The action star headlines the eponymous biopic of retired PNP General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa which opens today, 30 January.

At last week’s press conference, the controversial actor reiterated that his latest movie is not propaganda. Questions arose when some observers noticed the play date of the said movie. It is no secret that the movie’s subject is a senatorial hopeful this coming midterm elections in May. The campaign period starts on 13 February.

Robin sat down with the rest of the cast that included Ricky Davao, Joko Diaz, Kiko Estrada, Polo Ravales, Kiko Matos and Efren Reyes. Also in the panel was Jake Joson, known as one of the staff of Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

Speaking mostly in Filipino and in his trademark emphatic tone, he shared that Bato is a family drama, an inspirational movie.

He cited how it is the story of the retired general, his beginning up until his rise from the ranks, so to speak.

THE cast of “Bato” talking about their upcoming film that depicts the life story of the retired general and senatorial hopeful. “Ang inikutan pong istorya ay istorya ng mahihirap. Alam ninyo po maraming gumagawa ng pelikula pero minsan hindi po maintindihan kasi sila-sila lang ang nagkakaintindihan. Hindi mo ma-identify ang sarili mo. Pero itong pelikulang ito, 80 percent ng mga Filipino, mai-identify ninyo sarili ninyo sapagkat lahat ng mga Pilipino sa oras na ito ay isang kahig, isang tuka. At kung hindi po tayo mabubuhay na merong mga inspirasyon tulad nina Bato, Manny Pacquiao ay malulungkot po ang ating taumbayan. Kailangan din natin magkaroon ng image ng hero.

Ako mismo nalulungkot po ako pag nakikita ako mga pamangkin ko na ang hero nila si Captain America. Para sa akin, mas magaling naman ang mga Filipino. Meron po tayong mga tunay na hero (The story revolves around someone who started out poor. What I noticed from most of the movies today, they are not relatable. Only a few can relate to the stories being made. Our film, however, 80 percent of Filipinos will be able to relate because most of them come from the same situation. If we don’t have these kinds of inspirational stories based on the lives of the likes of Bato and Manny Pacquiao, the people will be sad. We need an image of a hero. I’m saddened to see my nephews who idolize Captain America. For me we’re better than that. We have real-life heroes),” Robin said.

He then lamented how the country turned their backs on Manny Pacquiao who used to have “100 percent support” from the Filipino people in all of his bouts before the boxing champ decided to go into politics. “Napulitika (victim of politicking),” he opined. He said it goes the same with the general.

Robin called on people to give the movie a chance. He likened it to a “Cinderella Man,” a term used for inspiring rags-to-riches story and which also happens to be the title of the 2005 Academy-nominated film starring Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger.

“As I said before, this is a Cinderella Man story. For me it’s important for people to see that there’s hope. Not because you’re poor or your school is far. Pinakita po dito yung tiyaga ng isang batang Bato na nakatapos ng pag-aaral. Naging inspirasyon po ‘yan ng mga bata ngayon. Mag-pursigi ka. ‘Yan ‘yung unang-una kong sinabi sa distributor. ‘Yung aksyon, nakita na ng mga tao. Ang pinakamahalaga sa pelikulang ito ay ‘yung istorya. Kaya noong binasa ko, sabi ko ito ‘yung hinahanap ko na istorya. Talagang nakaka-inspire ng mga kababayan natin. Para sa kanila ang pelikulang ito. Pag pinanood nila, mag-uumpisa silang mangarap muli. Hindi lang pala boksing, puwede rin pala sa pagiging pulis (You will see the hard work of the young Bato. Children will

ROBIN Padilla. be inspired by his story. They will be inspired to do the same. When I was given the script, I thought this was what I was looking for. There have been a lot of action films already. In this movie, the story is king. When our countrymen see this, they will be inspired and will dream again. They will realize that they can be great not only by hoping to become a boxer but as well as aspire to dream big by being a policeman),” Robin said.

Joson shared that they were already doing the movie even before Bato filed for his candidacy. It was revealed that the boxer-turned-public servant talked to Robin to do Bato’s biopic.

When Robin was asked for his last words before the press conference ended, he repeated what he had been saying during the course of the session with such passion:

“Wag na po tayong ma-involve sa pulitika. Mapagbibintangan ninyo kami na gumawa ng propaganda. Sana po isantabi na po natin. Isipin niyo na lang po na nagkaroon kami ng trabaho. Nakapagbigay po kami ng trabaho sa mga stuntman, sa mga utility, maraming tao po ang nagkaroon ng trabaho. At sana po tingnan niyo rin po yung istorya bago niyo po sana mahusgahan niyo kami. Panoorin niyo muna ang story ni General Bato kung talagang worth it ba ang pelikula (Let’s not involve politics here. We’re accused of being involved in propaganda. I hope we set this aside. Just think that with this movie, we were able to give jobs to a lot of people – the stuntmen, utility. I also hope that you give the movie a chance before you judge it. Watch it to know if it’s worth it),” Robin appealed.

He continued: “At doon naman sa mga pulitikong walang sawang kakadakdak, lumamig na nga ulo ko di ko na nga kayo binabanat. Kung nilabanan ko kayo eh di wala ho kayong upuan diyan. ‘Wag ninyo na akong buwisitin. ‘Wag ninyo akong asarin dahil hindi ninyo ako kalaban. Ako artista lang, nagta-trabaho lang ako. Hindi ako senador para ako’y babakbakan ninyo. Nagta-trabaho lang ako. Gusto ko lang masaya yung mga tao. Gusto ko lang makapagbigay ng magandang entertainment. Kaya mga kababayan, bigyan ninyo po ako ng break. Bigyan ninyo ng break ang aksyon movie dahil kapag binigyan ninyo ng break ang aksyon movies, marami pong makakapag-trabaho. At lahat po tayo mag-eenjoy, magsasama, at makikinabang (Those politicians who always have something to say, I’ve kept my head cool and refrained myself from retorting. If I had run against you, you wouldn’t have your seat there. Don’t rile me up. Don’t pester me because I’m not your enemy. I’m just an actor who is just doing his job. I’m not a senator for you to come after me. I just want to entertain people. I just want my countrymen to give action movies a break because when they do, a lot of people will benefit from it. We’re all just going to enjoy and benefit from it).”

Days before the press conference, there were calls to boycott his upcoming flick.

Just a few hours after, screenwriter and director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna posted on his Facebook account: “If one makes a biopic about a candidate running in an upcoming midterm senatorial election and promotes it for release five months before said election, a release which may or may not boost that candidate’s ranking to the top twelve in political surveys, do you call that” pelikula lang ito, walang politika (This is just movie, no politics is involved here)’? It is evident that ALL of the above are political acts. Hindi ‘pelikula lang.’ So its makers and promoters shouldn’t wonder how and why it is getting political reactions, including the audience’s decision to see it or skip it. Let the audience decide.”

And so, the Philippines awaits for Robin’s reckoning.