At 14 and still wet behind the years on what life is all about, Aga was introduced in Maryo J. de los Reyes’ Bagets, the teen film classic opposite then newcomers William Martinez, Raymond Lauchengco, Herbert Bautista and JC Bonnin. It firmly established him as the next hot thing in the biz and earned him a horde of screaming, dreamy-eyed fans.
But this proved to be short-lived. In 1986, his world came crashing down when he got Janice de Belen pregnant (their son, Igi Boy is now 16). Aga’s career fell with a loud thud. Down, down, down came the heartthrob image and away went the fans who found his dimples irresistible. To this day, he considers this the lowest point in his career.
"I had to sell my cars to pay my debts," Aga recalls matter-of-factly.
Good thing, he muses, the world was a lot simpler and easier then. Competition was not as stiff as it is today. Actors and actresses loomed as large as life on the big screen. And seeing them on TV, much more in the flesh, was a rarity whose impact to fans approximated the landing of the first man on the moon.
Aga got by on small shows here and there. He ate humble pie, but he survived.
That was the time he lived in the house of Willie Revillame, then a drummer at Birdland, a music lounge in Quezon City.
Luckily, it was not meant to last and Aga was destined for bigger things. He himself describes his turnaround in glowing terms.
"It was 1990. I found the Lord. The movies came one after the other. I did Joey Boy Munti. Class of 1991 (with Donita Rose) followed. Then came Seiko Films’ Sa Akin Ka Magdusa Man Ako with Gretchen (Barretto). I gave everything my best shot," he says.
Then, glancing at the person seated beside him, Aga beamed, "That was also when I met Manay Ethel (Ramos, his manager)."
Manay Ethel not only got him choice movie assignments that brought him awards and commercial endorsements, she also acted as Aga’s second mother.
Aga was the malleable clay, Ethel the sculptor. Under her guiding hands, Aga blossomed into a bankable actor who learned how to value his work. He not only turned in memorable performances, Aga also started building a nest egg through which he can provide for his family.
Today, this thirtysomething has everything a man can dream of: a big house in the suburbs, a farm in Batangas (look ma, telephone and electric lines are all underground!), a loving wife, and twins who entertain him by breaking into a Barney song every now and then.
He doesn’t have to make one movie after another to make his presence felt (Aga will do so soon, though, via Star Cruises with first-time leading lady Kristine Hermosa). He has enough commercial endorsements to stay on top of people’s minds.
And he has earned the right to make pronouncements about his craft.
"I want a movie that gives a statement," he declares. "One such film is Unfaithful. After seeing it, you see people rising from their seats with that guilty look on their faces. Talk of impact!"
Impact is what he aims for when playing romantic lead — a role he has played so many times he has mastered in.
"It’s always nice making a movie with a heart," he explains why he won’t tire of making goo-goo eyes at his leading lady in romantic films. Aga can get so carried away with the role he admits being incredulous shooting is over once his director shouts, "Cut!"
"I get so attached to a role I can actually fall in love with my character," admits Aga.
One movie he truly enjoyed doing, he says, is Dahil May Isang Ikaw with Regine Velasquez.
The film stood out from the rest because "it is not just I who enjoyed the movie, the audience did, too."
The audience, for him, is on top of the list. Figures why, of all his awards — including those for acting — Aga’s favorite is the one he got as Box Office King (for Pangako Ikaw Lang in 2002 and Kailangan Kita in 2003). It is, he says, a testament to how much the audience enjoyed his movies. And pleasing the audience is, to him, more important than getting an acting award.
ABS-CBN is devoting the whole of February to paying tribute to Aga’s 20 years in the business. The network started with a Bagets and an Oki Doki Dok eunion in Ok Fine! Whatever.
The celebration continues on tomorrow, as Charlene Gonzalez and Serena Dalrymple join Aga in a spoof of his commercials. It wraps up on Feb. 23, with the airing of a live musical episode showing Aga in production numbers with Gary V and the Maneouvres.
"I have one dream," Aga says, his voice turning conspiratorial. "I want to have a free admission concert at the Araneta Coliseum with Gary V, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha. It will be timed on my birthday in August and will also feature Charlene Gonzalez, his wife)."
Lower those eyebrows now. Aga has done concerts abroad, one of them with the Side A band.
He has a more immediate goal, though: to slim down. Aga admits being overweight by as much as 30 pounds. Dieting, he hopes, will do the trick and put him back in shape.
"Being overweight slows you down. It’s a source of stress," Aga sighs. And once he’s back to his previous weight, he vows never to neglect his diet again.
For a man who has gone through the fire for the past 20 years in the business, a little bruised but still in one piece, this challenge is peanuts.
Next hurdle, please!