Rustom After the Storm

The last vivid image that we have of him was a man with a crumpled face up close on national television, letting off steam in near tears in the tailend of the protracted controversy involving him and his estranged wife, Carmina Villarroel, and, incidentally, Zoren Legaspi, father of Carmina’s twin children.

After that bare-it-all interview with Boy Abunda, Rustom Padilla simply disappeared from the showbiz scene, leaving a trail of unanswered questions: Where has he gone? Is he planning a "counter-attack" against his "ex"? What is he up to?

The next thing we knew, Rustom had, so to speak, flown the coop and retreated to America, saying goodbye to all that, his career and everything, sad and sweet memories included, determined to start a new life in The Land of Milk and Honey.

That was almost two years ago. Since Rustom left in September, 2002, we only hear about him intermittently, morsels of tsismis relayed by kababayans who catch a glimpse of him somewhere – at a bar enjoying a few drinks with friends or at a supermarket pushing a cartful of groceries or at a school campus lugging a few books. Was it him or just a lookalike?

Then two Sundays ago, The Buzz reported that Rustom has opened a skin store called Rus Bloom and eyebrows soared: Why a "beauty" business? You know how the minds of gossip-mongers work, you know!

Last Monday afternoon (Aug. 2) during my third and last day in L.A. where I interviewed Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway for their new Disney movie, Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (a delightful "must-see" romance-comedy directed by Garry Marshall, noted for such hits as the Julia Roberts starrers Pretty Woman, Notting Hill and Runaway Bride), I invited Rustom for a quick snack-interview at the garden of St. Regis Hotel in Beverly Hills (where some 50 entertainment journalists from around the world were billeted). Rustom showed up with the Espina couple, his Tita Bennie and Tito Julius, who are his "foster parents" in L.A.

Over a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice, Rustom talked about what he calls "my continuing journey" and how he found, well, the light at the end of a tunnel (which was how he likened his post-Philippine life).

How’s your life in America?

"Okay. Iba. Ibang-iba sa buhay sa Pilipinas."

Did you leave home to mend a broken heart?

(Laughs) "To mend not a broken heart but a broken life."

Was your life totally broken (shattered to pieces)?

"Totally broken. And that wasn’t because of just one person. You see, I reached a point where I looked at myself straight in the eye and I didn’t like what I saw. Nag-panic ako. So I said, ‘Teka lang, teka muna...’ You know..."

But your career was doing good at that time. You were doing films (his last was Regal Films’ Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure) and hosting a game show (Wheel of Fortune on ABC 5).

"Yeah. But still, may kulang. I began to question what was happening in my life. Masyadong maraming taong nakikialam. I longed to be alone, to assess my life."

You were searching for yourself, sort of?

"Yeah. In a way. I wanted to retrieve my sense of identity."

So, have you finally found yourself?

"Well, it’s a journey. I’ve realized that life is a journey. I’ve always said that before – Life is a journey – but it’s only now that I understand what it really means. When I left two years ago, I thought I was leaving home. Little did I know that I was coming home."

When you came to L.A., you were confronted by uncertainty. Did you have any plan? Did you have direction?

"Actually, none. No plan, no direction. I left in September and I reached that decision end of July. Ganoon ka-bilis. I just wanted to leave. There was a passion inside me na hindi ko maintindihan, you know. What I had in mind then was to study film-directing."

Nasunod naman?

"Oh, yes, and even more. Two years ago, I didn’t have any plan. I wanted to study. Saan? I didn’t know. Where would I stay? I didn’t know. My life then was full of uncertainties. A friend asked me, ‘What’s your plan?’ I told him, ‘I don’t know. All I know is that I have a ticket for New York.’ My plan was to stay in L.A. for 10 days and go to New York. What happened was that I never made it to New York. I ended up enrolling in a film course at UCLA. I finished the two-year course in one year and a half dahil palagi akong full load."

What course did you take up ba?

"Certificate Program in Film, Television and Digital Entertainment Media. I have a certificate to prove it." (Takes out certificate from envelope) "It’s a complete course."

How were your first few days in L.A.? Did you stay with friends?

"To pick up my story... I told my friend that I didn’t have any plan. I told him that the first person I’d meet as soon as I landed in L.A. who would offer me help, ’yung magsasabi sa akin in all sincerity, ‘Halika, sumama ka sa akin, bibigyan kita ng trabaho,’ doon ako sasama. You know, bahala na kung saan ako dalhin ng hangin."

Was that what happened?

