MANOY

STORY BY Angela Jed Silvestre

PHOTOS BY Steve Tirona

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 eventually know him, has starred in over 400 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 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 10 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 10 days,” so we did it. We shot it in San Pablo.

Among your many iconic roles, which one was your favorite?

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 the discipline to handle guns. You just don’t point a gun at 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 STORY WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN CLAVEL MAGAZINE “ORIGINS OF CULT ISSUE” (2013).

In recent years, more and more people flock to the streets of Cubao to venture into more soulful, more exciting prospects of fun with the rise of Cubao Expo (or Cubao X, if you will) as one of those places you just have to go to towards your journey to artistic indie enlightenment. What was once located within the boundaries of Cubao X has now ventured out of its confines, allowing us to rediscover the future in a hole in the wall. Literally.

Today X Future, described by its owners slash creators Sharon Atillo and Leah Castañeda as “Your Future, Today”, is a watering hole for the thirsty artistic types and the musically adventurous types and the bookish types, aaand basically the types who just want chill, good ol’ fashion, cheap-ass fun.

Sharon and Leah, both artistically kooky in their own rights, started Today X Future 5 years ago (August 8, 2008 to be a little more exact) to be able to share their passions with the rest of the artistically kooky world. “I’ve always wanted my own place to share the music that we really like, the art that you want, the books that you want, and share talaga our passion when it comes to music, art, fashion,” says Leah.

To find Today X Future, you gotta really open your eyes, and based on personal experience: you’ll just know it when you see it. The exterior façade reminds you a little of your lola’s garden; off-white wall, worn wooden door, potted plants, mix-n-matchy chairs and tables—some of which seem to belong to either a classroom or manong’s tambayan sa kanto. But the wood-panel, stitched-together signage that spells out TODAY X FUTURE immediately draws you in. Relax. You’re there.

Step in through the worn wooden door and you’re greeted with art in every direction. On the walls, the ceiling, the furniture, the books (yes, books). Hell, even the food. Semi-dusty vintage books and vinyl records were scattered around the room. Most of them are for you to buy. Sharon and Leah used to allow lending books but couldn’t keep track anymore so they stuck to buying and selling. People can also consign some of their old books at Today X Future whose book corner they lovingly call Odile and Company.

When asked about the inspiration for the interiors of the place, Sharon and Leah express their affinity to DIY and the quirky way they do things. “Nasa personality rin siguro namin,” explains Sharon. “Quirky kasi kami,” Leah continues with a laugh.

But be prepared because it wasn’t just the place that proved to be quirkily DIY, but the food too. The menu for Today X Future was a mixture of creations by Leah, Sharon, and some of their friends. For instance, the pizza. Named after its creator, Austin Castañeda, Gourm-A is a delicious hand-crafted pizza with three different flavored dips. Half the pizza is beef and mushroom while the other half’s got olives, capers, and tomato. Their popular appetizer, the Tofu Cigar, is a serious contradiction. Way more healthy than a cigar, the deep-fried tofu sticks come with a spicy soy sauce dip that kicks it up to our favorite new (and healthy) appetizer picks.

Another appetizer must-try is the Cheesy Mushroom Nachos, best served with chilled beer. Dressed in cheese and mushrooms, the dish also comes with a salsa of chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and vinegar with just a hint of sugar to give it that sweet kick of flavor in every bite. Their popular Beer Bacon is their best-selling, beer-marinated bacon fried to a crisp. I’m sure you’re already imagining the smell of that bacon sizzling in a pan. Don’t wait. Try it. Now.

After the glorious, glorious food, we were served their popular drinks, some of which had even more popular names. The Johnny Depp is a definite crave-worthy favorite. Two words: chocolate liquor. Need I say more? No? Thought so.

Chasing Amy (not the movie) was a colorful shot that made us see in 3D. A red and blue concoction that’s deceivingly sweet (like Amy) but will definitely put you to bed after around five more shots of it.

Then came the kookiest shot we’ve ever heard of: the Choco Nipple. A part of me wants to be a bit of a tease by not explaining exactly what it was. So I won’t. Let me just say this: Everyone loves chocolate. If you don’t, you will.

To cap our night off, we were presented with two syringes filled to the brim with a blue liquid that might make you nervous but seeing as we’ve already had enough drinks to through nervousness out the window, we grabbed it right off the table. One shot of the Kamikaze Shot was all it took. Can anyone call me cab now?

