Happy si Christopher de Leon na siya ang napili ni Jinggoy Estrada para gumanap na kaibigan nito sa pelikulang Magkaibigan, na entry ng Maverick Films sa 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival. Sa pamamagitan daw ng movie na ito ay nakilala niya nang husto si Jinggoy.
"Aaminin ko, kami ni Senator Jinggoy, there was a little intimidation sa umpisa," ani Christopher nang ma-interview ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal). "Noong hindi ko pa siya masyadong kakilala, honestly, medyo intimidated ako. You know this guy is a tough guy. He's a senator, so he's tougher. We've heard him getting into fights and all that. Tapos sabi ni Phillip Salvador, he got a photographic memory pa. Sabi ko, ‘Talaga?'
"When I got to know him, he's a fine guy. He's a good person. He's down to earth. He eats a lot. He's a such a nice person. He's a good friend. I never thought that Jinggoy Estrada was like this. He's very accommodating. Kaya siguro siya nagustuhan ni Daboy na maging best friend because he's really a nice guy."
INSPIRED BY DABOY. Written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes, Magkaibigan is inspired by the real-life friendship of Jinggoy and the late Rudy "Daboy" Fernandez. Pero gustong linawin ni Christopher na hindi ang buhay ni Daboy ang ginagampanan niya rito, bagkus ay tribute ito sa kanilang kaibigan na si Daboy.
So, ano ang pakiramdam na gumanap ng isang role inspired by Daboy?
"It's a hard task for me as an actor," sabi ni Boyet. "Playing a sick person is very hard. Pinag-aralan ko talaga yung script nito. Grabe yung mga lines ko. Grabe yung mga lines namin ni Jinggoy. It's easier to memorize yung mga confrontation scenes, kasi I'm used to that. Ito kasi mahirap dahil it's very natural. Kapag binitiwan mo ang linya mo, it should be natural.
"So, it's harder to memorize kasi hindi ko nakagawian yung word for word. But it's very essential to say it like that, kasi yung material ni Direk Joey [Reyes], may rhyme, e. Yung pagkagawa niya, it's very natural na mayroong rhythm. Mula sa pagbitaw ng funny lines hanggang sa pagbitaw ng dramatic lines.
"When they offered me the role and I read the script, beautiful script by Direk Joey, I did not solely make Daboy as my reference. I saw him during his struggle. I saw him after his operation. And then when he was about to leave us and go to his eternal home, I saw him, heard him, touched him.
"It was hard to take kasi I'm used to seeing Daboy na matipuno, he's a tough guy, a fighter, ganun. You know, marami akong experience with a dying person, including my dad. So, hindi naging problema kung saan ko huhugutin yung emotions. I've seen a lot of deaths. I've seen a lot of friends die, relatives die. Mahirap kasi kung kay Daboy ko lahat ipo-focus yung akting ko. So, I took experiences from other people. Kasi iba yung requirement ng role na ginagampanan ko, e. Iba yung scenes na dinaanan namin," paliwanag ni Christopher.
Paano sila naging close ni Daboy?
"Kami ni Daboy, ‘70s pa lang magkasama na kami sa pelikula. Nandun pa si Lorna Tolentino as my leading lady, pero hindi pa sila noon. Tapos gumawa ako ng movie with him early ‘80s, yung Isang Milyong at Isang Kasalanan by Hemisphere Productions. That did well in the box-office, so sinundan siya nung Bahay-Bahayan, Kasal-Kasalan; kasama na namin si Alma Moreno at si Nora Aunor.
"During those times, kinumpare niya ako kay Mark [Anthony Fernandez, anak ni Rudy kay Alma Moreno]. Tapos ginawa ko siyang ninong nung second boy namin ni Sandy [Andolong], si Miguel. Noong ginagawa namin yung Bahay-Bahayan, pareho kaming mahilig maglaro ng billiards. Tapos halos sabay naming niyakap ang Panginoon. Tapos si Lorna naman, ako na yata ang pinakamaraming beses na naging leading man ni Lorna... I'm not sure. Ang dami na naming pinagsamahan," pagbabalik-tanaw ni Boyet.
WORKING WITH LORNA. Speaking of Lorna, officially ay isa na siyang Kapamilya at gagawa ng isang soap sa ABS-CBN. On top of her list daw para maging leading man niya ay si Christopher de Leon. Ano ang reaksyon ni Christopher dito?
"Really? Hindi ko alam ‘yan. We'll see, kung ano ang role ko. Huwag naman sanang kontrabida ulit [as in Kahit Isang Saglit]. Ang dami nang galit sa akin, e. Kapag lumalabas ako sa kalye, sasabihin ko ‘Hi!' Parang takot sila. Hindi katulad noon. If it's a good role, I'll grab it," saad niya.
But are you excited to work with Lorna again?
"Of course, I'm always excited to work with her. Lorna Tolentino...she's a pro. It's just like playing a championship sa tennis. She's a pro. When we get into our roles, we forget who we are," pagtatapos ni Christopher.