The story behind two old magazine covers

A refreshing blast from the past: Old copies of the Expressweek magazine circa the late ‘70s dug up from the baul during a house-cleaning. One issue, dated 1978, featured Lloyd Samartino with Jackie Lou Blanco. They were not in showbiz then. He was 16 and she, 14. Nice concept. The son of Carmen Soriano and the daughter of Pilita Corrales together in a pictorial for the first time. Carmen and Pilita were the reigning torch singers at that time. It was Lloyd and Jackie Lou’s first meeting that led to a young romance that lasted for two years.

Soon after, Lloyd was introduced in Gabon (Agrix Films), directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes, and he was an overnight sensation, the hottest discovery of the year, the new fair-haired boy of the fickle-minded industry. In one of his movies, Annie Batungbakal, Lloyd starred with Nora Aunor with whom he was featured in his second Expressweek cover.

I thought, why not an update on Lloyd?

So I met with Lloyd and took photos of him with the copies of Expressweek, now collectors’ items. That set us off on a quick trip down Memory Lane.

“I was linked to Nora and it hurt Jackie so we broke up,” said Lloyd, smiling at the memory. “I got so busy na with my career kaya hindi ko na napupuntahan si Jackie, so we called it quits.”

Jackie would later marry Ricky Davao who is Lloyd’s relative.

In six years, Lloyd did more than approximately 50 movies with other companies until he left for the States in 1984.

“Times were changing, and so were the trends. Most of the roles offered to me were ‘bold’ but I couldn’t do them.”

His last starrer was Strangers in Paradise for Regal Films, directed by Lino Brocka, in which Lloyd co-starred with Snooky Serna and Tom Babauta who was “imported” from Hawaii (I wonder what happened to him).

In the States, Lloyd said that he took odd jobs to earn his keep, especially after he left home because his mom’s husband then frowned on the idea of a grown-up son dependent on his mom.

It was at that time when Lloyd figured in the elopement of Albert Martinez and Liezl Sumilang right after her debut. Lloyd and Albert became close during their stints at Regal where other “Babies” were winning the fans’ attention and adulation, such as Gabby Concepcion, Jimi Melendez and Albert’s brother William. Of the same mold, Lloyd and Albert readily gravitated toward each other.

“That elopement was a memorable experience,” recalled Lloyd. “It started in San Francisco where Liezl was staying with her mom in the uppity Hillsborough and ended up in Los Angeles. Yes, I helped them elope. I was then staying with my mom and my stepfather. I had to explain the situation to my stepfather who let Albert and Liezl stay with us for a while.”

After eight years, Lloyd came back. By then, a new breed of stars was lording over showbiz. He bided his time.

He surprised everybody when he married then First Daughter Jo Ramos at a sunset wedding in Malacañang. Jo’s dad, Fidel Ramos, had just been elected President barely a year earlier.

“Jo and I were neighbors in Magallanes (Makati City) when we were young, we were kind of teenage sweethearts. But we parted ways when my family moved to another place.” By then, Lloyd’s mom was with his Tito Eddie (Rodriguez). “During the election campaign, Jo organized stars to root for her dad. That was how we met again.”

The marriage didn’t last. It produced a son, Sergio, now 16, who stays with his mom.

“Sergio’s mom doesn’t talk to me,” said Lloyd.

Asked if, according to rumors, he “enriched” himself during the Ramos Administration by running a fleet of cabs at the airport and engaging in other businesses, Lloyd said it’s not true.

“The President even asked me about it. I found out that somebody whose name sounded like mine was the one who owned that airport-taxi business but I never bothered to clarify the rumor. No, I never took advantage of my father-in-law’s position.”

Now happily single, Lloyd is back where he belongs --- showbiz. Since his comeback, he has been doing mostly soaps on both the Kapuso and Kapamilya networks (Dyosa, Mulawin, Walang Kapalit, All My Life, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin, etc.) with the likes of Cherie Gil, Dina Bonnevie, Ara Mina and Jean Garcia as leading ladies. His last movie, Regal Films’ Nandito Ako Nagmamahal Sa’yo (starring Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal) reconciled Lloyd with direk Maryo J. He’s doing a cameo in Rosario, the 2010 Metro Filmfest entry directed by his good friend Albert Martinez.

Lately, he has also been accepting singing stints. Why not? After all, Lloyd has inherited not just his mom’s good looks (mixed with those of his late dad, Lloyd Sammartino Sr., an Italian) but also her good singing voice. Try listening to him.

Into his late 40’s, Lloyd unlike most actors has accepted the reality that he’s not getting any younger and he’s now fit for father roles.

“That’s how the cycle goes,” he said. “You can’t stop it. Besides, in real life I’m the father of a teenager. You have to go with the flow of the times.”

Before we parted, Lloyd asked me if he could have the old copies of Expressweek. By all mean, yes!

“I will have them framed,” he said.

After all, those magazines hold a wealth of beautiful memories for them.

‘Em were the days!

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