One is the school he has conceived for his brother Muslims. And the other is to woo back the trust of his wife Liezl who is based in Australia together with their four children. Robin is scheduled to fly to Australia immediately after his showbiz commitments (especially his action-drama series with Judy Ann Santos, “Basta’t Kasama Kita” on ABS-CBN, his film “Kulimlim” which is an entry to the forthcoming Manila Film Festival and a film project with Unitel Pictures).
Although he won’t be able to open the school this school year, Robin and his associates are seriously meeting every now and then to discuss details about the school.
“It is an experimental school,” Robin stressed. Called Madrasa (which means school in Arabic), it will be held at his multimillion house in Fairview Park, Quezon City. He said his primary concern in putting up the school is to teach their 20 selected scholars how to read the Koran. The 20 kids will also be staying in his house, and everything will be free of charge — tuition fees, books, board and lodging.
“Everything will be taken cared of. Madrasa will also be a therapeutic school, in that our scholars will come from different Muslim tribes. They will be taught how to understand better their religion.
ctually, we want an inter-faith concept. Gusto ko lahat ng religion represented in our curriculum.
Gusto ko may Catholic priest din na magiging teacher nila. Also I want one from the Born Again Christian community,” Robin added.
Now, about his family...
“Gusto ko ligawan ulit ang misis ko,” he said, in a way admitting that the latest rumor about him (that supposedly he and Juday had an affair) has somehow put a crack on their marriage. Always giving his family top most priority, Robin goes to Australia about four times a year to visit his loved ones.
This time, Robin plans to be away for a year or so. “Pero pabalik-balik ako, and my presence will still be felt locally because of my films and through my school of course. While in Australia, Robin also plans to study.
He and his wife Liezl, who like Robin has embraced the Muslim with all her heart, will study Arabic.
“Kasi ang feeling namin the best way to communicate with our brother Muslims is to learn their language.” Robin will also study English in Australia.
“So I will be taking crash courses in both English and Arabic,” he said.
It’s difficult for their family to be apart but Robin is convinced that his children deserve the best education he can provide. And at this time that the country is undergoing instability and economic problems, it’s best that they are away, not knowing what’s happening to the Philippines that might distract their studies.
“I’m glad that they’re doing well in their studies in Australia. You should hear them speak English, wow! Alam mo naman ang mga Asian sa ibang bansa, na normally discriminated upon, they have to prove that they are somehow superior in some ways to the whites.”
Robin’s children are Queenie, 12; Kyle, 11; Zhelireen, 10; and Robin Jr. who they fondly call Ali, 4.
In “Kulimlim,” a Viva Films’ offering, Robin plays a role entirely different from the past roles he has portrayed. “Ibang–iba talaga. Kaya nga, after reading the script, tinanggap ko agad. I told myself, kailangan gawin ko eto dahil naiiba.” In the movie, Robin plays someone possessed by the evil spirits of his own wife’s rapists.
The three rapists are known as “tres demonyos” for obvious reasons. They are said to be satanists with evil powers, who are freed from jail after eight years of imprisonment. Jake Cabrera (Robin’s character) killed them all and soon he was possessed by their spirits.
It’s a very challenging and demanding role, Robin said, but something he was glad to have portrayed.
“Kulimlim,” co-starring Robin and Tanya Garcia for the first time, also stars Ryan Eigenmann, Jhong Hilario and Omar of the Masculado as the rapists.
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‘Mangarap Ka’ additions
There are two most welcome additions to the soap opera “Mangarap Ka” on ABS-CBN. They are Rica Peralejo and Dimples Romana.
In the teleserye, Rica plays Nadia, a martial arts expert from Paris who is hunting down Piolo Pascual’s character Oslec. Nadia soon realize that she and Oslec have the same goals. Rica likes her role so much since it provides her with something new and different- as action star.
This would make Rica’s schedule more hectic since she has other regular shows like “Okay Fine Whatever,” “ASAP Mania” and movies to do as well shows outside the country. But the sexy actress accepted her newest assignment with great enthusiasm.
By the way, Rica will start shooting her latest movie very soon and in August, she’ll be leaving for the US again for a series of shows and a possible product endorsement. Rica has also ventured into the beauty business with her own soap brand, Rica’s Deepest Secret Calamansi Soap.
Dimples Romana, on the other hand, is fresh from the success of Star Cinema’s latest drama offering “All My Life,” topbilled by Aga Muhlach and Kristine Hermosa. She was raring to go on the teleserye strip once again, this time in the action-drama genre.
In “Mangarap Ka,” Dimples plays an offbeat character named Fatima, Oslec’s childhood friend. She’s a poor barrio lass, driven to prostitution and has become an outcast when she gives birth out of wedlock.
Like Rica, Dimples has accepted her “Mangarap Ka” stint with great pride and interest. Her last teleserye was “Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay” with John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. Establishing herself as a bankable supporting actress, Dimples is one artist who will surely be very busy in the years to come.
By the way, many commented that she is a beauty queen material and indeed she had plans of joining a beauty contest. Unfortunately, love got in the way, she got married and now she’s a mother too. Dimples takes her role as wife and mother as seriously as she takes her showbiz career. And she is proving that she can manage both with flair and ease.
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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, June 12, go to action star Tony Ferrer, Divina E. Cabantac and Dr. Soledad Consing...Happy wedding anniversary to Tito and Belen Tagum.
