The agimat works for Bong

MANILA, Philippines - There must really be something to the agimat (amulet) that Sen. Bong Revilla has inherited from his father, former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., which Bong is putting in harness in his 2010 Metro Filmfest starrer Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote with Vic Sotto as co-star. 

Every time Bong’s starrers smash the box-office, people would invariably credit it to his agimat even if he’s playing other characters but also possessing superpower that helps him fight evil forces whether in the real world or in fantasy-land. People joke that even with the ladies, the agimat works wonders for Bong, a joke that his wife, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado has learned to take in stride.

“With his looks and appeal,” Lani said in jest, “kailangan pa ba ng agimat ng asawa ko?”

In politics, the agimat also invariably gets into the picture. So Bong topped the senatorial race? Tumalab ang agimat, they said, even if it’s Bong’s performance in the Senate that stands him in good stead, he being a champion of several causes including protection of women like in the case of Katrina Halili’s uphill fight against a controversial doctor in the sex-video scandal.

Like Panday, the Carlo J. Caparas-created legendary komiks hero that Bong inherited from his Ninong FPJ, Bong also inherited the Agimat character from his father, former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr.

“I asked the blessing of my Ninong Ronnie (Poe) before I did my first Panday movie,” said Bong, “and he willingly gave it to me with the reminder that I take good care of the character.”

So far, Bong hasn’t let his Ninong FPJ down. He has not only added more color to the Panday character but also sustained its box-office legacy.

“I was a kid when my dad starred in Pepeng Agimat,” recalled Bong.

It was a big hit, the only Agimat movie Ramon Sr. ever did, shown in a Metro Manila Filmfest. (Trivia: Did you know that the 11-month-old baby thrown in one scene was played by Bong’s younger sister Andrea “Andeng” Bautista, now the wife of Rizal Gov. Junjun Ynares? Later as a little girl, Andeng would play the title role in Dang Dong.)

“As I do with Panday,” said Bong, “I’m taking good care of Agimat. Ayokong mapahiya ang daddy ko.”

The first time Bong played the character was in Ang Agimat: Anting-Anting ni Lolo which was virtually a family affair because Ramon Sr. appeared in it as Matandang Ermitanyo and Bong’s son Jolo Revilla played the young Agimat character.

This time, Bong and Vic (who originated his Enteng Kabisote character in the TV fantasy-series Okey Ka, Fairy Ko) give their first starrer together a new touch and a new twist, combining action and comedy in what could be the filmfest’s probable top-grosser. After all, both of them have been dominating the filmfest box-office for years with their individual starrers. No doubt they are the tandem to beat.

Co-directed by Tony Reyes and Rico Gutierrez, Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote switches from the real world to the fantasy world as the two iconic characters team up to fight the dark forces, as expected emerging triumphant in the end in the never-ending struggle between good and evil. Two pretty newcomers play their love interest, Sam Pinto for Bong and Gwen Zamora for Vic.

It’s a casting coup.

Said Bong, “Vic and I didn’t have any problem at all, not with the billing or anything.”

Vic, more senior than Bong, comes ahead in the billing but Bong’s character comes ahead in the title. Fair. Even their scenes are equally divided. Fair. And their share in the production, too. Fair.

The Revilla family-owned Imus Productions and Vic’s own M-ZET Productions are co-producing the movie with GMA Films, OctoArts Films and Tony Tuviera’s APT Productions. Bong’s sisters Andeng and Rowena are also the producers, with Bong’s brother, director Marlon Bautista, as executive producer.

It redounds to five big companies pooling their resources together to come up with what may be this year’s Metro Filmfest’s biggest production ever — bigger in scope, bigger in budget, bigger in thrills and bigger in state-of-the-art special effects.

The agimat and Enteng’s quietly deadly charm are a formidable combination.