ESAR MONTANO has a great smile. No big reason. Just a house in Quezon City that he gets renovated time and again. A loving wife – Sunshine Cruz – with whom he has two daughters: 3-year-old Angelina Isabelle and 3-month-old Samantha Angeline. Ang upcoming Hollywood movie that he topbills with Benjamin Bratt. A filmfest entry, Panaghoy Sa Suba, that he wrote, produced, directed and stars in. A movie production outfit set to trailblaze with world-class films. A success story driver by a lot of passion and hard work. And most important of all, two decades of showbiz experience to draw inspiration from. Thus, he smiles all through this interview. No big deal. Just a happy man, at 42.

THE ACTOR THERE is nothing more appropriate in his newly built conference room, which used to be his gym, than going back to the highlights of his career, that burgeoned in films like Jose Rizal, Muro-Ami, and Bagong Buwan.

“I learned a lot of things, not only from the movie itself but from my great director Marilou Diaz-Abaya. I saw the passion from her when it comes to dealing with the story, dealing with her task, nakita ko ‘yung pagmamahal niya, a sense of sacrifice. Hindi pangkaraniwan, eh. Kasi tayo, we're working hangga't kumportable tayo. Pero ‘pag ‘eto na ‘yung hirap, gawin na lang ganito. Hanggang du'n lang tayo, eh. This director, meron siyang sense of sacrifice. Hindi pangkaraniwan, eh. Kasi tayo, we're working hangga't kumportable tayo. Pero ‘pag ‘eto na ‘yung hirap, gawin na lang ganito. Haggang du'n lang tayo, eh. This director, meron siyang sense of sacrifice. Kung saan ‘yung mahirap, nandodoon siya and I love that kind of thing,” says Cesar.

He recalls the more memorable films of his career, like Kung Kaya Mo, Kaya Ko Rin with Maricel Soriano, Alas Dose with Christopher de Leon, Bullet with Sunshine Cruz, Manalo, Matalo, Mahal Kita with Mikee Cojuangco, Mananabas, Warfreak, Mga Ligaw na Talahib and Ang Bukas Ay Akin for which he won two Best Supporting Actor trophies (Metro Manila Film Festival and Catholic Mass Media Awards) in 1990. He has also released an album titled Subok Lang for which he won an Awit Award in 2001 for Best Performance by a New Male Recording Artist.

Despite his body of work, he says he still has a lot to learn and improve.

“I still have to study, update myself,” admits Cesar.

“Halimbawa, si (Al) Pacino may ginawang bagong pelikula, I have to see that. Si (Robert) De Niro. Doon ako nakatuon sa mga kalaban natin sa labas. Like Andy Lau ng Hong Kong , may ginawang pelikula, titingnan ko siya. Si Gary Oldman, titingnan ko kung kaya kong makipag-compete sa kanya, kung lalagpas ba siya o kakayanin ko ba ‘yung acting niya, kung puwede akong makipagbakbakan sa kanya ng acting, titingnan ko. ‘Pag hindi ko kaya, I have a problem. Pero ‘pag kayak o, ayos. Siguro ang hindi ko lang kayang gawin sa pelikula, a certain kind of stunt, like a car stunt, na pagsabog ng kotse, nasa loob ka gumugulong ‘yung kotse. But when it comes to characterization, acting, imagining things, how to enhance your character, siguro kaya ring nating gawin ‘yon.”

The entrepreneuring filmmaker goes gung ho every time his recent projects are mentioned. For instance, his soon-to-be-shown Hollywood movie (formerly titled The Great Raid) which was directed by John Dal (Rounders, Joyride, Last Seduction).

For five months, the Miramax movie was shot in Brisbane , Australia where he got the chance to work with Benjamin Bratt. Joseph Fiennes, Connie Nielsen and James Franco.

“The story came from the book Ghost Soldiers written by Hampton Sides,” he says. “I played the role of a Filipino guerilla, unsung hero natin, si Captian Juan Pahota. Siya ‘yung nag-aaral kung papaano lulubusin ‘yung Japanese camp sa Cabanatuan in 1945.”

Two weeks before the shooting, he had to undergo training in a boot camp from the same group that trained the actors in Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers.

“I auditioned. I was the last one who auditioned in Makati . They had auditions for the same role in New York , L.A. , Australia , Chicago at dito sa Pilipinas. Pina-read kami ng lines, mismong dialogue ni Capt. Juan Pahota. If you don't get the role, bababa ka doon sa ibang minor roles na Pilipino rin naman, with dialogues also,” he recalls.

GROWING UP YEARS NEARLY 40 years ago, Cesar roamed the streets of Sta. Ana, Manila where his mom called him Boboy.

“Binansagan akong Boboy Paa kasi malaki ang paa ko,” reveals Cesar. Bigger than the size I should have for my height. Lahi talaga kami ng malaking paa. Size 13 ang erpat ko. 5'10” siya. ‘Pag malaki paa, sigurado malaki sapatos. When I entered showbiz, ‘yung Boboy naging Buboy.”

Today, the 5'8”-tall actor's feet measures 12 pm the shoe scale.

“Lumaki ako sa Sta. Ana, sanay ako sa hirap,” recalls the actor. “Ako ‘yung batang palaboy-laboy sa kalsada na sa panahon ngayon, ay ‘yung batang madungis na naglalakad diyan, ‘yung mukhang pusa, may sipon. Ang tawag nga sa akin ng tatay ko, dead-end kid. ‘Kahihiya mo ‘ko kung kapatid mo ako. Nu'ng bata ako, halimbawa may bisita ka, ‘pag pumasok ako diyan, ang baho ko, amoy-araw ako. Kukutusan mo ako. I was that kind of kid. And kulit ko! Ako ‘yung batang nakayapak lang, ‘pag may kanal diyan, naliligo sa ulan. Pasaway! Tumigil na ‘yung ulan naglalaro pa rin. Hindi ako madaling i-handle. But I learned a lot of things.”

