Sweet Victor(y)

The day after he bagged the Best Supporting Actor award (for Viva Films’ Filipinas) at the just-concluded 2003 Metro Manila Filmfest, Victor Neri slipped out of the country to pay his father, Vic Neri, a long-delayed visit in Michigan, USA, leaving behind a trail of "is it true’s?" surrounding his thus-far "mysterious" life, such as, Is it true that he and Aiko Melendez are an item? and Is it true that he has a very rich gay benefactor?

The award is Victor’s first and therefore, he said, "Like all firsts, it’s very memorable, like the first time you have sex."

The victory was even sweeter because Victor beat such formidable worthies as Jay Manalo (Mano Po 2), Raymond Bagatsing (also for Filipinas) and Bembol Roco (Homecoming).

Victor who left on Dec. 28 last year and came back last Thursday (Jan. 8).

In his more than a decade in showbiz, Victor has tried all genres – from inane youth-oriented flicks to romance-comedies to action, etc. – and he seems to have found his turf in drama which gets to exploit his brooding looks highlighted by penetrating eyes ("They speak volumes," said Veana Fores, Victor’s manager) and the seemingly impenetrable invisible wall he has woven around him.

In Filipinas, an all-star cast family drama directed by Joel Lamangan, Victor plays an activist, a role which he described as "my exact opposite" and he did it with such passion that, in some scenes, he ably acquitted himself beside Richard Gomez who played his older brother. (Girlfriend Aiko is cast as Victor’s sister so, sigh, they didn’t have any kissing scene on screen.)

A man of few words, Victor is not an interesting interviewee. He answers almost in monosyllables and you have to literally provoke him to make him open up – but only to the certain extent.

In the following Conversation conducted the day after Victor arrived from Michigan, you have to read between the lines and decipher what he means by what he’s not articulating.

You’re still suffering from jet lag, aren’t you?

"Yes, I am."

But you’re in your right senses, I hope.

"I think so."

This Conversation contains "probing" questions so you better be prepared.

"Let’s see."

Let’s start with the "harmless" ones. How did you spend your Christmas vacation (in Michigan)?

"Indoors. I stayed home. It was snowing. It was very cold, so I couldn’t go out. It was a quiet vacation."

You did some "soul searching"?

"Not really. I just kept to myself. Tahimik lang."

So who’s in Michigan aside from your father (separated from Victor’s mother)?

"My Dad’s family. I have one half-brother; he’s seven."

You haven’t seen your father for a long time, ‘no?

"Yeah. For a long time. But I have regular communication with him. I’d been wanting to visit him but I never had the time and the chance. Ngayon lang ako pinayagan. I also needed the break. I’ve been busy especially last year."

With TV and movies...

"...I finished three movies – Masamang Ugat, Bugbog-Sarado and Filipinas. I also did the GMA soap Habang Kapiling Ka."

Yes, of course, with your ex-girlfriend Angelika dela Cruz. What happened between the two of you?

"Wala, e. Basta...wala!"

You’re doing a foreign movie, aren’t you?

"I start shooting next week, that’s why I had to cut short my vacation."

Tell us more about the movie...

"...It’s going to be shot here. It’s called Root-Cutter. Another local talent in the cast is Chin Chin Gutierrez."

It’s your second foreign project; the first was Brokedown Palace, shot in Manila and other Asian countries (Thailand, etc.), with Claire Danes as female lead. How did you get into Root-Cutter?

"I play the male lead. The director, Joseph Novile, saw me on the set of Bugbog-Sarado. No, I didn’t have to audition for the role."

How long are you shooting for the movie?

"The whole of February and the first two weeks of March. The entire shooting will be done here. Novile is the one producing it."

Your Metro Filmfest trophy is your first. Did you bring it to Michigan to show to your father?

"No, I left it behind."

You also left Aiko behind. Why didn’t you bring her along to introduce to your father?

"Did I have to?"

She must have wanted to go if you asked her to.

"Did she?"

You must have called her often when you were in Michigan.

"Marami akong tinatawagan."

Ha? Marami sila?

"Yeah, marami sila. There was Tita Veana and there was my son, Vito (three years old). And there was Aiko, of course."

So what’s the status between you and Aiko? Are you going steady, still getting to know each other or talagang committed na? Anyway, pareho kayong libre, di ba? (Aiko’s marriage to Jomari Yllana was annulled.)

"Yeah, yeah!"

Yeah what?

"Yeah. Pareho kaming libre. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" (Victor has broken up with the non-showbiz mom of his love child.)

Was your romance with Aiko developed on the set of Filipinas?

"No, it wasn’t. It started not during the shooting but after na. On the set, I worked lang. We hardly talked on the set because she was also busy studying her script. Besides, we hardly had any scenes together so we were seldom together on the set."

Luckily, you were free and so was Aiko. Good timing.

"Parang ganoon."

What do Aiko and you have in common? Mukhang magkasundung-magkasundo kayo. Even your love bites daw were of the same size and on the same spots (on the neck).

"Ewan ko doon!"

What do Aiko and you have in common?

"For one thing, we both love to talk."

Ikaw, you love to talk!?!

"Well, I can be a talker, depending on who I’m with and what the topic is."

What do Aiko and you usually talk about... politics?

"Sometimes politics. We talk about politics."

Aiko doesn’t want to call it a "fling." Serious ba ang relationship n’yo?

"Siempre naman. Pangit naman kung tawaging fling, di ba?"

Serious enough to lead to marriage?

"No, no, no! I don’t want to think about that."

You sound like you’re afraid of – allergic to – marriage.

"No naman. I just don’t want to talk about marriage. It’s too early to talk about it."

Aiko and you are of same age, ‘no?

"She’s two years older. I’m 26."

Ano’ng pasalubong mo sa kanya?

"Small stuff lang."

Are you close to her son, Andre (six years old)?

"I’ve met Andre. I don’t know him that well yet but I will...soon."

Has Aiko met your son?

"Not yet."

Don’t you go out together as a family? Oops! I mean, as a group?

"Not yet. We might... soon."

You live alone. You prefer it that way, don’t you?

"I’m comfortable this way. When not busy shooting, I go to the gym."

What’s your diet?

"I eat anything. Even meat. Cooked or raw."

Now that you’re in the harsh limelight, some nasty rumors about you are being recycled.

"Such as what?"

That you have a wealthy gay benefactor (lover) who gives you all the luxuries (expensive car, etc.).

"Ang tagal na ng tsismis na ‘yon! It’s not true! I have my own money for my needs and I don’t have to depend on anybody for my expenses."

So wala talaga?

"Wala talaga. I don’t know where that tsismis came from."

So walang nanligaw at walang, ehem, "hidden benefactor."

"Wala talaga. Takot lang nila!"

Why, do you have a gun?

"None." (Adding with a joke) "Sipain ko sila. I still prefer women."

You come from an Opus Dei family. As one, what’s your guiding principle in life?

"You know, I work in an industry where the values are, should we say, ‘different.’ Marami ring temptations. If you’re not careful and strong enough, matatangay ka."

Okay, describe Victor Neri in three words.

"Three words? Ang dami naman. I don’t know how to describe myself."

Why not?

" I don’t think about it."

O, sige, in one word.

"Nothing!"

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