More than just a take on the socio-political scenario in the Philippines, “Bente” is a movie that would showcase new and different sides of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Richard Gomez as actors. “Bente” is a movie that has put the two big name actors together with other actors as a successful ensemble cast.

“I’m just happy that I followed Gina Alajar’s advice to offer ‘Bente’ to Senator Jinggoy Estrada,” shared the film’s director Mel Chionglo. “I must admit that I didn’t have him in mind for the role, there was another actor but we couldn’t afford that actor’s talent fee. And Sen. Jinggoy just said yes without discussing his talent fee… he turned out to be a very good actor in this movie!”

He recalled that it was during the birthday party of Armida Siguion Reyna when he told the Senator of the said film project of APT Entertainment and Director’s Guild of the Philippines, Inc. It was also the same party where he offered Richard Gomez a part in “Bente.”

According to Sen. Jinggoy, he loved the script by Ricardo Lee after he read it. It’s his very first indie film, and he was sold immediately to the role offered him.

“Talagang maganda ang story and I always want to work with new directors. Based on what I have read, he is a very talented director and marami rin siyang kumitang mga movies,” the senator told us after the recent special screening of the movie at The Podium.

As to awarded actor Richard Gomez, giving his nod to “Bente” was his own little way of giving back to the movie industry where he grew up in and where he made a name for himself.

His first indie film too, he accepted the role in “Bente” because he found the script not only interesting but because he believed in the director, Mel Chionglo. Moreover, knowing that it was a DGPI project and was a Sine Direk endeavor, he readily gave his thumbs up!

Mel Chionglo revealed that after reading the script, Richard called him to say that he loved the script and he was excited to do it.

“This is the only way to go, to help our sinking movie industry is to help each other. Every time we have a project for a cause kami-kami ang nagtutulungan,” he said.

The film’s director added that his big stars like Richard Gomez and Senator Jinggoy Estrada took a huge pay cut just to be in “Bente.” And not one of them had a star complex during filming.

“I was never concerned about the talent fee nor the billing. Ever since I was never concerned at all with the billing as long as I know that I’m doing a good job,” smiled Richard.

Richard and Senator Jinggoy also accepted their scripts as it is and never demanded special treatments according to Mel Chionglo. One thing the director made sure of though was that his stars had their own stories and highlights in “Bente.”

“That is why there’s a parallelism among the main characters in terms of love and their relationships with women,” quipped Mel. “We wanted to show their own stories in the movie.”

Richard Gomez plays the senior bodyguard and hitman of a mayor (played by Emilio Garcia). He was commanded by the mayor to take the life of a radio commentator from whom he has been receiving heavy hits about his corruptions.

Unknown to the mayor, his bodyguard is suffering his own personal dilemma, the corrupted love of his wife. He found out that his wife has been cheating on him for a long time already.

Jinggoy Estrada plays the radio commentator who’s banging the airwaves about the mayor’s illegal dealings and who has vowed to continue his crusade until he sees change. The irony is that they were childhood friends.

Another couple caught in the crossfire of government corruption and change is an activist played by Aldred Gatchalian and his girlfriend portrayed by Glaiza de Castro. They too are hunted by men who would want them dead to stop their rallies against the government.

Mel Chionglo’s “Bente” takes a look at how some members of society are fighting government corruption in their own little ways and its effect on their lives, the people they love and the government they’re fighting.

In the opinion of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, the message of “Bente” is for the government to stop extra-judicial killings of broadcasters and journalists because it is suppressing the freedom of speech!

Both Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Richard Gomez deny any perception that this movie is part of their campaign for the 2010 elections stressing that the election is still a long way to go.

“I don’t plan of running but public service is in my blood. If there’s a clamor by the people for me to run then I will run,” declared Richard Gomez.

“Bente” is the sixth and final installment of Sine Direk, the project headed by Mr. Tony Tuviera of APT Entertainment. It is slated for a July 8 opening in selected theaters of SM and Robinsons. All six Sine Direk movies will also be shown in this year’s 5th Cinemalaya Film Festival according to Mel Chionglo.