Buddy Talk with Matteo & Billy

The original concept was to do the usual “body talk” with Billy Crawford and Matteo Guidicelli who are often mistaken for each other.

“It’s okay lang,” said Billy.

“I don’t mind,” said Matteo.

But during the free-wheeling interview, the Swatch endorsers... who can “swatch” and switch... had so many things to say that the topic went beyond just body parts. It became a “buddy” talk.

This piece needs no further introduction.

You are welcome to eavesdrop.

Tell me about the identity mix-ups.

Matteo: There was this time when the police asked me to pull over. One of the cops said, “Taga-Pilipinas Got Talent!” Then the other cop went, “Sino? Sino? Ay, oo! Si Billy!” All I could say was, “Oo! Salamat, Sir!” Every time I’m walking out of the pre-prods at A.S.A.P., people would excitedly go, “Si Billy! Si Billy!” and clap their hands. Even friends close to me would mistake me as Billy on TV. Do you get ganun?

Billy: I remember this Korean guy. I was in Eastwood. I was at the mall and then all of a sudden, this Korean guy went uhm, “Oh-ah, I really, really like your soap opera, Agua Bendita.” I was with Nikki (Gil, his girlfriend. — RFL). Nikki was laughing her ass off. Then, the Korean guy added, “I really like your acting. It’s very good.” I said,

“Thanks! Thank you very much!”

Matt: Oh, so you also? That happens to me too, bro.

Billy: Yeah. It happens to me all the time! In the Shangri-La Mall, someone came up to me and said, “Matt, pa-picture naman, Matt.” Sabi ko, “Sige po. Walang problema. Pero pangalan ko po, Billy!” Sabi niya “Ay! Oo nga pala, noh! Billy Crawford ka pala, noh! Sige, pa-picture na rin!” Sabi ko, “Hindi, hindi! Tatawagan ko si Matt, gusto n’yo? Papupuntahin ko na lang dito.” So many incidents. At the airport. I was checking in and this girl approached me. It was 5 o’clock in the morning and I was still sleepy. She said, “Matteo, puede ba pa-picture?” Sabi ko, “Okay lang ’yon.” Sabi niya, “Salamat po!” I said, “Walang anuman. By the way, ang pangalan ko po ay Billy Joe Crawford. Or just call me Billy.”

Matteo: Always, bro! Always, always! Everywhere, everywhere! Sam (Milby) calls me Billy all the time.

Billy: Yeah, everybody. Vhong (Navarro) calls me Matteo. Who else calls me Matteo? John Lloyd calls me Matteo. Whenever they promote for Agua Bendita, hayun, ako lagi ang nag-i-spiel sa inyo. Lagi kong hinahanap si Agua. Lagi ’yon! Ginagawa kong punchline ’yon sa shows ko, “Nanawagan po ako” (pretending he’s blind with both his arms up), “... Agua! Agua!” By the way, remember when we did this show for P-Noy with ABS?

Matteo: Yeah. We switched name tags.

Billy: We have pictures. I was walking as Matteo and you were walking as Billy.

So obviously, the age difference doesn’t show.

Billy: Grabe! The first time I met Matt was at the old Swatch office in Glorietta. It was Mama Virgie (Ramos, Swatch boss) who introduced me to him. (To Matt) I saw your picture and you were so young. I said, “Wow! Ano ’to...young Gabby Concepcion ang dating.” Bilog pa ’yung mukha mo n’un.

Matteo: How old are you, bro? You’re 28? That’s when I wanna get married... 28.

Billy: At 28, you wanna get married? My age? How old are you, man? 21?

Matteo: 20.

Billy: Wow, I’m old. I started in the business really young. I started at age 3. That was when I did my first commercial and just continued on from there. At 4, I was at That’s Entertainment. At 5 or 6, I did my first movie. It was called Lost Command. At 12, I left for the States.

Matteo: When did you come back?

