Bong Revilla (photo by JUDE L. BAUTISTA)

When “Ang Panday” creator Carlo J. Caparas “anointed” Bong Revilla Jr. years ago as the heir to the throne of the late Fernando Poe Jr. who played Flavio in the movie versions of his comic book series, he did not err.

A proof was the box-office result of the newest “Ang Panday,” GMA Films/Imus Productions’ entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. It was the number one in box-office earnings in Metro Manila with a total of P20.3-M for the first three days. Another proof was the seven awards that the film received from the 2009 MMFF wherein the most important was the Senator’s Best Actor Award.

Carlo J. Caparas was quoted as saying before, “Bong is the perfect ‘Panday’ after FPJ. I’m confident that he could carry on the ‘Panday’ legacy and even the late FPJ, wherever he is would be so proud of Bong!”

Though it was also a blockbuster, it can be recalled that when FPJ’s “Ang Panday” opened during the 1980 MMFF it only took home the award for Best Music for Ernani Cuenco. While today’s “Ang Panday’s” awards included the Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (for Phillip Salvador), and Best Child Performer (for Robert “Buboy” Villar), Best Production Design (for Richard Somes), Best Original Theme Song (“Tanging Ikaw Lamang” sung by Ogie Alcasid), and Best Visual Effects (Riot/Jay Santiago).

“I was very pleasantly surprised and flattered at the same time. I am very thankful for the recognition dahil binuhos ko ang lahat sa pelikulang ito. Sabi ko nga, mahigit 100 na pelikula na ang nagagawa ko, pero by far, this is my best performance and best movie to date,” expressed Sen. Bong Revilla.

He added that he is dedicating his award, as well as the other awards of “Ang Panday” to the viewing public – the primary reason they worked hard to come out with a beautiful and engaging fantasy-adventure movie.

“I also dedicate my award to my dad, Ramon Revilla, my wife Lani Mercado, my kids and the whole family. I also offer this film to my godfather, the late Fernando Poe Jr., the original and real ‘Panday’ and the King of Philippine Cinema,” he stressed.

Bong said in one of the press conferences for “Ang Panday” that a sequel is dependent on how the film does during the Metro Manila Film Festival. By the looks of the trend of his film’s box-office receipts, a positive Return on Investment seemed highly plausible, but will a follow-up “Ang Panday” be sooner than later?

“GMA Films and Imus productions are looking to come out with a sequel, pero siyempre, kelangan plantsahin muna lahat because ‘Ang Panday’ is a tough act to follow. Kailangan mas maganda ang sequel so that we would have more to offer the viewers,” he stressed.

With regard to the coming 2010, when asked what is his vision and mission for himself, he answered, “I hope that I will have more opportunities to pay back the Filipino people be it in film or in public service. Sobra-sobra ang biyaya ko dahil sa kanilang suporta, tiwala at pagmamahal, at ito ang aking susuklian!”