Bembol Roco marks 50th year in film industry

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 17) — Bembol Roco is celebrating his 50th anniversary in the film industry this year, and the veteran actor remains on top of his game.

In his five decades of acting on-screen, Roco said he has taken nearly 300 roles.

"This is the beauty of the craft. You create your own characters and sometimes come up with really believable good characters," the actor told CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Tuesday.

Roco is widely known for his performance in the 1975 film "Maynila, sa Kuko ng Liwanag" (Manila in the Claws of Light) directed by Lino Brocka based on Edgardo M. Reyes's novel – a movie Roco did when he was 21 years old.

"It is memorable because this was the first film that I was the main lead," he said. "The story is beautiful and relevant at the time until now."

The critically acclaimed film follows the story of a young fisherman (Julio) from a provincial village who arrives in the capital on a quest to track down his girlfriend.

It bagged six FAMAS awards, namely Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

Reminiscing memories with the late award-winning director, Roco shared that it was Brocka who introduced him to acting back when he was working as a staffer in a rehabilitation center.

"Lino and his company asked for a permit to shoot in one of the rehabs in Cavite, since I am not authorized to issue a permit I asked them to come back next week," he said.

"They went back a week after and Lino asked me if I want to be part of his film," Roco added, recalling that Brocka was then working on his trilogy film "Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa."

After being part of one of the episodes of Brocka's anthology film, Roco said his second film project was "Maynila, sa Kuko ng Liwanag."

Roco recently did a dramatic film "Pieta" directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. starring National Artist for Film and Broadcast Nora Aunor and multi-awarded actress Gina Alajar.

The veteran actor also appeared in a road movie "Pauwi Na" – an official entry to the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino in 2017.

He also starred in a string of films namely Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita (1989), Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak (1990), Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976), Smaller and Smaller Circles (2017), Markova: Comfort Gay (2000), Sakaling Maging Tayo (2019), and Thy Womb (2012).