CESAR MONTANO (middle) on the set of the latest Mega Sardines commercial.

If actor Cesar Montano had made a check list of all his immediate plans during the press conference for Mega Sardines held at his Bellissimo Italian restaurant last Aug. 20, it would probably read like this:

1)    After his ABS-CBN musical game show ends this September, he would set a meeting with ABS-CBN to pitch an idea for a sitcom starring himself with Maricel Soriano as leading lady.

2)    Or a sitcom with King of Comedy Dolphy, maybe for a remake of “John en Marsha.”

3)    Have another baby with wife Sunshine Cruz. If they “succeed,” they’d have four kids in all.

4)    Run for public office next year (Governor of Bohol).

5)    Follow-up with historians Marianito Luz and Jeff Tirol for more research on his planned film version on the life of Philippine hero Francis Dagohoy who led the longest revolt in the country’s history. He might also approach Pete Lacaba and Ambet Ocampo for inputs on this.

6)    Approach Star Cinema for a co-production deal for this Dagohoy film with his very own CM Films (Cesar Montano Films).

7)    Say a prayer for all the Filipinos who fought against Spanish rule back then.

8)    Ask director-scriptwriter Marilou Diaz-Abaya if they can resume working on the script for the movie on the life of Senator Ninoy Aquino.

9)    Ask Claudine Barreto, Maricel Soriano, Vilma Santos or Kris Aquino if they would be willing to be his leading in the Ninoy film.

10) Recall and write down all the things the late President Corazon Aquino told him when she toured him around Tarlac years ago in lieu of his plans for that Ninoy film.

11) Continue his socio-civic works in Bohol.

12) Focus on the Mega Sardines’ “Healthy Heart” nationwide campaign.. He will promote a healthy lifestyle nationwide, by encouraging people to eat healthy food such as Mega Sardines, more vegetables and fruits, and the importance of regular exercise.

13) Remind people that Mega Sardines is the first company in Asia that uses the fish pump technology which ensures that there is less handling of fish by the fishing crew. Mega Sardines uses high quality plastic insulated bins to maintain fish temperature at zero degrees centigrade to transport raw fish to the plant.

14) Thank directors Lee Meiley and Mark Meiley for the latest Mega Sardines commercial that he stars in. The commercial is like an action film in comic flavor in which his character boldly challenges a rich clan, who he claims has no heart, unlike a banana with a heart, and yes, the heart in Mega Sardines! The tagline of this commercial is “Tatak Puso, Para sa Puso.”

15) Arrive at his next press conferences on time, or at least just an hour late (instead of an hour and a half!). Ah, but the food more than made up for it.