"Nung binubuo ko yung Panday, nung binubuo na namin ng GMA—nila Ms. Annette—naikuwento ko sa kanya ito. Sabi ko, 'I'm doing Panday, yun talagang simula.' Sabi ko, 'Nandito yung dugo ng Panday before, e... Ito talaga yung bubuo ng istorya.' So sabi niya sa akin, 'Sinong Lizardo mo?' Sabi ko, 'Wala pa.' Ooopps parang, ting!

"Tapos pinabasa ko yung script, 'Basahin mo nga.' Then, parang nakita ko, parang gusto niya. 'Tapos nag-usap kami nila Annette, 'Pupwede ba natin i-offer, kung siya yung magiging Lizardo?'

"'Of course,' sabi nina Annette, 'Karangalan natin yun.' First time niya magiging kontrabida sa isang pelikula, at makakasama ko pa. At pareho pa kaming malapit kay Ninong Ron, kay FPJ..."

As for his leading lady Iza Calzado, Bong said, "bagay siya sa role," and laughingly added that viewers should not miss their kissing scene.

When asked if this film is influenced in any way by foreign films, the actor  replied: "Wala naman tayong ginaya, original pa rin ito. Siyempre, hindi naman tayo pupuwedeng kumalas dun sa original Panday, e. Pero hinaluan natin ng mga bagong rekado sa pakikipagtulungan din ni Direk Carlo J. Caparas, dahil siya talaga yung lumikha nito, e."

The film was helmed by Mac Alejandre, and written by RJ Cuevas, a favorite of direk Carlo, who has the last say, said Bong.

"99.9 PERCENT SURE." In the same presscon, Bong happily announced that his movie will most likely be one of the Metro Manila Film Festival entries this year.

It will be recalled that his plan to run for national office come 2010 elections almost got in the way. But eventually, he got the go-signal of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). The Senator asserted, "Walang batas na nagsasabi na bawal na yung ipalabas ang pelikula, wala. Wala sa Konstitusyon natin 'yan, kaya na-realize rin ng Comelec na pupuwede nila ipalabas, 99.9 percent ipapalabas ang Panday."

His other announcement has something to do with his political plans. Is he pursuing his bid for the vice-presidential post?

Bong declared, "99.9 percent hindi tayo tatakbo. Napagnilay-nilayan na natin 'yan, pinag-aralan nating mabuti, consulted friends, even the supporters from the provinces, at higit sa lahat, yung tatay ko [former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr.]. Tumawag sa akin two days ago, sabi niya sa akin, 'Anak, yung usapan natin...' Yun yung time na medyo magulo pa yung utak ko. Sabi ko, 'Daddy, sa tawag mo, yung salita mo, parang salita na ng Diyos 'yan.' So yun, that's final..."

Then he stressed: "I will not run for Vice President, but I will run for Senator again."