Jinggoy, Bong friends anew

Theirs was a friendship forged in show business and ripped apart by politics.

But for movie actors Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., almost two years after their bitter parting, it’s time to relegate politics to the backseat and for friendship to be given a new lease.

In yesterday’s seventh anniversary celebration of GMA-7’s movie talk show "Star TalK" hosted by talent manager Lolit Solis, the two kissed and made up on national TV.

The show must also go on.

Jinggoy, son of ousted President Joseph Estrada and a former San Juan mayor, and Revilla, former Cavite governor and now Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) chairman, have more than showbiz connection and friendship to share.

Revilla is also the godson of the ousted president and definitely the last person Jinggoy expected to abandon them at the height of the EDSA II people power revolt that toppled his father from power in January 2001.

"I was talking with him that afternoon and he never mentioned anything to me that he will be coming to EDSA at night," Jinggoy, who is now detained along with his father at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City facing plunder charges, recalled.

"But I’ve been detained here at VMMC for more than one year, and I have forgiven Bong already," he said.

"Thank you, pare. I leave the judgment to God, whether what I did is wrong or right, I leave the judgment to Him. No matter what, I will still accompany you, pare," Revilla, who was then at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, answered back.

"I was also hurt with what happened. But no matter what I still love you, pare," Revilla added in Filipino.

Jinggoy said that he already missed the company of Revilla along with their common friends, movie actors Rudy Fernandez and Phillip Salvador, who both tried politics but lost in the mayoralty race in Quezon City and Mandaluyong City, respectively, in the May 2001 elections.

"I miss the company of our peers, including Phillip and Rudy. We have been talking about many things, about the movies and politics," Jinggoy said.

Revilla, on the other hand, said that for the past more than one year that he has parted ways with Jinggoy, he always wanted to see the former mayor.

"We’ve been together for a long time, I missed our peers. I know what happened is very heavy. Batik sa buhay ko (A prick on my conscience). But right or wrong, still everytime I saw him on TV and I learned about his being brought to the hospital, I always wanted to see him. I always text him. He is only a man, I wish him that we could return our old times whatever heartaches that we suffered," Revilla said, adding that he will definitely visit Jinggoy in his detention cell

"Now, that we are talking like this, maybe, you will answer my text and I can also talk to you over the phone. I will go there to visit you even if you will punch me, I hope you will pass all the trials that you have right now. I know that you are clean. My family and I will always pray for you," Revilla said.

"You can come, why not?," Jinggoy replied. "But, unfortunately, the visiting hours here ends at 5 p.m. everyday."

Jinggoy wished Revilla good luck on his new job as VRB chairman.

"Well, now that he is in and the movie industry is not doing well, I wish him all the luck and I wish he could solve the problem of piracy," Jinggoy said.