The intriguing side of Raquel Villavicencio

MANILA, Philippines - With her glowing, youthful charm and svelte figure, veteran character actress Raquel Villavicencio still draws stares — plenty of them.

As she breezed into the Director’s Club at SM Megamall to grace a recent event drumming up Brillante Mendoza’s projects with TV5, spectators couldn’t help but take notice of Raquel’s rejuvenating allure, which is almost never seen on screen where she often plays either a conservative donya or a losyang relative.

“Is that really her?” a member of the press was overheard as saying, checking out her body-hugging outfit and sexy red stilettos. “She looks totally different in person.”

The very much unattached actress simply laughed out loud when queried how she discovered the fountain of youth.

“I guess I simply enjoy being single,” she gushed with a hearty laughter after the event. “Walang sakit ng ulo. Isn’t it nice to just stay young and gorgeous? Hahaha!”

“But seriously, I watch my diet — no rice in the evening and I usually just have salad,” she revealed. “I also swim twice a week for body toning.”

It’s hard to imagine that Raquel is still as lovely — and busy — as when she was propelled to fame in the early ‘80s as part of a trio of great screenwriters that also included the legendary Mike de Leon and Clodualdo del Mundo. Their triumvirate wrote the award-winning classics Batch ‘81, Kakabakaba Ka Ba? and Kisapmata that helped define Philippine cinema in the ‘80s.

She’s also credited writing other film treasures such as Relasyon, Init Sa Magdamag, Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan Ang Nakaraan, Ibigay Mo Sa Akin Ang Bukas, Pinulot Ka Lang Sa Lupa, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin, Blusang Itim, Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit, Ang Huling Birhen Sa Lupa and others.

But Raquel is better known these days as a versatile and reliable character actress both on TV and silver screen. Although she appears to be one of the most in demand, she actually took a break from acting in 2015.

“Burnout,” she explained. “The last soap I did was Yagit over GMA which took almost a year to run. I played Doña Claudia Guison. I got tired and fell ill so I decided to lie low and go back to MTRCB (Movie Television Review Classification Board) where I’ve been a long-time board member.”

After two years in hiatus, Raquel is back into acting as part of the cast of GMA’s upcoming drama series I Heart Davao, topbilled by Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez. And she’s counting on the networks to help veteran actors like her stay healthy, happy and motivated.

“Senior stars now have cut-off time from tapings and I will insist I’m a senior star so they will also give me cut-off time,” Raquel said. “For the younger stars, they can stay up ‘til wee hours and they can probably take it, but senior stars have to rest already at a certain time. It’s more productive for everyone.”

She’s also back on the big screen, having been reunited with her pal Mike de Leon, who is also making a historic directorial comeback after his highly-acclaimed Bayaning Third World in 1999.

Raquel’s in the cast of Citizen Jake, said to be a movie that delves into the “world of citizen journalists, social media and politics,” topbilled by real-life broadcast journalist Atom Araullo.

“Mike called me and asked me to join his comeback film not as a writer but as an actress,” Raquel shared. “It’s only a small role, but to be part of a Mike de Leon film is a great honor. I haven’t seen him in years but our friendship goes a long way back when I wrote my first three films with him and Clodualdo del Mundo.”

Mike describes Raquel as “a fine actress” and “a dear friend.”

So why did Mike — also known for his other masterpieces like Sister Stella L., Itim and Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising — take a long break from directing and producing films?

“I think he couldn’t handle the system,” Raquel opined, “because if you’re forced to do commercial films by commercial producers, it’s going to be so hard for someone like Mike who is an independent filmmaker and producer. He prefers that he produces it himself so he’s in control.”

She continued: “Knowing Mike, he has to be really, really interested in a project before he starts doing it. The idea must come from him and not from anyone who would tell him what to do.”

Raquel was so warm and engaging that it was hard to let her go for her next appointment that night. We had to walk with her as she headed outside the Megamall where an Uber was waiting. As expected, heads were turning as she passed by.

“The younger generation still recognizes me from my teleserye appearances,” she said, referring to the youngsters gazing at her at the mall. “They don’t always remember my name, but the minute I open my mouth to speak, they recognize my voice and some are able to put a name to it. Apparently, my tone of voice is quite distinct. Hahaha.”

As she boarded a dark Uber SUV, we thanked her profusely and bade her goodbye which she acknowledged with a wave and a sweet smile. “Bye, bye,” she said in a girly manner before the car drove off.