A man of lesser character and fortitude would have crumbled at the loss of a son and a lifelong dream, but not Cesar Montano (Cesar Manhilot in real life), award-winning actor and director .
Montano suffered a series of tragedies and misfortunes early this year, including losing his son Christian Angelo Manhilot, who committed suicide aged 23, and failing for the second time to get elected as governor of Bohol.
Then he had a much publicised falling out with his manager-publicist of 26 years, Norma Japitana.
How are things now? "Everything is OK," says Montano.
After a few seconds of silence, he admits, "[I'm] very sad, to be honest. I have had a series of challenges and misfortunes that really cast a dark cloud over my life.
"Life goes on, though the pain remains, time will figure out a way to heal everything. I need to move on, actually. I have a family to take care of, a family to feed."
That last phrase caught our attention. Surely, one of the country's most successful and bankable stars has the means to fend for his family. "But I lost a lot more than just the elections. It's very expensive to run a massive campaign. All my life's savings and some were used for that purpose, everything was gone. What made it a bit more challenging, is that I didn't have projects from ABS CBN for a long time. That added up," he continues.
Ground-breaking
That dry spell in his career, according to Buboy, as he is fondly called by friends and fans, prompted him to seek greener pastures elsewhere. "I had to transfer to GMA, because they have projects for me. And there is a film project that we are conceptualising that I am convinced will be just as ground-breaking as Jose Rizal."
The 1988 movie, about the Philippines' national hero, established Buboy as a dramatic actor, winning several awards in the Philippines and earning rave reviews at the Berlin and Toronto Film Festivals.
The film led to other big projects, such as Muro Ami in 1999 and his self-produced and directed movie in 2004, Panaghoy Sa Suba (The Call of the River), which won the Best Picture award at the International Festival of Independent Films in Brussels, Belgium. The film also earned Buboy the Best Director gong at the same festival.
Then in 2005, one of the highlights of his career came when John Dahl cast him in the Hollywood film The Great Raid.
Buboy never thought he would be in his situation now, his career and personal life seemingly in tatters. "I look to my wife and kids for strength, and to God for grace to overcome."
And with that he begins the process of healing, picking up the pieces of his life, and achieving even more than what he has already accomplished. "I have a film concept in mind that I am still putting together in my head. Like Rizal, it will be something Filipinos all over the world will be proud of."
My playlist
What song would you have on repeat and why?
Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton. It reminds me so much of Christian Angelo.
Song that makes you cry?
Still Tears In Heaven.
Song that makes me move:
I'm not much of a dancer.
At a karaoke bar, I would sing:
Any soulful song.
Song I'd rather skip right now:
Nothing in particular.
