Cesar Montano: It’s a no-no for me to retire
Multi-awarded actor Cesar Montano doesn’t see himself retiring from the entertainment industry anytime soon. His passion for acting is so intense that it makes it impossible for him to even think about it for a second.
“No, I am not thinking of retiring because when you retire, you stop doing the things you love to do,” began Cesar during his guest appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.”
“Ang pag-gawa ng pelikula is very close to my heart, and up to now, I love doing films. Actually, we are working on a story we are about to pitch soon. It makes my everyday life more exciting because of it, so it’s a no-no for me to retire,” he added.
The actor, who has been in showbiz for four decades, has repeatedly proven his acting excellence through films that earned him awards and recognition from various award-giving bodies. His first two movies, “Kasalanan ang Buhayin Ka” and “Machete,” were released in 1990. More blockbuster movies followed.
Cesar is best remembered for his remarkable portrayal of the national hero Jose Rizal in Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s historical drama film, “Jose Rizal.” It was an official entry in the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) that received a total of 17 trophies.
The following year, he portrayed Fredo, the ruthless fishing boat captain in “Muro-ami,” also directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya, as GMA Pictures’ entry to the 1999 Metro Manila Film Festival. It bagged 13 MMFF awards, including Best Picture.
Fast-forward to the present, Cesar couldn’t be any prouder about the digitally remastered re-release of “Muro-ami.”
“Parang nanonood ako ng bagong pelikula. Ito po (ngayon) ‘yung digitally remastered,” enthused Cesar.
The actor also made clear that the restoration stayed faithful to the original version of “Muro-ami,” written by Ricky Lee and Jun Robles Lana. The restored version enhanced the film’s visuals while preserving its original quality and storyline.
Cesar was delighted when I told him that I was the publicist of “Muro-ami” back in 1999. It’s still vivid in my head how Cesar would shout “Arya!” in a terrifyingly commanding voice.
Cesar, nevertheless, couldn’t forget how physically taxing it was to breathe life into Fredo.
“It was physically exhausting. I was given three months to prepare and look the same as the ‘template’ of my character’s body. Three months lang para gawin ko yung ganoon sa katawan ko, kaya naghanap ako ng (fitness) instructor.
“Tinanong ko kung kaya niya ba akong tulungan na maging ganoon ang katawan ni Fredo. Sabi niya kung kaya ko ng no salt, no sugar, no oil for three months, magagawa namin. I agreed, and I worked hard for it.”
According to Cesar, one of the foremost reasons he bagged the role of Fredo is that he’s a licensed scuba diver.
“But to dive like a muro-ami is another story. I had to train for four months in the sea kaya ang tagal ko ulit bumalik sa dagat after this movie,” he shared.
In all of his movies, Cesar didn’t disappoint. His acting portrayal would always make audiences forget that he is acting at all.
I asked Cesar what makes a good actor, and he replied, “An actor should be a good listener. If you are not a good listener, then it would be impossible to be one. Kailangan marunong makinig ng maayos. Listening is very important for an actor to be aware of gestures and body language, for example, you listen to your director to respond truthfully. You cannot act if you’re not listening.”
Also, I wanted to hear from Cesar, one of the finest Filipino actors, how much of a good actor is talent, and how much is technique?
“I’m also a method actor, but I learned that the (acting) technique (an actor is using) should not be obvious to the camera, kailangan malambot at natural ‘yung akting kasi ‘pag may nakitang kanto or hindi flowy, it means the acting is stiff. That’s why your objective must be clear in your head,” he answered.
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