"It’s sexy, all right," said Leandro who has done three soaps for his home studio, ABS-CBN (namely, Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Tabing-Ilog and Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan), and three movies for Star Cinema (Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko, Anak and Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip), "but I won’t call it bold." Not even if, in one scene showing him pumping on top of Andrea, his bare butt is exposed in a split second.
"It’s about time I started doing mature roles," added Leandro who’s turning 27 on March 25. "In my role as a kontrabida in Walang Hanggan, I had shower scenes with Mylene (Dizon), so that sort of prepared the public for my derring-do in Lupe. Direk Elwood is a respected artist and I trusted him. He handled the sexy scenes very well."
An unwed father at 17, Leandro has, so to speak, survived life’s "initiation rites" that most teenagers go through; he has a wealth of experiences which is proving valuable and useful in his work as an actor. Yes, he has had his "wild days" which, he believes, have made him a better person, well-equipped to face the challenges not only in life but in his profession.
Basically a quiet and shy guy, Leandro (a nephew of Tita Muñoz, his father’s older sister) doesn’t easily open up; he does only when he’s sure and secure with the person he’s with.
In the following Conversation, however, Leandro is as candid as he has never been, revealing perhaps much more than what he intends or wants to.
• Decision
The best: When I turned my back on my "wild days" as a teenager and finished college in 1998. After graduating, more good decisions followed, including my entry into showbiz which happened by accident. At first, I was just accompanying my younger brother Carlo to auditions (for the ABS-CBN Talent Center’s Star Circle) and screen tests (for commercials). I never thought I’d end up auditioning, too. The Close-Up commercial (1999) opened doors for me.
The worst: When I quit high school for one year. Nagloko ako, e. I can say that I "graduated" from everything that a typical teenager would dare try. I did try drugs, too, pero hanggang try lang.
• Adventure
The best: When my friends and I climbed Mt. Maculot (in Batangas). It was fun. We got lost along the way so we landed on the mountain beside it and spent overnight there. The next day, we hiked again and made it to the peak of Mt. Maculot.
The worst: Noong nag-stowaway ako. I was 14. I went to Baguio; I stayed with my friends; I even slept on the sidewalk and in our houseboy’s house in the slum area. I was looking for adventure and, maybe, myself. I guess every teenager goes through the same period in their growing-up years.
• Person I’ve Ever Known
The best: My parents (Louie Muñoz and Pat Garcia). They’re my world, my life. Sa kanila umiikot ang buhay ko. Without them, I’d rather be dead. They’ve taught me all the values in life; they’ve trained me (and my brothers and sister) how to be a good person.
The worst: My teenage self. I never liked him. He made wrong decisions, he went against his parents’ words, parati niyang kinokontra ang parents niya. I’m glad that he has changed for the better.
• Book
The best: Right now, I’m reading Failing Forward by John Maxwell. The book says that just because you fail doesn’t mean you should stop trying; in fact, the more you fail, the harder you should try – again and again.
The worst: I can’t think of any. I make sure that I choose the books I read. I can tell sa first page pa lang if a book is good (for me) or not. If not, after the first page, I stop reading it.
• Meal
The best: I’m easy to feed; simple lang ang preference ko. Give me a serving of Nut-Pesto Pasta (Seafood) from Napoli at masaya na ako. Or Tuna on Rye Bread from Starbucks. A plateful of pancit is good enough for me. But never serve me beef or pork. No-no sa akin ‘yon.
The worst: I once ate fresh oysters in Cebu and I developed a bum stomach and I got dizzy. Since then, no more oysters for me, fresh or otherwise.
• Movie
The best: Braveheart (starring and directed by Mel Gibson). It made me cry. Sobrang ganda ng istorya at ng acting ni Mel Gibson. In the story, even if his character dies, nag-prevail pa rin ang idealism niya.
The worst: There are so many I can’t even think of one. Oh, yes, there’s Sweet Home Alabama. And also Boys and Girls. They’re not really the worst; hindi ko lang type. But I had to sit through them because my friends wanted to see them.
• Song
The best: A Perfect Fan. Carlo and I sang it on A.S.A.P. on Mother’s Day and we cried. It’s about a son’s love for his mother.
The worst: Sometimes Love Ain’t Enough. Not really the worst. It’s just that when I first heard that song, something terrible was happening in my lovelife, kaya nag-marka sa utak ko ang song na ‘yan. It reminds me of that sad episode in my lovelife.
• Place
The best: Still Mt. Maculot. There, you feel like you’re on top of the world, that everything is all right with the world. From there, you can see the world around you – you can almost see eternity. Ang sarap ng feeling! Free from cares and worries. It makes you feel high – high na high, literally!
The worst: I can’t think of any. I can easily adjust to any place.
• Part of my body
The best: My chest. It’s firm. How did I do it? Workout, workout, workout. I go to Fitness First (at Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City) for my workout. I take supplements like protein drink and creatine drink. I used to be flabby; I even had love handles (bilbil). But thanks to regular workout I was able to develop muscles.
The worst: My legs. Medyo maiksi, e.
• Scene I’ve Ever Done
The best: In Kahit Isang Saglit, there’s this scene where I had to fall from the fifth floor of a building. I didn’t use a "double." They had to put a harness around my body as a safety measure. I landed on a net a few feet below. I’m really a risk-taker, a daredevil.
