Cesar Montano

Cesar Manhilot[1] (born August 1, 1962), better known by his screen name Cesar Montano, is a Filipino actor, film producer and film director.

Cesar Montano
Montano in 2017 as COO of the Tourism Promotions Board
Born	Cesar Manhilot (1962-08-01) August 1, 1962 Manila, Philippines
Occupation	Actor, film producer, film director
Years active	1981–present
Spouse(s)	Sunshine Cruz (m. 2000–2013; annulled) Marilyn Polinga (until her death in 1993)

Montano started in show business as a commercial model.[2] He played roles in numerous B movies. He then played major roles in several action movies and a brief television career playing the lead role in the television sitcom Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis. His breakout role is his portrayal of José Rizal, the Philippine National Hero in the film José Rizal. The film is unprecedented as it portrays Philippine society during Spanish colonization of the Philippines and its relevance up to the present day. After his first Hollywood movie The Great Raid with Benjamin Bratt, he was cast in another Hollywood movie Another Deep Breath which was never actually shot.

Montano has won numerous acting awards in Panaghoy sa Suba (The Call of the River), José Rizal, Muro Ami (Reef Hunters) and Bagong Buwan (New Moon).

Aside from acting, Montano also embarked on a singing career, with the release of his music album Subok lang or Just try in 2000. He has also ventured into film production as well as directing, with Panaghoy sa Suba as his directorial film debut.

In May 2007, he unsuccessfully ran for Senate under the coalition TEAM Unity (TU). GMA News reported that he lost about P40 million worth of endorsement for running in public office. Montano also lost the 2010 Gubernatorial race in his home province of Bohol.

On July 13, 2010, Montano officially became a contract artist of GMA Network after signing a two-year exclusive contract with the said network.[3] In 2012, he left GMA 7 for TV5's Artista Academy.

In 2016, Montano was running as the 2nd nominee of Aangat Tayo party-list in the 2016 national elections, but subsequently lost. In the same year, he was appointed by Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo as the Chief Operation Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board.[4]

Biography and career

Montano, known by his nickname Buboy, was born and raised in Sta. Ana, Manila, Philippines. His paternal side traces its roots to the Manhilots of Baclayon, a town in Bohol.

Early work

Montano acted in stage productions at the University of the Philippines. He worked as a stuntman early in his career.[5]

Montano's first action movie, directed by Toto Natividad, is Leonardo Delos Reyes: Alyas Waway (1993). The two latter collaborated on such movies as Utol (1996), Biláng na ang Araw mo (1996), Pusakal (1997), Sanggano (1997), Kasangga Kahit Kelan (1998), Warfreak (1998), and Type Kita Walang Kokontra (1999).

He played national hero José Rizal in the historical biopic José Rizal in 1998. In 1999 film Muro Ami, he played Fredo, the boss of child laborers in the illegal fishing industry.[6] The film won thirteen awards at the 1999 Metro Manila Film Festival.[6]

Directing

Montano produced, directed and starred in the 2004 film Panaghoy sa Suba. It features Filipino actors Juliana Palermo, Jackie Woo, Philip Anthony, Caridad Sanchez, Joel Torre, Daria Ramirez, Ronnie Lazaro, Suzette Ranillo, Rommel Montano, Dr. Warfe Engracia, Ramon Villanueva, Chelo Espina, Flora Gasser, Disi Alba and Rebecca Lusterio. The film is set during World War II, and the story takes place mostly along the Loboc River in Bohol.[7] The film was Montano's directorial debut. It was filmed mostly in the Visayan language with an almost exclusively Visayan cast.[8] t was given an "A" rating by the Cinema Evaluation Board or CEB of the Film Development Council of the Philippines and was CM Films' entry to the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival.[9] The CEB described the film as "a poetic, sometimes even magical, current of silent struggle and survival."[9]

The Call of the River won multiple awards. It collected Second Best Picture (to Mano Po III: My Love), Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score and the Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award at the Metro Manila Film Festival, 2004;[10] and Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress at Gawad Suri Awards, Manila, 2005.[11]

