Senator Manuel 'Lito' Lapid

Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid expressed, at a luncheon press conference sponsored by Mother Lily at the Imperial Palace Suites, that he misses show business and that he is raring to go back to acting. “I hope Mother Lily would give me a project soon, especially if it’s for the Metro Manila Film Festival. Actually, I still have a contract with Mother Lily to do a film under her Regal Films,” the amiable senator said.

But if he is to do a movie, it has to be of the action genre, and considering that the trend now is digital filmmaking, “doing an action film would be very expensive and I would understand if Mother Lily couldn’t give me a movie project at this time,” he added. “But she said we would discuss about it so I’m not losing hope.”

The senator who was formerly governor of Pampanga is seeking reelection. And if he has been called as one belonging to the “silent” minority of the Senate (for his inability to make noise like some of his peers), he more than made up for this criticism when the Free Legal Assistance Act of 2010 of which he was principal author was passed by the Senate. This has proven once more that Lito’s heart is indeed for the masses.

Though “silently,” he continued his advocacies to further the welfare of the masses by introducing social legislations aimed at improving education, health services, housing and local government empowerment especially in disaster mitigation. He also chaired the Senate Committee on Games, Amusement and Sports and was instrumental in organizing institutional support to the country’s sports development programs. He was also the principal author of Republic Act 9850 which made Arnis a national martial arts sport in the country.

In her welcome speech for Senator Lapid, Mother Lily recalled his humble beginnings. “Not too many people know that Lito Lapid’s story is one inspiring journey,” she said. “Most of us came to know him as the box-office action star whose one-man quest for justice on the big screen gave meaningful messages to his fans.”

Mother Lily added: “Unknown to many, Lito went through unthinkable hardships and sacrifices in life to get to where he is now. To say that he was unfortunate then would merely be an understatement, because he was dirt poor! He was so poor in fact that he didn’t have a pair of shoes when he was young…”

Lito is the youngest in a brood of five boys, and his father died at 28 when Lito was only two years old. And so even as a young boy, he was compelled to face the harsh realities of life. His mother was a labandera and for his part, Lito helped bring in money selling pan de sal and ice cream on the streets.

Lito did all sorts of odd jobs when he was young just to be able to help in putting food on the table and sending his siblings to school. He was a working student while in high school.

From Pampanga, Lito went to try his luck in Manila after high school, and he initially did bit roles in the movies, earning P15 a day. He later tried being a stuntman, the job of his late father who used to double for Fernando Poe Sr. and his son, Fernando Poe Jr. Lito wanted to learn how to be a car mechanic just in case he didn’t succeed in the movies. But being dedicated and unwavering in his goals, Lito soon was doing doubles for the likes of Romeo Vasquez, George Estregan Sr., Tony Ferrer, Mat Ranillo, Eddie Garcia and Zaldy Zhornack among others.

His hard work didn’t go unnoticed because while working as fight instructor for Agrix Productions’ “Dodong Diamond,” which starred the late Jay Ilagan, Lito was given a break by producer Jessie Chua.

Director Maning Borlaza who directed “Eva Fonda, 15” recalled that in this movie, Lito played a small part of a villain but with a dialogue. This made him happy since he never uttered a line in his previous bit roles. Maning got him to do the action routines in his movies, and soon Lito was given the biggest break of his career – the title role in the filmbio of the life story of his uncle Jess Lapid Sr. After that, Lito went on to do dozens of successful solo action films.

“I am proud of what Lito has accomplished as an actor. He had big dreams, which he achieved through hard work, perseverance and determination. He became a big star. But Lito also suffered a career-low in the ’80s when he stopped making movies. In 1989, my husband Father Remy and I visited him in his hometown in Porac. Father believed in Lito’s talent and ability that’s why he convinced him to make movies again,” Mother Lily recalled.

From his first Regal movie “Tadtarin ng Bala si Madela,” there was no turning back for Lito. That jumpstarted his career as an action star and many more projects, not just for Regal, followed.”

Father Remy said “may puso at damdamin si Lito para sa kanyang kapwa. He is always ready to help. He is a self-made man. He is always humble. He is an achiever and a believer. Under his leadership, Pampanga made significant progress. He took on the challenge of rebuilding the lahar-torn province after it was ravaged by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and made it progressive again…”

Now that Lito has decided to run for the Senate once more, Mother Lily said he has her and her husband’s support.

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Nonito Donaire Jr. joins showbiz

Filipino world boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. joins showbiz via GMA-7 various entertainment shows. Donaire was recently given a grand welcome by GMA-7 executives led by the network’s chairman, president and CEO Felipe L. Gozon.

Donaire holds the titles of WBA Interim World Super Flyweight, IBF World Flyweight, WBO Asia Pacific Flyweight and NABF Super Flyweight.

But there’s something more of him. He has a special talent for singing, and he gave a sample of his singing during the GMA reception tendered for him at the network’s executive lounge.

He is also a kind-hearted person. When he received the P1-million incentive prize given to him by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he did not hesitate to donate it for the victims of the typhoon Ondoy!

Donaire is God-fearing and possesses a national pride which makes him a genuine champion. Accompanied by his wife Rachel Marcial, a winner herself in taekwondo, the couple is a perfect match.

Donaire revealed that his wife does a lot of functions in his boxing career. “She heads the ‘Donaire Team,’” the boxing champion said. “My wife also does the marketing for my fights,” he added. Marketing involves the selling of tickets.

Definitely, Donaire will become a great asset for GMA-7 especially if he continues to pursue a showbiz career.

His fights were aired on ABS-CBN, and he explained that it was the boxing promoter which made the arrangement with the network.

“I had nothing to do with that,” Donaire stressed.

On his championship, he said: “I thank you all for your kind support and prayers which made me a boxing champion.”

Donaire will guest in “Show Me Da Manny” and in other shows of GMA. Indeed, GMA-7 has just acquired a celebrity boxer for its various programs.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Feb. 25 go to Diamond Star Maricel Soriano, producer Jessie Chua, award-winning commercial director Vittorio Romero, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, fashion czar Pitoy Moreno, Chit Salud, Yolly Mendoza, Patsy Henson, Tessie San Juan, Eric Antonio, Virgilio A. Yuzon, Ma. Clara Gana, Evelyn Batalla of Jamaica General Hospital, New York; Laridel Lagulay, Marla Geraldine Boyd, and MB’s Anjo Perez, Myrna Fuentes and Rhossy Frivaldo.