Thespian Bembol Roco is on a roll.
By the time you read this, there might already be a new addition on the trophy shelf tucked somewhere in a small corner of Roco’s simple Quezon City abode that will serve as a constant reminder of how great an actor he is.
Cinema connoisseurs have been talking about Roco’s exquisite and near-flawless performance in the film What Home Feels Like, an entry to the ongoing ToFarm Film Festival. He plays a seaman who rediscovers the joys and pains of being permanently home after spending half of his life working at sea. The film is the first full-feature work of 25-year-old filmmaker Joseph Abello, whose dad is a seaman.
Shot entirely in Bicol, Roco spent two weeks giving life to his character, and his thespic skills did not only shine on the big screen but also tugged at the heartstrings of the audience.
His younger coactors have only good words for Roco. Biboy Ramirez, who plays his eldest son in the movie, shared, “Tito Bembol is in a league all his own. He comes to the set very prepared, and he gets into his character quickly and with ease.”
“He inspires actors, like me, without really being aware of it. His mere presence is enough to keep us on our toes, to remind us that we should always give our best in every take, in every sequence, in every chance to be an actor.”
Rex Lantano, who plays Roco’s youngest son, added, “Sir Bembol is very generous as an actor. He guided me through our scenes. He treats every one the same way. He is kind and cool, and cares a lot about others.” It didn’t bother Roco that he was not the first choice to play the role. “These things do not bother me at all. Whoever gets to play the role is the one destined to have the role, it’s as simple as that. An actor’s job is to play his character with sincerity, precision and truth. It doesn’t matter if he was the first or the last choice for the role.”
He added, “A real actor doesn’t take on a role because his goal is to take home a trophy. That’s a very selfish reason to become an actor. And it can also be a sign of insecurity, you know, wanting to always prove something to oneself and to others. Our job is to give life to a character and the audience should be able to see the character, and not the actor playing it.” Such wisdom from someone who has been in the industry for almost five decades.
What Home Feels Like is Roco’s second film for ToFarm, where he bagged the Best Actor plum last year for Paolo Villaluna’s Pauwi Na, the same movie that won the Best Film at the 2017 Shanghai International Film Festival last month.
Pauwi Na also scored a Best Actor nomination for Roco at the prestigious Urian Awards, which is scheduled to reveal its winners on July 20. Thus far, Roco has only one Urian trophy, which he got almost 40 years ago for the film Sa Piling ng mga Sugapa.
“I treasure every recognition that comes my way, but an Urian is special. I have only one and I take very good care of it,” he said, almost in a whispering tone. A win at the Urian after 40 years will be meaningful and extremely sweet for the 63-year-old actor.
AN ACTOR AND A BUSINESSMAN
Mark Dionisio, who is gorgeously bald like Roco, is wearing two hats at the moment. He is making a comeback as an actor and he has just opened his salon business over the weekend.
Dionisio just got back from Bermuda where he worked for 10 years. “My wife Claire and I decided to come home to the Philippines after many years of living overseas. My wife did office work and I was working in the restaurant. We were able to save and we agreed to just invest in the Philippines.”
The couple got a franchise of the Mary Pauline Salon, when they found a strategic location inside the newly remodeled Ali Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.
“Acting is my passion but having a business is very practical these days, so I’ll do my best to strike a balance between the two,” he said.
Before he flew to Bermuda a decade ago, Dionisio worked on Brillante Mendoza’s Tirador, which bagged the Urian Best Picture. He was also in the cast of TV dramas, like Maria Flordeluna and Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos? in 2007. Dionisio reactivated his acting career a few months after he settled back in Manila. Mendoza got him again for new his TV5 series, Amo, and also included Dionisio in the Cannes award-winning film Ma’ Rosa.
Dionisio is happy that he has an entry to the coming Cinemalaya Film Festival.
He’s part of the cast of Iar Arodaing’s Nang Gabing Nanahimik ang Mga Kuliglig, where he gets to work with some of the industry’s highly regarded actors, like Angel Aquino, Jake Macapagal, Jess Mendoza, Mercedes Cabral and Ricky Davao. “We shot the film entirely in Palawan and I’m glad that I went through a crash course in indie filmmaking in the Philippines. My passion has been refueled and I’m so excited to work on more projects.”