Panaghoy sa Suba, which garnered 16 awards and 11 nominations including 5 from the Metro Manila Film Festival, was also given an endorsement by the UNESCO.[8] It was named Best Picture at the International Festival of Independent Films held in Brussels, Belgium. Montano was also chosen Best Director.[12] In addition, Montano also won Best Actor in Panaghoy sa Suba in the Golden Screen Awards.[13]

Panaghoy sa Suba was invited as an exhibition in the Tous les cinémas du Monde (Movies of the World) at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005.[14][15] It has also been invited for exhibition in other international film festivals in Berlin, Toronto, Tokyo, Korea and in the Czech Republic’s Karlo Vary Film Festival.[15]

Hollywood

In 2002, American film director and screenwriter John Dahl cast Montano in The Great Raid after taking notice of Montano's performance in the movie Muro Ami as well as an extensive open call audition and series of callbacks in Manila. He played Juan Pajota in the Miramax Film set in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines in 1945 during World War II. The film was shot mostly in Australia and partly in China.[16]

Montano was cast in another U.S. film, Another Deep Breath, scheduled to start shooting in the San Francisco Bay Area in March 2005.[17] Funding was never secured so the production never started shooting.

Music career

On 1 January 2000, Montano released his first music solo album entitled "Subok Lang" (Just Try) under Star Records.[18] On nine of the album's ten songs he is accompanied only by an acoustic guitar. He sings a duet on the second version "Kailan Ko Lang Sinabi" (When I Just Told You) with his wife, Sunshine Cruz, who is also a Filipino actress and recording artist. Subok lang went on to become Platinum record.[19]

Political career

Main article: 2010 Bohol local elections

Cesar Montano ran for a senate position under the Lakas Partylist in the 2007 elections and lost.[20] On May 19, 2009, he was appointed by then-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as her Presidential Special Envoy for Film and Digital Cinema, a newly created position accorded ambassador rank and given diplomatic status by the Department of Foreign Affairs.[21][22] He then again attempted to be involved in politics on October 13, 2009, when he filed his candidacy for governor in his home province Bohol. He lost the 2010 local election for the governor position.[23]

Personal life

Cesar Montano and wife Sunshine Cruz' 2.5-hectare rest house in Pandi, Bulacan..

Façade..

Montano is fluent in both Tagalog and Cebuano, and speaks his ancestral Boholano dialect. He is the fifth of seven children born to a lawyer father and mother that belonged to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Montano describes his father as a strict disciplinarian, and his mother imposing her religion's prohibitions against pork and movies.[19]

Montano attended Sta. Ana Elementary School and Mariano Marcos Memorial High School, finishing Mass Communication at Lyceum of the Philippines University in Intramuros, Manila.

Montano was first married to Marilyn Polinga, a fellow Boholano he met at a local Seventh-day Adventist church. Montano then worshipped at the Bread of Life Ministries International evangelical church in Quezon City, before becoming a congregant at Christ's Commission Fellowship in Mandaluyong together with his second wife, Sunshine Cruz, and his children. Polinga, with whom he had two children, died in 1993. Their second child, Christian Angelo Manhilot, died at the age of 23 on March 26, 2010, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at their house in Quezon City.[24]

His son with actress Teresa Loyzaga, Carlos Diego Loyzaga, lived with his mother in Australia, and has returned to the Philippines as an exclusive contract actor with ABS-CBN.[25][26][27]

Montano married Sunshine Cruz on September 14, 2000, in a Christian wedding.[28] They have three daughters, Angeline Isabelle, Samantha Angeline and Angel Francheska[29] He filed for annulment of marriage with Cruz, which was finally granted on August 26, 2013.

