It was an omen of things to come. Three days before October 19, 2004, actor Raffy Romillo told his mother while watching TV, "Ma, ‘pag namatay ako gusto ko cremation ako, ha."
Later that day, Raffy broke his estrangement with long-lost high school friends. "Talagang iniiwasan ko na sila nun e. So that day, tinawagan ako, sabi nila, ‘Magpakita ka naman dito.' So nagpakita ako. Nagpa-foot spa ko, nagpa-body spa. The next day nagpa-haircut na ko."
But the most telling of all the signs happened at around 3 o' clock on the afternoon of October 19. "Binuksan ko ‘yong DVD [player] tapos may ginalaw ako, nakuryente ako... ano na ‘yan, di ba, warning na ‘yon," said Raffy with wide-eyed amusement.
Raffy brushed off the "warning," a minor electrical shock, as a petty accident. "After four hours, ligo na ko, prepare ako dahil I have visitors coming."
At the time, Raffy was staying at a fourth-floor condo unit in Makati City. He had the habit of tossing his keys downstairs to waiting friends for them to come in. "Kasi may gate sa baba and walang elevator, so itatapon ko lang ‘yong susi."
On that fateful day, his keys got entangled in a "high tension wire." He grabbed a floor mop and tried to retrieve the keys with it.
Instantly, as the tip of the mop touched the already grounded keys, 14,000 volts shot up through Raffy's body, electrocuting him.
Pausing a bit while in deep thought, Raffy recounted the unfortunate incident: "14, 000 volts pumasok sa katawan ko, went through my finger where my nail had to be amputated."
So intense was the electric shock that the current escaped through the side of Raffy's stomach. "It popped out of my stomach," he vividly described without flinching.
SHOWBIZ LOOK-BACK. In 1986, then 16-year-old Raffy first caught the attention of TV impresario Eddie Ilarde. Raffy was enrolled in a summer class on Radio-TV Newscasting and Broadcasting conducted by the renowned broadcaster.
"Sabi ni Eddie Ilarde sa akin if I wanted to be an actor. Immediately bingiyan niya ako ng role sa Kahapon Lamang. While taping Kahapon Lamang, may nakapag-spot naman sa akin for a commercial. Tapos, while shooting the commercial nagtuloy-tuloy na. Nagkaroon ng audition for a new show. It's called CATS."
Raffy passed the audition but CATS, asitcom aired after Student Canteen, lasted only six months. The volatile economic and political situation of the country, leading to the EDSA Revolt, consequently affected various media.
As soon as the situation quieted down a bit, Raffy was hired by German Moreno as one of the mainstays of That's Entertainment. He also became a Regal Baby and did about six movies. He was supposed to do more. But in 1991, tired and craving for something new, Raffy left for the U.S.
Admittedly, Raffy enjoyed his anonymity in a foreign country. When Mt. Pinatubo erupted (also in 1991), the reluctant actor decided to prolong his stay abroad.
"Nine months ako sa States. Pagbalik ko dito medyo nanaba na ko. Pero nakakapag-guest pa ko. Kinukuha pa din akong leading man nila Aiko Melendez. Basta tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang acting ko. Pero sabi ko, hindi, I like it better in the States. So, balik na naman ako sa States. Every three months nasa States ako."
Raffy shuttled back and forth between Manila and the U.S. Showbiz took a backseat as the former That's Entertainment alumnus ventured into managing a bar, and then working in Senator John Osmena's staff, before settling temporarily in Dubai where he supervised an arcade center.
By 2004, Raffy missed being in show business. The soap-opera craze was in full blast and he was lured into trying his luck to get his showbiz career back on track.
But tragedy struck.
CHEATING DEATH. Raffy suffered third-degree burns. The only way he managed to survive was through his family's financial and emotional support.
The ordeal left him feeling depressed and desperate. He even contemplated suicide to end his misery.
"Nagsuot ako nung burn-compressor na clothing na napakainit, talagang tight yon para di mag-keloid. Na-depress din ako, siyempre. Gusto kong magpakamatay kasi di ko matanggap, kasi dati sira-sira din ang mukha ko. Bumalik lang."
After staying briefly at the Asian Hospital, Raffy went to the States to fully recuperate over one year.
"I suffered third-degree burns. Mga forty percent of my upper body, though my face was also affected. I didn't have my eyebrows; my eyelashes, nawala din ‘yan, kinalbo ako.
"Siguro I stayed in Asian Hospital for about five weeks. Kung walang pera ang family ko, patay na ko, kasi it cost them P3 million for me to survive."
Throughout the treatment and therapy, various complications brought about by skin grafting also surfaced. "Actually three times ako na-ICU and CCU... tapos may sinaksak sa aking worth half a million na antibiotic, bagong labas sa market. Kung wala ‘yon, malamang patay na ko."
BACK ON HIS FEET. Barely four years after the unfortunate incident, Raffy is back on his feet. Luckily for him, there are no evident scars on his arms and face. "Sa katawan lang talaga," he smiled, "pero okay lang din since natatakpan naman ng clothes.
Raffy's life story was featured in the now defunct Magpakailanman back in 2006 as part of its Holy Week special presentation. The show paved the way for his long overdue showbiz comeback. Still good-looking at 42 and despite the freak accident, Raffy was included in GMA-7's afternoon soap, Maging Akin Ka Lamang, where he played a doctor. A new soap is also currently under negotiation, but Raffy would rather keep the details to himself, saying, "Baka maudlot."
He now lives in Cavite together with his mom. During weekends, Raffy makes it a point to visit friends in Manila and relax through their favorite recreation: mahjong.
"I must enjoy lang my life more," he beamed when asked what important life lesson the accident brought him. "Basta hindi ako nakakasakit, mag-i-enjoy na lang ako. Sabi ko, life is short, I'd rather enjoy my life to the fullest. I'll do whatever I want to do, basta hindi ako nakakatapak ng tao."
Raffy Romillo's outlook, including his tolerant attitude towards people, also assumes a wider perspective.
"Mas malalim ako ngayon," smiled Raffy. "Bago ako magalit sa isang tao, ayokong magalit kasi hindi ko alam ang pinagdadaanan ng taong ito, ‘yong mga ganoon. Mas alam ko na ngayon ‘yong value ng bawat character ng tao... tumaas ang pasensiya ko."