Perhaps, Cesar has been smiling non-stop for 20 years, since 1984 when a novice like him played an elevator boy and worked with veteran actors like Liza Lorena, Bembol Roco, Johnny Delgado and Leo Martinez in the Little Theater comedy Esteremengoles. Immediately after that, “na-develop na ‘yung contracts ko from the industry.”

The next year, after graduating from an acting workshop, he moved out of his parents' house and started making money from a regular soap opera.

“Medyo regular naman ang kita so I was able to afford a room. I rented a room in a house in Quezon City , bahay ng close friend ko, si PJ, anak ni Rita Gomez,” he says.

“Mga uso no'n, Pinoy Thriller, Regal Shocker, Maricel Soriano Drama Special,” he recalls. “It was the zenith of Argel Joseph, (director of Magpakailanman) the paramount of his career. Hindi ako nawawalan ng trabaho every week. Nakukuha ako ang I was able to pay my monthly bills. Kumbaga sa Bisaya, nakakasukagod. Nakaka-survive. I was just starting and I moved out of my parents' house. Okey na sa akin, binata, eh. Ang mine-maintain ko lang is ‘yung pag-aaral because I was taking acting workshops right and left, then I was able to join UP Playwrights and was with Dulaang U.P. I was able to do some plays in U.P. Do'n, marami akong dapat matutunan pa kaya nag-aaral ako. I wasn't running for a bigger name or a bigger role. I just wanted to learn. Up to this moment, I have a lot of growing up to do. I know marami pa akong dapat matutunan, as a writer, as a director.”

HERITAGE & NATIONALISM CESAR is building his empire from the ground with his very own production outfit to lay the grassroots foundation. For a start, he capitalizes on a Visayan film titled Panaghoy Sa Suba, the first release of CM Films, the first film dubbed entirely in Cebuano (with English subtitles) and the fourth film he directed.

Shot for 33 days in Bohol , the movie is one of the chosen eight films out of the 27 that will compete for the honors in this year's Metro Manila Film Festival.

“Nag-research kami,” says Cesar. “Naka-gear siya globally. It's a love story, ang backdrop niya World War II and the suba. 1942. Makikita nila kung ano ang nangyayari sa mga Bisaya during that time, anong kinakain nila, anong trabaho noon . I wrote the story. Based on facts. My father was Boholano. Lagi akong pumupunta sa Bohol . I developed a certain inclination sa mga tao roon, sa environment doon, nagtayo na ako ng bahay doon. I frequent the island. Itong suba na ‘to, they call it Loboc River . Meron tayong Loboc Choir. Nagko-compete ito sa Europe, sa Asia , and they're so good. Sila ‘yung pinakanta ko sa theme song ng pelikula na'to.”

But, unlike other greenhorns who dream of a heavyweight career, Cesar dreams for more – an unwavering commitment to uphold his heritage. Which his film production outfit, he confirms the obvious: that of being a tireless advocate of nationalism, promoting it through Philippine cinema and the arts. A hero, in effect. A one-man army whose philosophy is simple: be proud of who you are.

It will definitely show in the films on his sketchpad. But all is on the working stage at the moment.

“It could be nationalistic. It could be exposing and going back to all the heroes that gave their lives for the country na puwedeng gayahin,” he explains. “Hindi pala dapat nakatuon lang tayo sa mga kanluranin na mga bagay. Westernized na kasi tayo eh. Ang hero natin Amerikano. Papunta na roon. Magkaroon tayo ng freckles sa ilong natin, magpa-blonde tayo ng buhok, ‘I'm American man, bro.' American ako, Pilipino ka lang, eh. Ganu'n ang mentality, na lumalaki which is very, very sad.

“Kasi marami tayong bagay na dapat maging proud tayo. We have a beautiful country na napakaraming magandang bagay na hindi lang nagagamit, nae-enhance, nanu-nurture, napoprotekhan. We have a good heritage. Lahat ba nakakaalam na meron na tayong alphabet before the Spaniards came? Nakapagsulat tayo sa bamboo. We can do letters. Puwede tayong makipag-communicate through write, can understand, and can read before the Spaniards came in 1521. Lahat ba ng Filipinos alam ‘yon? Hindi, eh. Bakit hindi tayo gumawa ng movie about that?

“We were fed with all these kinds of movies, most of them, talagang basurang pelikula. Naiwan ‘yung mga dapat na pelikula na ginawa para iangat ang kultura natin, para mahalin mo ang bansa mo at ingatan at igalang mo. Respect and love for your country. Nationalism, nawala na. kung anu-ano lang ang pinaggagagawa natin. Basta kumita lang ang outfit. ‘Yun ang naging thinking. Walang foresight, walang vision ang all. It's very sad. ‘Yun ang pinakain sa atin. We gotta do something. We have to oblige ourselves.

“Definitely, hindi ko susundan ‘yung trend. Iibahin ko siya. Gagawa ako ng movie na puwede nating ipakita sa ibang bansa. Entertaining pa rin siya. Alam mo naman ako, masa pa rin ang puso ko. Kailangang mapanood din nila. Meron akong isang suspense-crime movie. May comedy rin ako with Bayani Agbayani. I'm planning one with.
(Articles lifted from S Magazine)- -