"I flew in with Robin who was having a show in L.A. Nobody fetched us at the airport. There was some miscommunication and the show producers didn’t meet Robin at the airport. So Robin and I took a taxi to the hotel. As soon as we got off the cab, ang unang sumalubong sa akin ay sina Tita Bennie at Tito Julius Espina. They have several showbiz friends, including Pops (Fernandez), Randy (Santiago) and many others. Friend din nila si Susan (Lim, the concert producer). I learned later that Tita Bennie and Tito Julius were requested by the producer to lend their car for the show promo."

And what happened?

"Since the time I entered their house, hindi na ako umalis. I’ve been staying with them since then. I wasn’t close to them then, even if I had met them in parties for visiting Filipino performers during my past US visits."

Oh, so you became their adopted son.

(Laughs again) "Yes. Ako ang kanilang long-lost son. Actually, they have two daughters."

There was a rumor na palipat-lipat ka ng bahay among friends...

"...It’s not true. I was supposed to stay with them for 10 days because I was going nga to New York. After 10 days, I told Tita Bennie, ‘I want to study bar-tending so that I can have a job while I’m in New York.’ So, Tita Bennie looked for a school for me. I finished the course in two months. I wasn’t able to go to New York. During the first month, I felt depressed."

You were lucky to have found kind strangers.

"Maybe to console me, Tita Bennie asked me if I wanted to buy a car. Since I didn’t have a credit line yet, she let me use her credit line, paying for the car with my own money. After I bought the car, I knew that I wouldn’t be leaving L.A. anymore."

Is it true that you stayed with the mother of your good friend Piolo Pascual in Monterey?

"No, I didn’t."

So what were you busy with during your first few months, aside from your course? Did you work in a bar?

"No, I didn’t. I was never able to practise my bar-tending degree. Sa bahay, oo. Doon ako nagmi-mix-mix ng drinks."

So in the past two years, you never held a regular job?

"No, I didn’t. Later on, Tita Bennie, Tito Julius and I started conceptualizing Rus Bloom. Why that name? You know, kapag ginamit mo ang skin products namin, you bloom."

No wonder you’re, ehem, blooming. What happened to a similar business (called Dermaline) you put up in Parañaque City?

"By the way, could you mention in your write-up that I’m not connected with Dermaline anymore? Matagal na akong walang kinalaman sa Dermaline. Hindi na ako kasosyo. It was doing good when I was there. When I left, wala namang nabago except that I wasn’t there everyday. Tapos, ang report nang nandito na ako sa States losing na raw ’yung business. Sinara and then it was opened again. Solo na niya. So I have nothing more to do with it."

What happened to your house (in Parañaque City, which used to be his and ex-wife Carmina’s conjugal home)?

"It’s there, intact. It’s only the maids staying there. Nagpapadala na lang ako ng pera for them."

How’s your daily routine here?

"As normal as possible. That’s what I’m enjoying here. Ang pasok ko sa school hapon. I’d wake up at 11 a.m., have lunch, work out starting at 2 p.m. and go to school at 5. Then. I’d go home at 9 or 10 p.m."

How do you spend your free time?

"Kami lang nina Tita Bennie at Tito Julius. You know what we enjoy doing most? Watch the basketball games. When I have nothing to do, I watch movies everyday. Or I watch DVDs at home."

What was the last movie that you saw?

"Catwoman. Spider-Man 2. I should be watching those that opened last Friday (The Village, The Manchurian Candidate, The Bourne Supremacy, etc.)."

Don’t you miss life in the Philippines?

"Not at all. Kung gusto ko ng ganoong buhay, bakit pa ako aalis? I came here to lead as normal a life as possible."

Don’t you miss showbiz?

"The acting part, yes. But not the intrigues. There was a time when I did miss showbiz, so I refrained from watching TFC (The Filipino Channel). Ano ba ang tawag doon – self-preservation? I started watching TFC only three months ago."

You don’t keep track of what’s happening in showbiz back home?

"I try not to. Otherwise, pahihirapan ko lang ang sarili ko."

What are your plans now? Are you going home? Or are you staying here for good?

"I might go home soon. We’re planning to launch Rus Bloom in the Philippines, with Tita Bennie and Tito Julius as my partners. We’re also planning to open outlets at Island Pacific Supermarkets."

And back to acting?

"I’d rather work on the first film I’m planning to direct. I already have a concept (for a story). I want to coordinate with a writer."

What’s the story about?

"It’s a coming-of-age story. That’s all I want to reveal right now."

Do you have stars in mind already?

"None yet."

Would you like to have Carmina in the cast?

(Silence)

Have you come to terms with your past? Does it still hurt?

"Tapos na. Whether may pain o wala, let’s move on."

Are you okay already with Carmina?

(Laughs out loud) "Wala akong balita sa kanya."

What’s the first thing you will say when you meet Carmina again?

"Hi!"

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