knew. Only much later did I tell them about it and we all had a good laugh over it."

26. How do you see yourself 10 years from now? You’ll be 50 by then.

"I see myself more relaxed, not as busy as now, and enjoying the fruits of my labor. Actually, I’m preparing for that period in my life, that’s why I’m working hard now. I’d still be an actor, I hope, but not doing sexy scenes anymore siguro. Who knows, I might be a director or a producer na by that time."

27. Do you still look, hard, at other women?

"I do, everyday! I am an admirer of beauty, you know. What attracts me in a woman? The way she walks. May babaing maganda maglakad. When a woman walks in a fluid, gracious way, she’s attractive even if she’s not very beautiful."

28. What was the last movie that you saw?

"Unfaithful. It’s a beautiful movie. I watch a lot of films at home, mostly art films from Europe. I also watch all the movies of Ed Norton and Brad Pitt, my favorite actors."

29. And the last book that you read?

"The Client by John Grisham, my favorite author. I usually read on the way to the shoot or between takes."

30. If you were to write a novel, what would it be?

"Romantic novel – with a happy ending, Romantic ako, e. Now, if I write my autobiography, I’ll do it in an inspiring style – you know, how I walked up the ladder, especially how I ‘reinvented’ myself after I came back from the States. I knew I wasn’t the matinee idol type anymore, so I had to think of ways to start a new career. I attended an acting workshop, I developed muscles, I began doing character roles, starting with Segurista (directed by Tikoy Aguiluz). Since then, tuloy-tuloy na."

31. What’s the song that touches you most?

"Come What May."

32. Do you still have any frustration?

"I can’t think of any. I have a happy family life, I have a beautiful wife, I have beautiful children, my career is doing well. I can’t ask for more."

33. How do you pray?

"Direct to God. I open my prayer with Our Father and end it with The Apostle’s Creed (you know, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. . .). Oh, yes, I believe in heaven. To me, heaven is peace. . .eternity. . . a place overflowing with love."

34. If you were to be reincarnated, what or who would you be?

"A bird, so I can fly. You see, my frustration of becoming a pilot always surfaces."

35. What keeps your marriage strong and stable after 17 years?

"We still go out on dates. Until now, I continue to court Liezl; nililigawan ko pa rin siya. Liezl as a wife is very supportive, very understanding. She’s also very sensitive, that’s why I’m very careful with choosing my roles."

36. If you had a choice, which leading lady would you have in your next sexy/bold movie?

"I can’t think of anybody."

37. If you were somebody else, who would you be?

"Cardinal Jaime Sin. I want to spread the good word."

38. What’s the best thing about Albert Martinez?

"I’m a fighter; I don’t give up easily. Hindi ako madaling masiraan ng loob. I’m like a fighting cock; the more I get ‘wounded,’ the more I fight."

39. And the worst thing about Albert Martinez, if any?

"I’m too much of a workaholic and that’s what Liezl has been complaining about."

40. Do you believe that life begins at 40?

"Yes, definitely! At 40, you should have realized your dreams, you should be settled, you should have found your own place in the sun. Life has just begun for me."