We were beyond lucky to have been able to meet and feature Eddie Garcia, but even more so to have been invited into his home and share paella, cochinillo, and wine with him and his family.
I’d never been particularly star-struck by anyone until I met Eddie Garcia.
What was most impressive about him wasn’t his wonderful home, or the cool cars parked out front, or the fact that he enjoyed shooting guns as a form of exercise. Despite his many action-packed and inspiring roles (and the accolades succeeding them), Eddie Garcia enjoyed simple, precious things like family, food, and life. And live he did.
For our ‘Origins of Cult’ issue cover story, which we released in December 2013, we visited ‘Manoy’ at home to be photographed by Steve Tirona, who captured his grit, his toughness, and most of all, his presence.
Long live the legend.
Read through the full article below:
When you speak of legends you always think way back to a time long past where no one could possibly be alive to tell you those legends are real. Most legends turn to myth. Others turn into mere whispers until they fade into silence. You don’t always see legends alive, kicking, and shooting guns in their spare time.
And yet there he was. Sitting at a table in his home’s lanai, sipping red wine; the legendary, bad-ass Don of Philippine cinema, Eddie Garcia.
“Manoy”, the nickname to which every Filipino would know him, has starred in over 400 hundred films since he first started acting, garnering both national and international praise. He is the only Hall of Famer in the FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) in three categories: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Director. Not to mention being an Urian Lifetime Achievement Awardee, and also stacking over 34 trophies and 23 nominations from various award-giving bodies right next to his vast collection of firearms, all of which he keeps at home. He starred in the acclaimed independent film “Bwakaw” in 2012, which earned him awards for Best Actor at the 2012 Asia-Pacific Film Festival and the 2013 Asian Film Awards.
And yet, despite all his manifold achievements and success, “Manoy” is still a humble man with simple views, as experienced when he welcomed the CLAVEL team into his home as warmly as he would welcome family. His first appearance in a magazine and it could not have been captured more brilliantly than it was. And no, we did not see his collection of guns.
What is it about acting that you can never get enough of?
To me, acting is just a job. It’s an honest way to make a living.
What do you enjoy most about it?
Well, first of all, you don’t get stuck in an [sic] office work; you go to different places, meet different people, and you portray varied characters, and it pays well. (laughs)
Last year (2012), you starred in the film “Bwakaw” as a gay man. What made you take that role?
Well, it was a beautifully written script. When director [Jun] Lana gave me the script, I read it and I said, “Okay, I wanna do it,” and we did it during Holy Week [last year], the whole of Holy Week, for ten days. Because I had a break from a teleserye I was doing so I said, “Okay, that’s the only time I could give you, a straight ten days,” so we did it. We shot it in San Pablo.
Among your many iconic roles, which one was your favorite and why?
Which one…I’ve done so many. At present, I’ve done more than 400 films since I started. So I could figure out maybe “Tubog Sa Ginto”, 1971, directed by Lino Brocka, “Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan Ang Nakaraan”, 1984, directed by the late Marilou [Diaz] Abaya, and so many others.
Is there a character role that you want to play that you haven’t had the chance to yet?
I never dream of playing a role that is not offered to me. Because if I dream of a character that I would play, and it’s not made into reality, I’ll just be frustrated. So I just wait for offers.
What’s the oddest character role you’ve ever been offered to play?
I’ve played so many roles but the only time I ever refuse a role is if it doesn’t fit me. Like one time, a producer offered me a role and he said, “Okay, you start at 20-years old and then you grow up to 60 or 70 [years old]”. I said, “How could I be 20-years old? It’s not believable.” So I had to turn down the role. Because it’s not believable.
Why do you like shooting ranges?
Well, it’s a hobby. Just like some people like golf, some people like to do other sports. So mine happens to be shooting. And shooting gives you discipline to handle guns. You just don’t point a gun to anyone. Because you know how to handle the gun, and the primary concern there is safety.
If you were to bring a gun to a gunfight, which of your guns would you bring?
Maybe I would choose a .357 Magnum. It has penetration power, and it loads a lot…
And it looks good?
Yeah.
This article was originally published in our ‘Origins Of Cult’ issue, released in December 2013.
Words by Angela Jed Silvestre (@angelathejedi)
Photos by Steve Tirona (@titochoy)
