First Son Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo opts to tell the truth – and nothing but? – so Conversations puts him under the microscope for a thorough (well, not quite!) scrutiny.
Mikey, 34, is in the news not only because he has a new movie, Viva Films’ Masamang Ugat (directed by Willy Milan and also starring Eddie Garcia, Ace Vergel, Maui Taylor and Victor Neri) but also because of the titillating issue whether or not his mom, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, will change her mind and decide to run in 2004 after all.
Like all politicians and actors, Mikey, married to his second cousin Angela Montenegro with whom he has an eight-month-old daughter, Mikaela Gloria (named after the lola), hasn’t been spared his share of sticks and stones which seem to hit him with more intensity (Ouch!!!) because, you guessed it, he’s a First Son. His other siblings (Datu and Luli) have been keeping a low profile, staying away from the limelight as much as possible.
The Pampanga Vice Governor has been hounded by an ugly press due to his alleged "temper" – you know, easy to flare up. He has gotten entangled with a lady movie reporter who got his ire when she asked him during the baptism of Mikaela about the rumors linking him to some actresses (Rufa Mae Quinto, Maui Taylor, etc.). He was also lambasted for scolding (minura) his subaltern in his Pampanga office.
As an actor, he’s is tagged as a "TH" (as in Trying Hard) and critics of GMA and her administration had a field day poking fun at Mikey and his mom (poor GMA!) when his starrer called Di Kita Ma-Reach finished at the tailend of the Metro Manila Film Festival three years ago.
Now, under the Conversations "spotlight," Mikey tries to answer all the questions hanging over his head and to clear the rumors swirling around her and, yes, GMA. Accompanied by three bodyguards in plain clothes, Mikey arrived at the Taste of L.A. restaurant (Roces Avenue corner Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City) 10 minutes before the appointed time, even if he came all the way from Pampanga. "I’m always on time," he smiles. "I don’t want to make people wait."
Okay, game ka na ba?
Once and for all, is your mom running in 2004?
"Honestly, I don’t know. But I don’t think she’s running. We don’t talk about it. She never talks to us about it."
You never talk about politics?
"Very seldom. During our family lunches, it’s never discussed. But I don’t think she’ll change her mind about running. The way I know my Mom, she’ll stick to her announcement on National Heroes Day last year that she’s not running."
What do you usually talk about during what you call "family lunches"?
"Everything under the sun – except politics. Never about whether she’s running or not."
Maybe she’s keeping her cards close to her chest, keeping her plans a "secret" even to you her children.
"As I’ve said, changing her mind (vis-a-vis 2004) isn’t even among her plans. As she said in her statement, she’s looking forward to a peaceful life after 2004. By then, she will no longer be President so she’ll have more time for herself and her family, and less of the pressures that she has now."
What do you think would she do (aside from enjoying her "retirement")?
"Siguro she’ll go back to teaching, maybe in Ateneo where she used to teach Economics before she entered politics."
Are you and Angela and your child staying in Malacañang?
"We are now. We have a room there."
How is GMA as a lola?
"She’s okay. Very doting. We live in the same building as my parents. Our room is only 30 seconds away from my Mom’s room so she peeps in every now and then. When Angela and I are out of town or out of the country, our daughter sleeps with my Mom. Even when we’re around, my Mom checks on Mikaela every morning when she wakes up and in the evening before she sleeps."
Doesn’t she spoil Mikaela?
"Not... yet. Mikaela is too young to be asking anything from her. Maybe when she grows older... But my Dad, he tends to spoil his apo."
Doesn’t your Mom "meddle" in your and Angela’s affairs?
"I don’t call it ‘meddling’; but rather, ‘guiding’. Mothers are like that, aren’t they? Even when their children are already married, they can’t help putting in their two cents worth. But I turn to my Mom for advice on my political life. She knows that I’m running for Congressman (in the second district of Pampanga) so she’s guiding me on what to do, what projects to pursue, mga ganoon."
What about as far as your personal life is concerned?
"Well, she always reminds me that it’s not nice to be seen around with other women."
Why, do you go around with other women?
