The country’s pride, boxing champ Manny Pacquiao tries acting on the big screen and this is via the latest Violett Films’ presentation “Lisensyadong Kamao.”
The movie is titled so because according to the director, Tony Bernal, Manny is licensed to use his hands, because he is a boxer, and a world champion at that. Tony said the title would have been for the late Fernando Poe, Jr. but since he’s dead, he deemed it most fitting to give it to Manny Pacquiao.
We thought at first that “Lisensyadong Kamao” is based on the life story of Manny but it isn’t so although in the movie he is a boxer too. Manny plays the role of a probinsyano (Ambrosio “Bruce” Lerio) who comes to the Big City in search for a better life so he can help his tubercular mother Patring (Daria Ramirez) and blind sister Aida (Bianca Pumona) get proper medical attention.
It is a role he could relate to definitely, and Manny was of course very much at home with the project. The fact that in the movie he plays a larger-than-life role as a boxer which he is in real life gave Manny enough motivation for him to give his best in his performance.
Manny thanked Madam Violet Sevilla (executive producer of Violett Films) and Direk Tony for giving him this chance to showcase his boxing prowess. He said he was very inspired all throughout their filming (they’re almost done, only five more shooting days to go, Direk Tony said). This was the kind of inspiration Manny experienced when he challenged Erik Morales in a championship bout early this year.
“Super at home ako dito sa bago kong pelikula. Masasabi kong napaka-realistic ang aking role at sobrang nakaka-relate ako,” Manny said. The movie is akin to “The Champ” and “Rocky,” two box-office hit films about boxing. The producer was heard saying, “sana kumita na rin ako dito sa pelikulang ito.” But of course, Madam, with the idol of the masses (Manny) in the cast as well as veteran and bankable actor Eddie Garcia and two popular and sexy actresses (Aubrey Miles and Juliana Palermo), how could the movie fail?
Anyway, with his role as a boxer Manny is given the chance to present the real drama of a struggling boxer. “Sobrang nakakainspire ang ganitong klaseng movie dahil may matutunan ang moviegoers,” Manny added.
As Bruce, he comes to Manila from the province and ends up selling balut and chicharon with the help of his uncle (Ramon Zamora). As a street vendor, Bruce always gets into trouble until he becomes a friend to three policemen L Jack (Jack Bernal), Mike (Mike Ong) and Cris (Aldrich Sevilla). They discover that Bruce is a suspended boxer who accidentally killed the brother of his childhood sweetheart Fanie (Aubrey Miles) in their hometown.
Bruce and Fanie are to meet again in the city where she works as a saleslady in a department store. Fanie is living under the threat of white slavery and illegal recruitment.
Amidst a world of illegal underground fistfighting, Bruce ends up training for scientific boxing under Fernan Balani (Eddie Garcia), an international boxing matchmaker. Soon, Bruce finds his way to a fight with the World Superflyweight Champion Rocky Stonewall from the US.
And then, he also meets Sheena (Juliana Palermo), a socialite-paramour of boxing gamblers who has taken interest in him.
Who to choose: Juliana or Aubrey?
Manny was put on the spot when writer/TV host/comedian Ogie Diaz (who together with supervising producer Francis Villacorta presided over the presscon at the Marina Seafood Restaurant along Timog) asked him who to choose between Juliana and Aubrey if he was still unmarried and looking for a girlfriend or wife.
Manny said his leading ladies are both beautiful and that he couldn’t choose between them “kasi pareho silang maganda at mabait…wala akong itulak-kabigin sa kanilang dalawa.” But Ogie was persistent, saying “katuwaan lang naman, supposedly lang…”
Manny was forced at the end to choose between them and he chose Aubrey “kasi magkasingtaas kami ni Aubrey. Sobra kasing mataas si Juliana…”
But as to who is the better kisser between the two sexy stars, Manny tactfully said “sikreto na lang yan.”
Aubrey and Juliana were all praise for their leading man. “Let’s support Manny in this movie where he shows another side of him which is acting,” Aubrey said. Juliana added that they all enjoyed working with Manny on the set. “He was a comedian too and there was no dull moment with him around,” Juliana said. She added that her role in “Lisensyadong Kamao” is that of a “naughty, bad girl. Kakaiba talaga.”
Aubrey also said, “Napaka-sweet ni Manny, thoughtful siya at good boy, his wife is very lucky…” They also described Manny as very professional, he always come to the set on time, sometimes straight from the airport.
By the way, “Lisensyadong Kamao” has a Sept. 21 playdate, and before that time, Manny would have returned from his championship fight (with Mexican Hector Velasquez) in Los Angeles, CA to help promote the movie some more.
