It was an emotional evening at the VIP Cinema of Fisher Mall in Quezon City as Richard Gomez—actor, athlete, and now public servant—faced the entertainment press once again for the grand comeback of his movie career. Before the press conference for his newest film Salvageland even began, Gomez couldn’t hold back his tears.

“Na-miss ko talaga kayo. Naiiyak ako. Na-miss ko lang kayo,” he said as he wiped away his tears. “Siyempre ang tagal kong artista, di ba? Masarap bumalik sa home turf. Same with you, guys, ang tagal kong nakatrabaho, and then I’ve seen you again—it’s wonderful.”

After years devoted to public service—as Ormoc City mayor from 2016 to 2022, and now congressman of Leyte’s 4th District—Gomez confessed that returning to showbiz feels like coming home. “Masarap, masaya sa pelikula,” he said, contrasting his life in politics with the creative world he once ruled. “Sa politics, masaya lang kapag nasa district mo kasi you’re able to bring projects, nadadala mo ‘yung mga programa para sa mga tao. Pero in Congress, okay lang. It’s like school. Pero iba kapag nasa bahay ka. Dito sa showbiz, nami-miss ko ‘yung mga tsika-tsika. It’s nice to be with you, guys.”

When asked if he considers showbiz his foundation, Gomez didn’t hesitate: “Oh, yeah, yeah. Kung ano ‘yung mga accomplishment ko, kung ano ‘yung mga magagandang nagagawa ko, the people know that because I am a politician. Naging politician lang ako dahil sa pag-aartista ko.”

A Return to Form: The Making of Salvageland

Salvageland, a neo-western crime thriller set against the harsh volcanic landscape of Mount Pinatubo, marks Richard Gomez’s first film in seven years. Directed by Lino Cayetano, it tells the story of a veteran police officer (Gomez) and his rookie son (Elijah Canlas) who find themselves protecting a woman on the run from a crime syndicate—forcing father and son to face moral battles as explosive as the terrain they inhabit.

Behind-the-scenes photos released by Rein Entertainment show Gomez in full police uniform, rifle in hand, with Canlas standing close behind him. Another image captured director Cayetano discussing a scene with the two actors—a symbolic convergence of two men from both politics and showbiz, now collaborating in film once again.

Cayetano, who last helmed a film in 2007 (I’ve Fallen for You), now returns as both director and producer under Rein Entertainment in partnership with Viva Films. The cast also includes Mon Confiado, Cindy Miranda, McCoy de Leon, and Angela Morena.

Seven Years Later: From Congress to the Camera

Gomez was last seen on the big screen in 2018’s Three Words to Forever, opposite Sharon Cuneta and Kathryn Bernardo. While he has spent recent years focusing on governance, his reemergence in Salvageland signifies a rekindling of his artistic fire. “Masarap pa rin sa pelikula,” he admitted. “Iba talaga kapag nasa harap ka ng kamera.”