Though he didn’t go on a wild-goose search for a loved one like what Manuel Pineda did in "Once in a Blue Moon," he did experience losing someone and trying to search for her too.

"That was in the 40s and you may call it my first love but during the war I didn’t see her anymore. After a while I joined the Army and when I came back in 1945, I saw her again. But we lost contact again after that. Then in 1975, during the Naga Film Festival when I was in Naga, she was there.

Wala na because she was really married. The feeling was still there of course, it was in my heart in a span of 30 years," Eddie Garcia recalled.

In "Blue Moon," Eddie Garcia embarks on a nationwide search for his one true love, Corazon, after learning that he is terminally sick and will die within six months. And one of his goals is to be able to dance with Corazon for the first and last time to the tune of "Blue Moon" before he rests in peace.

Playing the young Manuel Pineda is Mark Herras while playing the two Corazons are Jennylyn Mercado and Pauleen Luna. The older Corazon is played by veteran actress Boots Anson Roa. Directed by Joel Lamangan, the movie also stars Christopher de Leon, Dennis Trillo, Polo Ravales, Paolo Paraiso, Tin Arnaldo, RJ Rosales, TinTin Bersola-Babao, Allan Paule, Pinky Amador, January Isaac, Jana Victoria and Jim Pebanco.

"This is really a beautiful love story and we have a terrific cast," exclaimed Eddie.

It is also the first time that Eddie Garcia has done a road-trip kind of film. The movie focuses on Eddie’s traveling from North to South of the Philippines looking for Corazon.

"It’s the first time I’ve done a film that’s on the road going to different locations. This one practically covered the entire Philippines, from the North, Ilocos region, Baguio and the Bicol region," described the actor.

In "Blue Moon," one of Regal Films’ entry to the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival, Eddie surely delivers another notable and remarkable performance that may bring him another acting trophy.

With numerous awards and citations for his works in show business, what keeps his enthusiasm up?

"Well, it’s a job and it’s a good way to make living!"

He added that he is always challenged with every movie or TV project he gets. "You have to put out your best because it’s going to be your best recommendation for your next assignment…it’s still ‘never sit on your laurels’ for me. There’s no stopping in acting. You learn a new thing everyday as you go along," smiled Eddie.

Eddie Garcia hopes that this coming year 2006 would be better for the industry and even the country. Compared to the 90’s, the movie industry is really challenged moving up. The ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival is a good sign of things to come as more producers up their ante and invested more in producing quality films.

He shared that in the past decades movie outputs normally totalled over 200 films annually compared to last year’s less than 50 movies. And like every player in the industry, his only prayer is for the local show business to be lucrative again and for it to rise from its slump and seemingly deep slumber!