Phillip Salvador

Actor Phillip Salvador is still reluctant to discuss issues involving former partner Kris Aquino and their son, Josh.

According to a website report, Salvador parried queries about the two during a party celebrating the box-office triumph of the Bong Revilla-starrer, “Ang Panday,” in which he played the nemesis Lizardo.

Asked if he cried when he met his son during a recent appearance on “The Buzz,” the actor clammed up, declaring it a private matter.

“Whatever it was it is between [Josh] and me... Okay? I don’t want it to be publicized,” said he.

However, Salvador was candid enough to admit that he wasn’t able to give Josh a gift last Christmas.

“I don’t want to be a hypocrite. The only gift I was able to afford him last Christmas is a hug. I was also able to tell him that I love him so much.”

When asked about his relationship with his son’s mother, talk show host-actress Kris Aquino, Salvador replied, “I have nothing to say. All I can say is that Kris is a good mother, a very good mother.”

The 56-year-old actor hesitated as well when asked to comment on the candidacy of Kris’ brother Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, simply muttering “Okay.”

The three-time FAMAS best actor reiterated, however, that he has no squabble with the Aquinos.

Salvador waxed eloquent when discussing his reinvigorated career vis-a-vis his renewed faith in God.

“I’ve been praying to God that I’d be given work, to make movies again, to make good movies again, and, this [the Lizardo role] is what was given to me. So I said, ‘Lord, if this is Your will, I receive and claim it.’ I said, ‘Thank you.’”

Salvador said that he initially balked in accepting the role because it supposedly represented the devil. He only relented upon consulting with and getting the approval of elders in his religious flock.

The actor, who once lorded over the box-office starring in “shot-em-up” movies, is eager for more work—either for bit roles or as villains.

“I have no problem with that. I’m an actor. As long as the role is challenging [then,] why not?”

He is even willing to work in small, independent productions.

“Of course. If the role is good, why not? Maybe in those [indie movies] I could play lead.”