CHRISTOPHER De Leon has lately been playing villain roles in TV shows like “Lolong” and “Batang Quiapo”. But now, he’s back to playing a romantic lead role on the big screen no less, in the 2023 Metro filmfest entry, “When I Met You in Tokyo”.

The movie reunites him with his perennial ka-love team, Vilma Santos, with whom he has been paired in more than 25 movies since they were first paired in “Tag-ulan sa Tag-araw” in 1975. This was one year after Boyet de Leon was launched at 17 by the late Lino Brocka in the acclaimed “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang”.

Of all the films they did, our personal faves are the three films they did with National Artist Ishmael Bernal: “Relasyon” and “Broken Marriage” (which won best actress awards for Ate Vi) and “Ikaw ay Akin” (which gave Boyet a best actor award.)

Boyet has given many unforgettable performances through the years and the ones we really liked is led by “Gaano Kita Kamahal” in 1993, a true story directed by Butch Perez, where he plays the role of Rolly Suclad, who is horribly burned beyond recognition, but sustained by his unwavering faith in God.

He also gave a sterling performance as the abusive, drug-addicted husband of Snooky Serna in “Kapag Napagod ang Puso” in 1988, directed by Maryo de los Reyes, who also directed him in the equally memorable “My Other Woman” in 1990 as the erring husband of Lani Mercado who falls in love with Alice Dixson.

Of course, the best for us is “Ikaw ay Akin” in 1978. We were still a member then of the Manunuri and we were pushing for the movie to win as best picture, but the Manunuri, who gives more weight to social relevance chose “Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak”, about the problems of oppressed peasants.

But we really campaigned hard for Brother Boyet or Bro Bo then, because he was just excellent as an indecisive young man and skydiver who is torn between Ate Guy and Ate Vi. That was a tough year because his foremost rival then was Dolphy for “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay”. In the best actress category, we were rooting for Ate Vi and Beth Bautista for “Hindi sa Iyo ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna”, and the latter won.

Bro Bo is turning 67 years old on October 31 and he certainly looks much younger than his age. He is very well preserved and really knows how to maintain his lean figure. His marriage to Sandy Andolong is one of the most stable in showbiz and they were blessed with many kids and grandkids. Really, he is so blessed with a loving family and a very durable and stable career as one of our most highly esteemed actors.

In “When I Met You in Tokyo”, he plays the role of Joey, an OFW in Japan, just like Ate Vi’s character as Ason. Their relationship starts on the wrong foot as Ason thinks Joey is “mayabang” but they soon get to know each other better.

“It’s a simple love story, a feel good movie about relationships among people in our age bracket now,” says Bro Bo. “We made sure na light lang siya, something viewers would easily enjoy. We’ve made many intense movies na heavy drama, but we feel na sa panahon ngayon, after the pandemic, people just want to be entertained by something that would inspire them and make them believe in the power of love all over again.”

We notice that he is credited as an associate director. “Yes, we have good directors, Rado Peru and Rommel Penesa, but si Vi, she requested na alalayan ko siya, to help her motivate in our scenes kasi matagal siyang nahinto sa acting, and so I did.”

He says they’re all proud of their movie. “This is a team effort, hindi lang kami ni Vi kundi all our co-stars, including Gina Alajar, Tirso Cruz III, Lotlot de Leon, Gabby Eigenmann, Kakai Bautista and the young love team of Cassy Legaspi and Darren. Lahat kami, excited nang sumakay sa float at sumama sa Parade of Stars to help promote all the MMFF entries. So, bumalik na po kayo sa mga sinehan and be sure to watch ‘When I Met You in Tokyo’ when it opens in cinemas on December 25.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Mario Bautista