Billy: I kept on coming back just for visits. But my real comeback was in June 2007.

Matteo: So when you were 12, you left for the States? How did you start working there?

Billy: No, actually I was first in Texas for school. I lived there for six months. I got really bored. There was nothing else to do aside from eat barbecue all day, school and football. So I joined this talent show and that’s when I met Vicky Mano, my first manager. She asked me if I wanted to go to New York. Three weeks after that, we went to New York. Me and my mom. And then I started there right away. Met up with producers. I was taught how to write when I was 13 or 14. My first gig was with Michael Jackson, at the 1994 MTV Music Awards.

Matteo: You danced with Michael?

Billy: Yeah, with the Michael Jackson. We were three kids. But I was the only one who didn’t sit on his lap. Just kidding.

Matteo: Was he nice?

Billy: Yeah! Very professional. After that, I pretty much auditioned for all the record labels. When I was 16, I got my record deal. Tapos derecho na ’yon. Then they put me on ’NSync tour with Mandy Moore (Who became Billy’s girlfriend. --- RFL)...then the success in France...and then the rest is history. What about you, Matt? When did you start?

Matteo (Kidding around, putting on a star-interview look): Oh me! I...

Billy: Naks! Aktor na, o! So when did you start? Racing, di ba?

Matteo: Yeah, I started racing and winning at 11. Then at 14, I got signed up for endorsements like Penshoppe and, of course, Swatch.

Billy: I just look at myself about six years back. (Looks at Matteo) That was me. Sakit ulo mo kung nanay ka. Nakakapagod ako. I used to go out every day. Now, I don’t really like going out partying.

Matteo: Me too, bro.

Billy: Paano ka dumiskarte sa chicks?

Matteo: Ikaw?

Billy: Mas bata ka! Respetuhin mo ako. Paano ka ba dumiskarte? Are you upfront? Like, are you...?

Matteo: No, I get to know them more.

Billy: How do you get to know them? Like, do you ask for their celfone numbers?

Matteo: Out with friends, friends. Eventually, I get their numbers and then we start texting each other. You?

Billy: Me? Dati kapal mukha ko, eh! Usually I talk...I talk to them. But I never...do you ever use one-liners?

Matteo: No. Do you?

Billy: No. I never use one-liners. That’s a major turn-off for girls. One-liner is very grade school, very high school. By the way, what made you decide to come back here from Chicago?

Matteo: I was lucky to get the offer for Agua Bendita. Honestly, I was really homesick. We checked out if I could continue studying and it’s been all good.

So there’s no truth to the story that you came home for Sarah (Geronimo)?

Matteo: Oh, my God! Sarah and her parents were really nice to me. Please let’s not say anything that will change that.

What’s your type of girl?

Matteo: It really depends. My type varies. Sometimes, I like a petite girl but usually I like a tanned, sporty body, long hair. How about you, Billy?

Billy: My type now, Latina-looking. Like Salma Hayek, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Eva Longoria.

Matteo: Wow! Eva Longoria.. Me too!

Billy: And Nikki.. She’s Latina-looking. Dark hair, dark-brown eyes.

Ideal girl?

Matteo: Pretty, caring, humble, sexy and adventurous.

Billy: Just pure and sweet.

If you were a color, what would you be?

Billy and Matteo together: Red!

Billy: What is yours that is red?

Matteo: I don’t know, man. My room is red.

Billy: My studio is red.

Matteo: My curtains are red.

Billy: My wall is white and red.

Matteo: Me, too! One side white then one side red and my curtains are red. I just got my curtains.

In your current state, what color are you?

Billy: Blue. Peaceful ako ngayon. (To Matt) Ikaw?

Matteo: (No answer for a long time)

Billy: Wala? Alam mo, current state niya talaga red din. Sa tingin ko.

Matteo: Ahhh, puede. Fire red.

If you were a car, what would you be?

Matteo: A red Ferrari. (To Billy) You?

Billy: Me?