Luckily, before the imminent drunkenness that befell us, we were able to ask them a few questions.

To the common passersby, how would you describe Today x Future to them?

Sharon: It’s the future. (laughs) It’s your future today! Come in! (laughs)

The question on all our minds: WHAT DOES TODAY X FUTURE MEAN?

Sharon: It started with the future. (laughs) Kasi dati, may store pa ‘ko with two friends called “I Love You” and then we partnered with them [Leah]. Nagkaroon ng space sa Cubao X na 2 floors so we came up with the idea na magkaroon ng café downstairs. So we partnered with her [Leah], and then while it was still being constructed we were parang, looking around and we’d say, “Hey, let’s go check out our future!” Future namin ‘di ba, kasi lilipat kami dun eh so literal siya. And then naging I Love You X Future, and then nung nag-close yun…para mag-complement sa Future, Today siya. (laughs) Parang play-of-words lang from that conversation. Later on, it had more meaning, parang yung “your future, today”, ganun. Everything is the future kasi in a few minutes, future parin. Parang, we have no choice but the future. In general, everybody has no choice but to go to the future. Not necessarily years from now, like, moments from now even.

What was the idea behind the look and the interiors of Today x Future?

Sharon: Parang it came also from need. (laughs) Or ganun lang yung taste din namin. Or ‘yun ang meron. Kasi how we started was we deconstruct furniture, mga ganun. We’re also very DIY. We’re not like normal bars that fabricate their chairs, you know. Kasi we work on low budget (laughs) so siguro na-e-exercise namin yung creativity namin. Parang, gusto ko mag-wallpaper so literally paper ‘yung linagay. Magazine paper. Music sheets. Vintage LIFE magazine ‘yung iba. There wasn’t really a lot of thought put into it. Kung ano yung gusto mo.

Leah: Kung ano yung feel mo. Pag nagbago yung mood namin, cha-change ulit namin.

What does Today x Future have that no other watering hole in the metro has?

Sharon: Siguro, kung ano makikita mo, ganun din kami sa totoong buhay. Or like yung bahay namin, bahay din namin ‘yan. (laughs) Yung mga nandiyan, napupunta rin sa bahay namin, yung mga nasa bahay namin, napupunta rin diyan.

So it’s like an extension of yourselves?

Leah: Yeah. ‘Yun na ‘yun.

Sharon: ‘Yun ‘yun. (laughs)

What music does Today x Future play?

Sharon: Iba-iba.

Leah: House, new disco, actually different music for different days. Per night may mga theme kami. Let’s say Monday, super lambing hip-hop, medyo slow, RnB. Tuesday we have the jazz night. Wednesdays sometimes we have hip-hop or sometimes we have indie music, indie pop, indie rock, ganyan. Tapos Thursdays techno, electro. Friday, parang like now, house.

Sharon: Depending on the [acts] din. Like later, we have a DJ from New York. So iba-iba. Minsan may bands.

Leah: Pero hindi naman yung chopsuey na isang night halo-halo. May theme parin.

Describe your usual patrons; is there a certain “type” of person who comes to Today x Future?

Sharon: More inclined to the arts.

Leah: Yeah. And music. Yung hindi masyadong…Pano ba ‘yun…

Sharon: Yung medyo laid back.

Leah: Yung ayaw ng posh and expensive. Tamang chill and relax lang.

Are there types of people that Today X Future WON’T allow in? Who and why?

Sharon: Bad people! (laughs)

Leah: Bad vibes. ‘Yun lang. People who bring bad vibes.

In a handful of words, tell us what you want people who’ve visited Today X Future to take home with them?

Sharon: Take-out, pizza! (laughs) Good vibes, and good food.

Leah: Saka experience. Happy experience. Yung hindi badtrip. Yung hindi sila naubusan ng pera. (laughs) At nag-have fun sila.

Feel free to drop by Today X Future to have dinner, have a drink, and have a read. They open at around 5 or 6 o’ clock in the early evening but soon enough, they’ll be opening their doors for lunch so keep an ear and eye open for more word or just follow them on Facebook.

THIS STORY WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN CLAVEL MAGAZINE “ORIGINS OF CULT ISSUE” (2013).