Aside from his farm in Pandi, Bulacan,[30][31] Montano also owns an Italian restaurant located in Quezon City.[32]

Cesar Montano has rejoined the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[33][34][35]

Filmography

Year	Title	Main Role	Notes
2017	Carlo J. Caparas Ang Panday	Police C/Supt. Erwin Rivera	CCM Film Productions, Viva Films & Star Cinema Films
2016	FPJ's Ang Probinsyano	PS/Insp. Hector Mercurio	ABS-CBN
2016	Bakit Manipis ang Ulap?	Leo Cabrera	TV5
2015	Nilalang	Tony	(Haunted Tower Pictures, WeLovePost, Parallax Studios & Viva Films)
2015	Kid Kulafu	Sardo	(Ten17P)
2014	ASOP Music Festival	Himself	Composer (UNTV News and Rescue)
2014	The Ryzza Mae Show	Himself	Guest (GMA Network)
2013	Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas	Conrad Alperos	GMA Network
2013	Alfredo S. Lim: The Untold Stories	Alfredo S. Lim	CM Films Productions and Viva Films
2013	Never Say Goodbye	Javier Montecastro	TV5
2012	El Presidente	Andres Bonifacio y de Castro	VIVA Films, CMB Film, Scenema Concept Int.
2012	Biktima	Mark de la Cruz	Alba Productions and Star Cinema
2012	Gandang Gabi, Vice!	Guest	ABS-CBN
2012	Hitman	Ben	Viva Films & CM Films (Cesar Montano's Comeback Action Movie)
2012	Artista Academy	Himself/Host	TV5
2011	Andres de Saya	Andres Taguyod	(GMA Network)
2010	Puso ng Pasko: Artista Challenge	Challenger	(GMA Network)
2010	Ilumina	Romano Sebastian	(GMA Network)
2010	Hole in The Wall	Guest Host	(GMA Network)
2009	Wowowee	Himself	Guest Co-Host (ABS-CBN)
2008–2010	The Singing Bee	Host	Host (ABS-CBN)
2008	Palos	Fabio Cassimir / Palos	Main Role (ABS-CBN)
2008	Pinoy Mano-Mano: The Celebrity Boxing Challenge	Himself	host (ABS-CBN)
2008	Urduja	Limhang (voice only)	APT Entertainment, Seventoon and Imaginary Friends
2007	Asian Treasures	Pancho Pistolero	guest cast (GMA Network)
2006	Ligalig	MMFF Entry
2006	The Rootcutter	pre-production
2006	Batang Maynila		Director
2006	Ang Pagbabalik ng Bituin: A Mega cClebration	Himself	performer
2005	Dagohoy	Dagohoy/Jeremiah Roxas
2005	Balangiga Massacre
2005	The Great Raid	Guerilla Leader Captain Juan Pajota	Miramax Films
2004	30th Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines Awards Night	Himself-awardee	TV
2004	Panaghoy sa Suba (The Call of the River)	Duroy	actor, director, producer
2003	Chavit Singson Story	Chavit Singson
2003	Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis	Buboy Magtanggol / Sean Serrano
2002	Kapalaran	Himself	TV series
2002	Lakas Sambayanan (People Power)[36]		Documentary
2001	Bagong Buwan (aka New Moon)	Ahmad Ibn Ismael
2001	Mananabas: Mga ligaw na talahib (aka The Reaper)		Writer
2001	Alas dose	Titus	(Viva Films) Directed by: Augusto Salvador and Cesar Montano
2001	Larawan		(TV Mini Series) GMA Network
2001	Baliktaran: Si Ace at si Angelique	Cameo
2001	Hostage	Jimmy Pizarro	Actor, writer
1999	Muro Ami (aka Reef Hunters)	Fredo
1999	Bullet	Bullet	actor, line producer (Viva films)
1999	Type kita, walang kokontra	Victor	Star Cinema with John Regala and Dayanara Torres, directed by Toto Natividad (Released Date: 27 January 1999)
