‘Bistek’ makes acting comeback

MANILA, Philippines – After appearing in an episode of “Shake, Rattle & Roll” in December last year, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista continues his acting comeback via the comedy, “Raketeros,” the directorial debut of singer-actor-comedian Randy Santiago.

Mayor Bistek is also this film’s producer, under Heaven’s Best Entertainment Productions being managed by his sister Harlene Bautista-Tejedor.

Among Mayor Herbert’s co-stars are Ogie Alcasid, Andrew E., Dennis Padilla, and Long Mejia.

Star Cinema, which celebrates its 20th year in film production, will distribute this film.

At a press conference on Tuesday, August 6, Mayor Bistek said he and his co-stars were the ones who conceptualized the movie.

“It’s a happy story [about] a group of friends who have different jobs,” said the Quezon City Mayor. “I play a cable guy, Andrew is ‘a man of God,’ Ogie is a funeral singer, and Dennnis uses his expertise in the game of billiards to earn a living.”

Although this is Randy Santiago’s first film, he had worked as assistant director to his dad, the famed Pablo Santiago (a favorite director of Fernando Poe Jr.), in the youth-oriented Viva action flick “Ninja Kids.”

Herbert is happy with Star Cinema’s interest in the film. ABS-CBN’s film-production arm is even open to a partnership with Heaven’s Best Entertainment, the Bautistas’ fledgling film outfit.

Direk Randy takes pride in his new role behind the camera. But matching or surpassing his dad’s legacy is farthest from his mind, says the son of Pablo Santiago.

“He has done many good movies with FPJ. He is just a silent worker, a low profile. I know I cannot match the status of my dad but I am happy to be continuing the craft that he is known for.”

If there is one filmmaker who deserves to be considered National Artist, it’s Pablo Santiago, Mayor Herbert said.

“He has worked with the best, like FPJ who is a National Artist, and also Carlos ‘Botong’ Francisco, who did the costume design for the movie ‘Perlas ng Silangan.'”

Heaven’s Best is already planning a sequel for “Raketeros” that will be filmed in Malaysia.

This is the same company that produced “Burgos: A Mother’s Love,” which stars Lorna Tolentino.

“Burgos” was the closing film of the recently concluded 9th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

“We really plan to do more movies and if there is a good script that we can work on, we are very much interested to enter in co-production ventures with Star Cinema or [Antonio Tuviera’s] APT.” 

Watch the ‘Raketeros’ trailer here:

– Rappler.com