"She speaks in the general sense. Just a reminder. She just tells me that when I’m out, it’s better to be seen with my wife and not with any other woman."
Why are you running for Congressman instead of for Governor? Are you trying to avoid a possible "collision course" with Lito Lapid (incumbent Governor of Pampanga)?
"No, Lito is on his last term as Governor. He’s running for Mayor of Angeles City. I think his son, Mark (also an actor), is the one running for Governor."
So why are you running for Congress?
"Well, it’s a family decision. My Mom and my Dad want me to, and that’s also my preference. ’Yon din ang gusto ng mga meyor in the six towns in my district (Lubao, Porac, Sasmoan, Floridablanca, Sta. Rita and Guagua). When I celebrated by 34th birthday last April (26), they already endorsed my candidacy. The incumbent Congresswoman, Zeny Ducut, is on her last term, so the mayors filed a resolution urging me to run as their representative. Zeny Ducut is also endorsing me."
Are you convinced that you can serve the people of your district as a Congressman than as a Governor?
"I believe so. Being a Vice Governor was a good training for me. People have the wrong idea that when you are a ‘Vice’, you are like a spare tire. It’s not true. The Vice Governor is the head of the province’s legislative body. So in the past three years, I’ve been trained for creating laws which is exactly what I will do in Congress."
Are you more like your Mom or more like your Dad?
"I guess 50/50."
Which part of you is very GMA?
"The part of me which works with a passion."
And which part is very Mike?
"My being malambing, a trait which is typically Ilonggo which my father is. His being a gentleman and being friendly."
What’s the best advice that you got from your Mom?
"Do what is right, do your best, and God will take care of the rest. That’s the same advice my Mom got from her father (the late President Diosdado Macapagal)."
And from your Dad?
"He always reminds me that it’s our duty to help other people."
Does your Mom have a temper?
"Doesn’t everyone? If you work so hard and things don’t go right and you know it’s not your fault, you lose your temper, don’t you? When somebody promises to do something and he doesn’t do it, you lose your temper, don’t you? But I could see that my Mom has learned to control her temper."
Is your showbiz career co-terminus with your Mom’s term as President?
"No. Hindi naman. I’ve been in showbiz since l996, long before my Mom became President."
Do you get special treatment on the set now that you’re a First Son?
"No, I don’t and I don’t want people to give me any special treatment. I report to the set on time and I wait for my turn just like everybody else. I eat the same food that everybody else eats. They treat me now the way I was treated before. On the set of Masamang Ugat, sometimes I would also wait and wait for hours for my ‘take’ and I never complained. Alam mo ang kalakaran ng showbiz."
What role do you play in Masamang Ugat?
"A good cop. Because of my position in government, I’d rather play good-boy roles. If I play bad-boy roles, baka they might reflect badly on my real-life role as Vice Governor and as a President’s Son."
Are you serious about being an action star? Sabi nila, you are very "TH" (as in Trying Hard) as an action star.
"I’d rather be an action-comedy actor. I’m funny in real life. I make people laugh all the time."
Does your Mom watch your movies?
"She does... all my movies."
What’s her favorite among your movies?
"Well, she likes A.B. Normal a lot. It’s a straight comedy. It made her laugh and laugh."
What about Di Kita Ma-Reach?
(Only smiles; doesn’t answer)
Doesn’t she give you advice as far as acting is concerned?
"Not much, really. She just tells me na dapat may moral lessons na matututuhan ang mga manonood. Like when she saw my movie (Mahal Kita, Kahit Sino Ka Pa) with Judy Ann Santos, my Mom didn’t like the scene where, as a cop, I killed some suspects during a raid. Hindi raw realistic. In real life daw, cops don’t just shoot at once; they first announce that there’s a raid and when there’s a resistance, that’s when they shoot."
Do you consult her before you accept a movie offer?
"If I think that the role is controversial, I ask for her advice. But I keep in mind the guidelines that she gave me – you know, never play an immoral character, etc."
What do you consider your mom’s three biggest achievements?
