Christopher de Leon: Living the Life of a King
By: Lucile B. Tañalas
He walks up the short flight of stairs to the lounge of a palatial golf clubhouse in Batangas City like a king. But he is king! He is Christopher de Leon, Drama King, as the movie world calls him.
After a firm handshake, he ushers us into a table overlooking a well-kept golf course. Not a stranger to interviews, Christopher looks cool and collected despite the schedules lined up for him that day. I, too, try to remain calm in front of him. But his dignified bearing and his macho image even after more than three decades in show business make my heart scream in silent adulation, that I somehow stammer in my introduction. For who has not dreamed of meeting a Christopher de Leon?
He must have sensed my jitters and puts me at ease. “Don’t worry, you have your codego, I don’t. I should be the one in jitters,” he says, referring to the sheet of questions in front of me.
The family man
Oh, how Christopher loves talking about his family! He is proud of them, I can tell. “I want my family to have the best in life,” this doting father relates. “I want my children to have proper education. But above all, I want them to grow up loving God and respectful of others. That’s first and foremost.”
When the kids were little, Christopher says, he could instantly drop down on fours and be his children’s horse. “They would shriek with joy whenever I’d give them a ride.” Then he turns pensive, saying he misses those times now that his six children are grown up.
“They miss you too, I am sure,” I counter, to lighten up the mood.
“You’re right, Lucile,” he enthuses. “I am a fun father. Those times were the best times in my life.”
When asked to rate himself as a father(with 1 as lowest and 10 as highest), his answer comes quick as lightning—“a 7!”
When I quickly retort “Why?” his crisp laughter fills the room. “Because I do not want to overrate myself. I am just doing all I can. In everything I can. The best that I can,” he defends.
Good answer from this very busy father who is not only a showbiz celebrity but Batangas’ No. 1 board member. He is not only a father of his own children, he fathers Batangas—a more pressing responsibility.
To make up for lost time, Christopher squeezes time for family dinners and one-on-one talks with his children. He stands as their spiritual leader, their mentor—guiding them not dictating them. He remains a reservoir of strength for them in their down times.
While others say awards mean nothing to them, Christopher believes otherwise. They [awards] are not that important, but they give me the fighting spirit, the challenge to be at par with the best,” he explains.
How was he molded into the drama king that that he is now? “I am truly fortunate to have worked with the best directors: Lino Brocka, Mike de Leon, Gerry de Leon (The Master), Danny Zialcita, Celso Ad Castillo,” he proudly states. “I am the product of their concerted efforts.”
Childhood years
Growing up, Christopher reveals that he was a shy guy.
“Shy?” my companion Nathanlie Baldoza quickly responds. “It doesn’t show anymore.”
He explodes into laughter before saying, “Yes, I was, I was. But not anymore,” he enthuses. He explains that he used to just read or watch TV than interact with people. “But like any normal child, I played tumbang preso, habulan, trompo, jolens with the neighborhood kids.”
Christopher learned to pray at a very age. “I would see my dad praying before he would go to sleep. He was religious. He and Mom would go to church together.”
He looks down, plays with his hands, lifts his head heavenward before saying, “But when I was 7 years old, they separated. So I asked myself ‘Why? They go to church, they pray, but nagkahiwalay pa rin.’ ” He answers his own question: “I guess it’s not the going to church and all that. It’s really your relationship with God.”
I nod in agreement.
For Christopher, “God is numero uno! He’s numero uno and nothing else. I used to have family then God. Now it’s God then family,” he shares.
The movie world would have lost a legend had 17-year-old Christopher not auditioned and got the role of Junior for “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang.”* From that movie (his first) he bagged the best actor award. The rest, as they say, is history.
It’s Philippine National Police that had lost a handsome soldier in Christopher. Still, he lives his childhood dream, in the navy this time. “I am with NAVRESCOM (Navy Reserve Command). More than Popeye’s and Combat’s influences, I liked the discipline, obeying commands,” he expounds.
Batangas’ No. 1
When the questions shift to politics, he turns serious. “I really want to serve. Despite the criticisms regarding showbiz personalities turning politicians, being a public servant is one of the noblest of all professions. Now is the time for me to reciprocate the blessings of the Lord,” he explains in a low, reverent voice.
A basketball player, Christopher understands the meaning of teamwork, and puts it into practice. “I abide by the party’s program budget.”
His heart is with environment and tourism. In fact, he is crafting a Provincial Environmental Code for the protection of the environment. “Batangas Province has a lot of scenic and historical spots that need to be seen. Tourism will generate funds, employment and good image for the province.”
Known as Boyet in Philippine filmdom, Christopher uses “Boyet” as an acronym for his platform: Batangas Onwards for the Youth, Environment and Tourism for his legislative programs. When his Batangas pet project—the construction of farm-to-market roads—will be realized, agricultural products will reach the market in record time. “I will ask financial assistance from my friends in Congress, particularly the Senate, to help me realize these projects.”
Of the many offbeat roles and the numerous acting awards, nothing challenges Christopher now than becoming nature’s protector—an environmentalist—so to speak, “for the future generations to continually enjoy a beautiful, healthy place to live in.”
More than the awards, Christopher’s advocacy is service. He goes beyond office hours for the good of his constituency. Recognition, to him, is immaterial. What is important is that “at the end of the day I can tell to myself that I have done something good to my constituents.” He not only sticks to what he values, but sticks up to the people he values—the Batangueños.
Sandy Andolong, the love of his life, supports him 100 percent! “A diver like me, Sandy helps in coastal clean-ups. She uses her woman power to invite celebrities to join such drives and my social functions. A politician by blood, it is Sandy’s nature to serve people.”
Healthy options
Christopher keeps fit and trim and up for the challenge of each new day by eating lots of fruits and vegetables, getting enough sleep, and doing regular exercise. When time allows, he retreats to his resort in Malabrigo, Lobo, Batangas, to scuba dive. “It gives me a feeling of relaxation and releases stress when I’m in paradise underwater,” he says. In between tapings he does push ups, squats, and dumbbells. When at home, he plays basketball in his big gym. “To pamper myself, I go to the spa, watch NBAs, watch movies.”
“Even your own movies?” I delve further.
“Even my own movies?” He repeats my question, then guffaws.
A staff signals us to wind up the interview in five minutes. I nod and Christopher smiles at me, that kind of smile that has captured the hearts of million of moviegoers.
Then he stood up, went out the side door and said, “Is it okay if I pose here for the cover?” and straightaway posed for the camera like a pro—pensive, dignified, reflective, wacky, kingly—every angle was truly picture perfect!
“Thank you to Health & Home for giving me this opportunity to be a blessing to the readers,” he told us, before climbing the long flight of stairs up the clubhouse for a board meeting.
*Christopher was a bit player and driver of big sister Melissa to her tapings before he auditioned and not surprisingly got the role of Junior in the highly acclaimed Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, a film which tells a powerful story about small town injustice.
Lucile Bernardino-Tañalas is associate editor of Health & Home.
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