I experienced mixed emotions. A lot of excitement and a bit of embarrassment reuniting with someone I looked up to as a kind, humble, mild-mannered action superstar with no “star complex” whatsoever! After not seeing each other for decades, the good senator was visibly happy to me now as a reformed man and advocating the fight against drug abuse and discrimination.

Before I faded away into the drug world, I did my very last movie with him…AKYAT BAHAY GANG (1988). After that I shifted my career from “showbiz” to “bizshow” (bisyo). Kuya Lito laughingly shared to everyone in his office how they had to cut my role short and “kill” my character because I was irritatingly unprofessional already.

Sen, marami pong salamat sa panibagong tiwala sa akin, at sa inyong supporta sa Battle Against Ignorance Foundation. Together we can save more lives and help the lonely, broken, wounded and hurting whom society sees as hopeless eyesores. We are one in believing everyone deserves a second chance and that not everyone who got into drugs are evil. They just made wrong choices like everyone else. They are someone’s loved one too.

Salamat uli to my beautiful guardian angel, sis Azenith Briones Reyes for making this happen. Safehaven Recovery Village and Bai Foundation are truly grateful sa unconditional support mo.