Matteo: Suburban?

Billy: No, I wanna be discreet. I’m a black McLaren. Man, I used to race, too, in Europe. Go kart. I did a 24-hour-long.... I remember the first day of training. Of course, lapse, lapse, lapse, right? Knowing the way. Etcetera, etcetera. But there’s nothing to it. We’re just training. I got home. Sore. I can’t put my arms down; I can’t put my arms up. I look like this (demonstrates). Every time I went up to go somewhere, I was like (demonstrates). It was fun.

When are you happiest?

Billy: Now.

Matteo: Now... because of Agua and everything.

Quality you like most in a person and about yourself?

Billy: Ako ngayon, experience-wise, trustworthy. That’s what I look for. About myself? My sense of humor.

What’s the size of your shoes?

Billy and Matteo together: Size 9.

Matteo: 9 ½.

What’s your favorite shoe?

Matteo: Now? I like sneakers.

Billy: Me, too. Pero it depends sa akin, eh. On an everyday basis, sneakers. Actually pareho lang. Low-tops. Sneakers that you can wear with a suit. Relaxed, smart casual shoes.

Best foot forward: right time to...?

Billy: Right time to invest for the future. Be business-minded. I think for Matt, it’s the right time to succeed, finish his studies and work hard on his career..

Matteo: Yeah. I took my test three weeks ago and I’ll be going back to school at UP.

What do people not know about you?

Billy: For me, people don’t know how sensitive I can be. If I know something is wrong, I can get very emotional about it.

When was the last time you cried?

Matteo: I cry fast...When I’m alone...

Billy: That was the gayest thing you’ve ever said.

Matteo: No, bro!

Billy: Not alone. I actually do cry when I’m talking to my mom and my dad. But I’m with someone (Makes phone signal with his hand).

Matteo: No, me, bro, when I’m in front of people, I don’t wanna show but I let go when I go home, when I’m alone. I’m used to seeing my mom and dad sitting there, everywhere. And now, it’s only me...alone. Staring at the ceiling, alone in the house. Different.. It is sad.

Billy: Ako naman, I don’t. I actually cry in some situations. I don’t cry because I miss people. But the last time I cried was so public. It was for Nikki’s birthday interview on E-Live. Do you have any phobias, Matt?

Matteo: Yeah, I’m scared of moomoo.

Billy: Hahahaha! It just means you’re still a kid.

What languages and dialects do you speak?

Matteo: Italian, Cebuano, Tagalog and English.

Billy: English, French, Tagalog. I can understand Ilonggo and German.

Say something sexy in French, Billy.

Billy: Everything sounds sexy in French. Even when people are cursing at you, it still sounds sexy in French. Not like Italians. They always sound aggressive.

What’s the best thing anyone has said about you?

Matteo: That I’m grounded, I’m staying humble and down-to-earth.

Billy: That I’m real. “Totoo ka!”

If you were given a free day, how would you spend it?

Billy: Writing songs. I’m productive.

Matteo: Go biking and go to the gym.

Are you vain?

Billy: No. I guess that’s the American in me.

Matteo: Hahahaha! Yes, I guess that’s the Italian in me.

Do you have pets?

Matteo: I just got this five-month-old French bulldog, Tazz. Really cute. Lazy. Just eats and sleeps.

Billy: I have this one-year-and-six-month-old beagle called Bahlo, which means widow.

Any last words to each other?

Billy: Funny that we look alike.

Matteo: It’s weird! Do you think we’re brothers, bro?

(Postscript: Billy Crawford celebrates and performs for his 25th anniversary in the entertainment industry on Sept. 11, 18 and 25, 8 p.m. at the Music Museum with a concert titled 25 B.C. Meanwhile, Matteo Guidicelli will be the leading man in the remake of Inday sa Balitaw, airing on Sept. 18 and 25, Saturdays, in the ABS-CBN fantasy series Wansapanataym, at 7 p.m.)

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