"One, how she handled the SARS problem. Two, the turn-around of the economy. Let’s face it, when she took over, the country’s economy was down as it was in other parts of the world. Now, our economy has improved. Three, the way she handles the terrorism problem. You’re asking for only three but I’ll mention my Mom’s other achievement – her relentless campaign against drugs; not to mention her efforts to rid the government of graft and corruption."
What are the perks of being a First Son... aside from having bodyguards?
"I have three, less than what some First Children had. During the time of President Cory Aquino, Kris and I were classmates at Ateneo and I saw that she didn’t have many bodyguards. We’re trying to emulate the Aquinos. They’re so simple; I even got Tita Cory as ninang during our wedding. Even the Ramoses were simple."
Aren’t you bothered by the presence of your bodyguards especially when you have, ehem, extra-curricular activities?
"They’ve been with me from way back. They’re loyal to me."
Meaning, well, "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil?"
"Basta, they are loyal to me."
What would you miss most once you’re out of Malacañang?
"I don’t think I’ll miss anything because from the very start, when my Mom was sworn in as President, at the back of our minds we knew that Malacañang wouldn’t be our home for long, that everything was temporary. Like now, I practically don’t live there; I only sleep there. I’m more often in Pampanga or in my wife’s house in Forbes Park."
So how’s life in Malacañang?
"Okay lang. I wake up, take breakfast and leave. That’s my routine almost every day. I used to occupy the room where Bongbong (Marcos) used to stay. I moved out when I got married and it’s my brother Datu who’s now using that room."
Do the Arroyos have any family day?
"Sunday is our family day. We have lunch together and sometimes watch a movie together or make pasyal along the baywalk in Roxas Boulevard."
What’s the best thing about being a First Son?
"Well, it’s just an opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’m thankful for. It’s just like a stopover in a long journey, a phase in your life."
And the worst?
"Well, you’re living in a fishbowl and everything you do is magnified and blown out of proportion. So I try to be humble and to be careful with what I do or say, and to keep my cool even if I’m provoked."
You’re not pikon (onion-skinned), are you?
"Sometimes, I am. But I’ve learned to control it. Lahat naman ng tao may threshold level, di ba? I’m less high-strung now. Part of growing up, I guess, of being a father, a government official, of being married."
How are you as a father?
"I consider myself a good provider. I work hard to give my daughter the best–good milk, good medicine, good food, nice clothes, educational plan, everything."
And how are you as a husband?
"Okay naman. Mabait."
Isn’t Angela affected by all those rumors about you?
"I don’t think so. Before, she used to confront me but now, I guess she knows na ganoon pala ang showbiz – you know, you are linked to your leading lady."
Like Rufa Mae Quinto to whom, according to rumors, you gave a very expensive car.
"Not true. I was also linked to Maui Taylor (also in the cast of Masamang Ugat). Also not true. The rumors spread only because Rufa and I were doing a movie together. After the movie was shown, the tsismis stop. If it was true, there would have been talks even after the movie was shown."
Does Angela believe you more than the rumor-mongers?
"Yes, she does."
She has such faith and trust in you.
"What about you? Do you believe in the rumors?"
Well, it’s possible.
"Huh!?!"
Is it true that it took three "takes" for you and Maui to perfect your kissing scene in Masamang Ugat?
"Only because the kissing scene was shot from three different angles."
There’s a rumor that you and Angela are on the brink of separating but your Mom has asked you to do so after 2004. True or not?
"I haven’t heard that rumor. The truth is that we’re happily married. (Adding in jest) I’m happy; she looks married. Oops! That’s a joke."
Who is your role model?
"Lito Lapid. He’s my mentor, my idol. He has touched my life in many ways – movies, personal life, politics. Napaka-simpleng tao niya. Very humble, down-to-earth."
If and when your grandfather’s life story (an inspiring one about The Poor Boy from Lubao who rose to become President of the Philippines) is made into a movie, would you play the young Diosdado Macapagal?
"I’m not worthy."
Who do you think will fit the role?
"Lito Lapid."
What about your Mom’s life story? Who should play GMA?
"Maui Taylor."
Maui Taylor!?!
"No, I’m just kidding. Nora Aunor. They look alike and they’re friends."
And who should play Mike Arroyo (his father)?
"Ako. Who else?"
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)