Albert plays man with good heart for a change

"Even those with a heart of stone will cry. I’m sure of that."

That assurance ("warning"?) came from Albert Martinez, referring to his latest movie, Maryo J. delos Reyes’ Magnifico (Violett Films), which has so far drawn buckets of tears from the hundreds who have seen it in advance screenings.

"If you don’t cry," continued Albert, "it means you don’t have a heart."

Assuring Albert that I have a heart, I told him that first thing today, I’ll rush to the theater near me and catch Magnifico (opening today in Metro theaters). I need a good cry, you know, and some stimulus to let out that silent scream aching in my chest. I’m sure Magnifico is it.

I won’t spoil the thrill and suspense by relating details passed on to me by those who have seen Magnifico, except to say that it’s a real feel-good movie – you know, one that makes you cry and cry, and feel better and lighter, secure with the thought that goodness still reigns in the heart of (some) people, even in such a young boy as Magnifico (played with impressive sensitivity by nine-year-old Jiro Manio).

During our phone chat, I asked Albert how different his role (as Magnifico’s father) in Magnifico is from his previous ones.

"As Butch Francisco put it, it’s not a ‘heel’ type of character but the opposite. It’s a character who, even if he has self-esteem, is full of frustrations because he’s hirap sa buhay. It’s the type of character I haven’t done in a long, long time. I feel as if nagsisimula uli ko sa Grade One. The last time I played this kind of role was in the ’80s pa yata. These past few years kasi, I’ve been doing anti-hero roles (such as those in Segurista, Mumbaki, Nang Iniwan Mo Ako, etc.), strong-willed characters. For a while, I didn’t know how to attack the role, until I realized that all I needed was a heart – just put my heart into the role."

Like direk Maryo, Albert said he cried when he read the script, especially the part where Magnifico fails to bring his little sister to the perya, something he has long been planning.

"The boy doesn’t have money, that’s why," explained Albert. "From that part on, laglag na ako; iyak na ako nang iyak. What a beautiful script! (written by Michiko Yamamoto, grand-prize winner in a scriptwriting contest in 2001)."

Magnifico is Albert’s third movie with Lorna Tolentino (as the mother), coming after Pusong Mamon and Abakada Ina.

Having done a string of kontrabida roles, how did Albert "internalize" for a good-man role?

"I got used to arriving on the set na ang mindset ko, you know, ‘I’m a bad guy.’ For Magnifico, there was a reversal of mindset. ‘This time, I’m a good guy.’ I had to draw out all the goodness in my heart to give justice to the character."

How could he have identified with a down-on-his-luck character who has known nothing in his life but hardship and suffering?

"I went through a hard life," Albert begged to disagree. "‘Yung early life namin ni Liezl sa States was a struggle. As a kid, naghirap din ako. My parents were not well-off; it was an everyday struggle for us, kaya alam ko ang feeling nang walang-wala ka. My growing-up years were not really a bed of roses."

Albert is so proud of the movie that he brought his wife Liezl and their three children (read a review written by their daughter Alyanna somewhere on this page) to one of the advance screenings.

"I want my kids and all the kids out there to absorb the beautiful message of the movie," said Albert. "There’s nothing but goodness in Magnifico’s heart; he’s innocent and he has a very beautiful heart, unlike us adults who have doubts and prejudices. At our age, we should have gone through sad/bad experiences, so we hold back and ask ourselves, ‘Should I trust this person and get burned again?’ With Magnifico, the world is good and positive; he’s preoccupied only with the thought of how he can help other people, starting with his family."

On the small screen, Albert plays a role (in the GMA soap Habang Kapiling Ka, with Victor Neri as his brother) far removed from the one in Magnifico. "It’s not a basically bad character," said Albert. "It’s just that the man (in Habang) is nice only to people na mapapakinabangan niya."

As is his wont, Albert rehearsed the Magnifico script with Liezl at home. He’d deliver the lines and observe how Liezl would react, giving him "cues" along the way. She’d say, "Papa, medyo acting na acting ka; be natural."

He was that natural in one of the highlights of Magnifico showing him contemplating over a coffin (sorry, folks, but I can’t elaborate on it without spoiling the impact of that scene).

"That scene will break your heart," assured Albert. "Even if you have a heart of stone."

Another version of GMA eksena

Yesterday’s account of the "Bing Loyzaga incident" at GMA’s S.O.P. was only, according to an eyewitness, "half of the story." In fairness to Bing, Janno Gibbs’ wife, "she didn’t scream at Janno to come down the stage; at least, I didn’t hear her scream."

Here’s the eyewitness’ version:

Bing, who was at the studio not as an S.O.P. guest but as Janno’s "chaperon," was inside the make-up room texting when Regine Velasquez, Jaya and Lani Misalucha arrived. Regine and company greeted Bing – you know, a casual "Hi!" – but Bing simply ignored them, as if she didn’t hear anything, and continued texting.

The three ladies sat quietly in the make-up room, waiting for their turn. But then, you could feel the tension, so somebody requested Regine and company to move to another room. The trio left, without saying goodbye to Bing. Why should they, baka isnabin na naman sila?

At this point, Janno confronted Regine and company why they were giving Bing the cold-shoulder treatment. An exchange of words (not so heated, though) followed. To make a long story short, Regine broke down in tears, feeling guilty that she might have spoiled the show’s opening number which the S.O.P. hosts were going to stage in a few minutes.

Actually, Regine shouldn’t have felt "guilty," S.O.P. being her "territory" and Bing being, in a way, an "intruder."

Janno did join everybody for the opening number but he was nowhere to be found after that. He and Bing left in a huff.

Now, tell me, who owes who an apology?

What did this incident show?

Well, when a jealous wife enters the scene, professionalism flies out of the room!

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