NEWSFLASH

Special to the Philippine Headline News Online
by Alex Jimenez
Newsflash Entertainment Columnist

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ALBERT MARTINEZ -- NEW DRAMA KING

Manila, July 28, 1998 - New drama king Albert Martinez has wagered his career on PUSONG MAMON.

"Whatever I do or say, a storm would brew over my role in this picture. I wasn't out to prove anything more than the fact that I am capable of delivering the goods -- whether it be hero, villain or gay. I am an actor who loves his art and my love for the craft exacts the price of commitment. Only by taking on the difficult and experiencing the unfamiliar will I have the luxury of growth. No matter what anyone else says, I will not limit my art," Albert explains.

What does wife Liezl say? "She has been fully supportive of this position. In fact, it was director Joel Lamangan who took pains to explain what the love scenes in the movie were all about and what results were expected."

Still, the tabloid paparazzi had a carnival publishing every sordid speculation on the private lives and sexual history of PUSONG MAMON's leading men. "We cannot do anything about what people choose to think. That is their business and this is mine. If my androgyny in this movie convinced them, what further proof is there that I have succeeded in my performance? The past, and all the old rumors do not bother me anymore. All I have is today and the future. And my work. If they used pictures from the movie as props for their speculation, I cannot help that. We are all free agents shaped by the choices we make. It cannot be other wise. Thank goodness, we published no stills of the controversial love scene that could have furthered more malicious speculation."

PUSONG MAMON's had wanton scenes, and what a mating it was: two men in lust cavorting with wild abandon on a matrimonial spread while the pregnant, trying-hard devil woman who intruded into their relationship had to make do with the barren comfort of a single bed.

For Albert, it was difficult, even uncomfortable, simulating sex with another man. He set his fears aside. "Nothing could be more important for me than to actually fall in love with my partner during those moments otherwise the performance would seem forced and artificial. I had to fall in love with Eric the way I fell in love with Amanda in RIZAL, Elizabeth Oropesa in TATSULOK and Dindi Gallardo in NANG INIWAN MO AKO."

Does it affect his marriage? "That does not mean I am betraying my vows with Liezl, only that I am fulfilling the demands of my job for that particular moment. When the director shouts "Cut!" then the scene is over and all the emotional power I used in that scene is set aside and forgotten. If there is one thing I have never indulged in, it is letting those feelings linger beyond the last moment of the take."

Albert has two feet on solid ground. "The movie is not real. My wife and children are. To entertain such illusions by letting the emotion of the shoot stay on would be to court danger. I have worked and lived for my wife and children, and everything I do now is for them and their future. I would have no other reason to go on."

To be sure, there were legitimate concerns about the children being affected by the nature of his roles. Playing the step father ROBERTA was particularly difficult for others in the Martinez household. "Imagine the effort of having to reverse one's natural love for children in order to play the role credibly. I could only be thankful for the understanding of Liezl and the children. I made sure to make it up to them after the shoot. I am not really worried about the kids misinterpreting my job. They know it's a job. Besides, they won't be able to see the movies I make until they are quite older. In the case of my playing a gay man in PUSONG MAMON and how that would affect my son Alfonso, I simply had to explain to him the situation. I have an intelligent and well adjusted son who knows how to think of this situation. If he needs some help, I am always available for him and so is his mom."

Really, there is nothing to be insecure about. Movies at their best only mirror reality and filters its perception through the eyes of the director. "You see, it is not an either/or choice between family and career. Family comes first. Part of the love and understanding they demonstrate towards me is their acceptance of my career. In the final analysis, a job is still a job. It is a great honor to be appreciated for a job well done. After the work has been completed, and the movie shown, it all becomes part of the body of my work. Whether I played Rizal, or the cruel stepfather, an aging rocker or even a man loving another man, it all boils down to having done my job well everytime it was expected of me. There lies the meaning and honor of it all."

Lately, the good breaks have been coming Albert's way. All set to be shown after PUSONG MAMON is BATA, BATA, PAANO KA GINAWA? which pairs him with Mayor Vilma Santos in her last movie before withdrawing temporarily from show business to devote her energies full time to Lipa City. The Chito Rono opus is set for a late August playdate and will surely attract more than a fair amount of attention from both critics and moviegoers.

Albert Martinez will never be a matinee idol cast in the mold of Aga Muchlach or Richard Gomez. "They have their niche in this business, and I have mine. People expect serious work from me. While my face may be an icon, as an actor I am not. Every role is a test, not of my box office potential but of my range as a performer. For that matter, people will not think of me as Albert Martinez playing such and such a role. Rather, my success can be gauged by their remembering the character instead of me. Just like here in PUSONG MAMON. What I saw there on the screen was not Lorna Tolentino, Eric Quizon and myself. Ron, the character I played is not me at all!"

All the good roles are passing his way. He is currently reading the script for EMILIO, a biopic of General Emilio Aguinaldo. And only this weekend, cameras began to grind for SIDHI which teams him up once more with Nora Aunor.

No matter what the picture is, one thing remains clear: the new drama king will liven up the screens with an unmatched spectrum of characters only he can vivify.

Albert Martinez, once just a pretty boy, is now an actor.

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