The worst: Where I have to eat rice; kasi, I haven’t been eating rice for more than two years now. You remember that scene in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya where Marvin (Agustin) and I took off our shirts and dove into the river? Flabby pa ako noon and, even now, I squirm to think of my bilbil showing.
• Moment
The best: When my daughter was born. I was only 17 then. Do I consider it a mistake? Not at all. My daughter, now almost 9, has grown up to be pretty and bright; palaging may honor sa school. She’s my angel; I love her so much. Her mom and I were never married. When my "angel" was born, I was ecstatic. It was such a beautiful feeling that’s hard to describe.
The worst: When my little sister Katrina died. She was only one-year-and-seven-months old, born with a congenital heart disease. She was in the hospital for one month. She died after the surgery. Hindi niya nakaya ‘yung surgery. I was in elementary school then. When I arrived home from school, we waited for word from my Mom who was at the hospital. By and by, Mom and Papa arrived; we were excited, thinking that the surgery was successful. Then, I saw my Mom only had a bag, without Katrina. I asked her, "Where’s Katrina?" She said, "In heaven." I didn’t get what she said so I asked her again, "Where’s Katrina?" She said, "In heaven, with God." I couldn’t take it. I ran to my room, locked the door at talagang nagwala ako. That was the lowest moment in my life.
• Trip
The best: When Carlo and I went to Bangkok. It was my first time to ride a plane which was huge. Carlo and I had fun in Bangkok. We took the canal tour, we went to the crocodile farm, we even watched a "bold" show. We also visited Patphong and watched the elephant show where I volunteered to lie on the ground and the let the elephant step over me. I even had my photograph taken with my head partly inside the mouth of a live lion (sedated daw ‘yon para hindi mangagat).
The worst: It happened last year. I was driving along Commonwealth Avenue. I was taping for Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan and we were transferring from a subdivision near the Gotesco-Commonwealth to another set in the Ermita area. I wasn’t driving fast. Near the flyover, I met an accident; my car was pressed between two big trucks. My car was a total wreck and, until now, I don’t know how I came out of that accident alive, with only few bruises. I realized that you could lose your life in the wink of an eye. It’s my second life. Nagpa-thanksgiving Mass ako. It was a 15-minute trip that turned out to be the longest and the worst trip of my life. I keep thanking God that I’m alive.
• Dream
The best: A few years ago, I dreamed that I was dancing with Katrina. She was wearing the same gown she wore inside her coffin; she was cremated later. She was so beautiful in that dream that I woke up crying.
The worst: That I died from a gunshot wound. In that dream – a nightmare! – I saw myself inside a coffin. That dream came in the wake of a tragedy where my cousin was stabbed to death. I guess I was affected by the incident that’s why I had that bad dream. I woke up in a cold sweat.
• Sex Experience
The best: Everytime is like the first time.
The worst: None. I always try to do my best.
• Surprise
The best: When I was in Grade 3, I desperately wanted to have a necklace. Talagang pinangarap ko ang necklace na ‘yon. One day, Papa came home. He asked me to close my eyes and open my hand. I asked, "Why?" Papa said, "Basta." Then, he took out something from his pocket and he dropped a silver necklace into my palm – the same necklace na gustung-gusto ko.
The worst: When my Mom and Papa came home from the hospital with that bad news (about Katrina).
• Birthday Bash
The best: When my cousins and I had a joint celebration. Kumpleto ang clan namin. It was fun. There was a clown, lots of balloons and parlor games.
The worst: It happened in 1999. At the height of the party, held at a small resort, nagkatuwaan kami ng mga friends ko. We were already tipsy then. We chased one another around the pool and I slipped. Hayun, I got six stitches on my forehead. The scar is still there.
• Actor(s)
The best: Al Pacino in Scarface, Edward Norton in American History X, Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver and, of course, Mel Gibson in Braveheart. The best actress I’ve seen naman is Michelle Pfeiffer in The Deep End of the Ocean.
The worst: Brigitte Fonda in all her movies.
• Thing About Waking Up in the Morning
The best: Feeling refreshed and looking forward to a new day, a fruitful one hopefully. After a good night’s rest, of course.
The worst: Having a hang-over… Feeling disoriented and having a blank head – after a sleepless/restless night, that is.
• Pet
The best: A rottweiler (a German breed of cattle dog). I’m a pet-lover. I’d been dreaming of having a pet rottweiler and I was able to buy one only after 25 years. Talagang pinag-ipunan ko ‘yon.
The worst: None. I love pets at lahat okay sa akin. Especially dogs. It’s true that they are man’s best friend.
• Buy/Investment
The best: A painting set that I bought for Papa. He has been using it. Talagang enjoy si Papa. He even did a painting for me.
The worst: I invested in a pubhouse. Nalugi.
• The Best Thing About Leandro Muñoz
I am loyal to my family and friends, I am hardworking, I am jolly but serious inside. I have a good attitude toward work. And I can say that I’m a good lover.
• The Worst Thing About Leandro Muñoz
Masamang magalit. Can be easily influenced. Sometimes, even if I believe in something, when somebody tells me otherwise parang nai-influence ako. But in the end, I follow what I think is right.