27 most memorable interviews

An interviewer prepares. An interviewer listens to get to the next step. Sometimes he moves gracefully. Other times, he trips and falls. He gets lost in the vortex of words and silences. He comes out alive, looks forward to the next because the best is always the next interview. On the occasion of The STAR’s 27th anniversary on Sunday, July 28, here are my 27 most memorable interviews.   

Claudine Barretto — The late Rico Yan lay in state at the De La Salle, Greenhills. Year 2002, Sunday. Claudine agreed to an interview at 1 p.m. Buzz was airing at 4 p.m. Tough interview. The challenge was to keep the balance between keeping the integrity of the narrative without disrespecting Rico. The interview almost didn’t air.

Sarah Jessica Parker — I ran from F1 Hotel to the SM Aura at The Fort as my interview was moved an hour earlier. And how do you do a seven-minute interview with a woman who can talk about sex, the city and her advocacies like the arts turnaround initiative in the US.

Kris Aquino — Her mother, the venerable Corazon Aquino, just passed away. For days, Kris kept her composure. On The Buzz interview, she let it all out, cried her heart and soul out, paying tribute to the mother who was always proud of her successes and always forgiving for her failings. Having interviewed Kris so many times, I know her verbal cadence — when her pauses and periods are and when to ask the next question.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001 (her first studio interview as President) — Private Conversations with Boy Abunda (PCBA) invited her as Vice President, she came as President (as a result of EDSA II). In this interview, I asked her what her height was and if it had an impact on leadership.

Gov. Toto Mangudadatu — I remember asking him, “Had you known that your wife, relatives, media people, supporters were going to die because they were filing for you, your certificate of candidacy, would you have done it yourself? Would you have stopped them? Who killed the 58 victims?” This won for us an Asian TV Award for The Bottomline.

Dr. Patch Adams — I learned from him that the core of medical practice is love.

New Age philosopher Deepak Chopra — I didn’t know how to start my conversation with him until he was in front of me and apologized for being a little late because he misplaced his belt. “How does it feel to lose one’s belt?” I opened the interview.

John Lloyd Cruz — He is always genuine. And as an interviewee, he always surprises you. Unforgettable was when out of nowhere, he nonchalantly declared that he and Shaina Magdayao were a couple. Silence and a collective gasp filled the room.

Jericho Rosales — After his break up with Heart Evangelista. In this interview, I spoke to a young man who was so in love and so broken, people wept on the set!

KC Concepcion — On break-up with Piolo Pascual. One of the three most difficult interviews I have done in my life! Heart-wrenching!

Tito Dolphy — On Inside the Cinema. He danced at the end of the interview. That moment will eternally be etched in my mind. I am/was in awe of his legendary generosity of spirit. What a great man!

Grace Ibuna — “You’re being accused/labeled as a mistress, what do you want to say?” was a difficult question to ask of someone who was grieving for the love of her life. This conversation wrenched and warmed the heart intensely.

Edith Burgos — “Do you believe that your son is still alive?” I asked the impregnable, indomitable Edith Burgos who tops my list of brave, patriotic mothers. I cried in this interview.

Sister Christine Tan — “Who are you and why are you interviewing me?” she asked me shortly before the interview. It turned out to be an unforgettable conversation between two strangers who were connected to each other in many funny and mysterious ways.

Chavit Singson — Year 2000. Nobody wanted to touch Chavit Singson but we dared. He was a riveting interviewee.

Neal Donald Walsh — His last interview before ours was with the great Oprah Winfrey. It was a gargantuan pressure. He wept during the interview while apologizing to his wife for his infidelities. I was incredulous.

Marlyn Aguilar — She was a ferocious “tango” dancer. I had to watch every step, otherwise I would have tiptoed to perdition.

Lorna Kapunan — She is seriously tough but is never afraid not to take herself seriously. She is the ideal BFF! 

Ai-Ai delas Alas — “Minahal ka ba ni Jed?” was a crazy question but it was logical to ask the question. This was an interview I prayed I wouldn’t do but had to do it. I was too close to the story which is not good for an interviewer.

Jennifer Lopez — “Do you know a Filipino?” I asked Jennifer. “Are you kidding? I married one!” she answered. J.Lo is a delightful interviewee.

Victor Hansen — Like his books, Victor Hansen was genuinely generous and kind. You wouldn’t wonder why the world reads Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Charice — “Charice, are you a lesbian?” “Opo, tomboy po ako!” This is what courage is all about. Thank you, Charice.

Vilma Santos (Inside the Cinema interview) — She is a storyteller of the highest degree. I asked her about that confrontation scene in Relasyon between her and Christopher de Leon. She narrated it while grabbing you by the neck, bringing you to where it happened, and you were hypnotized.

Ate Guy (Inside the Cinema interview) — “How did you do that last scene in Himala?” “Did you know how you were going you do that scene?” In Ina Ka ng Anak Mo, “From the tricycle to the house where you saw your mother (Lolita Rodriguez) who just bore the child of your husband, how did you prepare for that ‘Hayuuup’ line which is perhaps one of the most remembered in Philippine cinema?” She looks at you, tells her story with words using her eyes and you are in a trance.

Wayne Wang, director of Joy Luck Club/Maid in Manhattan — He said in our conversation that as a young boy in Hong Kong, he used to watch the films of Ishmael Bernal and Lino Brocka. I still wonder why no Filipino director has broken into Hollywood!

Rose Hancock Porteous — I will never forget the Chanel dress she wore to the set of PCBA. A beautiful woman with a great life story!

Maria Ressa — Quiet, intelligent and giving. “How powerful are you?” I asked her. “I made many enemies in this job.” And you feel empowered to do good because this quiet, gentle human being in front of you is happy to be a principled person!