1999	Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis	Buboy Magtanggol	TV series with Maricel Soriano (ABS-CBN)
1998	José Rizal	José Rizal
1998	Warfreak: Walang sinasanto, walang pinapatawad (Warfreak)	Jack Llamas	Neo Films (Released Date: 25 November 1998) (Directed by: Augusto Salvador and Toto Natividad)
1998	Alyas Boy Tigas: Ang probinsyanong wais	Cameo
1998	Kasangga Kahit Kailan	Bardo Santa Mesa/Benjie Borres	Neo Films (Released Date: 22 July 1998) (Directed by: Toto Natividad)
1997	Sanggano	Diego	Mega Vision Films (Release Date: 26 November 1997) (Directed by: Toto Natividad)
1997	Wala nang iibigin pa	Daniel	Viva Films (Directed by: Toto Natividad)
1997	Kadre	Ruben Torres	Premiere Productions (Released Date: 22 October 1997)
1997	Pusakal	King Rustia	Solar Films (Released Date: 4 June 1997)
1997	Batas ko'y bala	Guiller	Mega Vision Films (Released Date: 11 September 1996)
1996	Bilang na ang araw mo	Raphael Villegas	Neo Films (Released Date: 12 June 1996) (Directed by: Toto Natividad)
1996	Kung kaya mo, kaya ko rin	Mac
1996	Utol	Jaime Cordero	Star Cinema Productions Inc. (Released Date: 24 April 1996)
1995	The Lilian Velez Story	Narding Anzures
1995	Silakbo	Andy
1995	Asero	Victor Asero
1995	Manalo, matalo, mahal kita	Jack
1994	Talahib at Rosas	Jacob
1994	The Cecilia Masagca Story: Antipolo Massacre (Jesus Save Us!)	Winifredo Masagca	Viva Films
1993	Markadong Hudas	Daniel Braganza
1993	Alyas Waway	Leonardo "Waway" delos Reyes	Moviestars Production (Released Date: 13 October 1993) (Directed by: Toto Natividad)
1993	Ikaw lang	Alfred	Moviestars Production (Released Date: 25 August 1993)
1992	Eh! Kasi Bata	Glen
1992	Sumayaw Ka Salome	Leo
1992	Hiram na Mukha	Julio
1991	Kapag nag-abot ang langit at lupa	Hamil
1991	Ganito Ba Ang Umibig?	Armand
1991	Mainit, masarap ... parang kaning isusubo
1990	Hindi Laruan ang Puso	Mark
1990	Machete: Istatwang buhay	Machete
1989	Ako ang batas: General Karingal	Lt. Reyes
1989	Sagot ng Puso	Efren
1989	Kasalanan ang buhayin ka	Jimie
1989	Bihagin ang dalagang ito	Hector
1989	Kokak	Ralph Palomeno
1989	Lihim ng Golden Buddha	No
1989	Ang bukas ay akin	Predo
1988	Puso sa puso	Noel
1985	Hinugot Sa Langit	Cesar
1984	Working Girls	Office Bully tormenting the character portrayed by Rio Locsin
1983	Broken Marriage	Ralph Palomeno
1982	Relasyon
1982	Ang Tapang Para sa Lahat!	Young Alex
1982	Annabelle Huggins Story
1981	Waway[19]	Waway
1981	Agos [19]		with Gretchen Barreto
1980	Regal Shocker[19]
1980	Itak[19]
1979	The Maricel Soriano Drama Special[19]

Discography

Albums and singles

Album information
Subok lang (Just try) Released: 1 January 2000 (Philippines) Star Records Chart positions: RIAA certification: Platinum P.I. Sales: Worldwide sales: Singles: 2000: "Sana Dumating Ka Na" (I Hope You Come Soon) 2000: "Sa Pagpatak NG Ulan" (When the Rain Drops) 2000: "Kailan Ko Lang Sinabi" (When I Just Told You) 2000: "All My Life" 2000: "Ikaw Lang "(Only You) 2000: "Subok Lang" (Just Try) 2000: "Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin" (Even If You Leave Me) 2000: "Magic of Love" 2000: "Kailan Ko Lang Sinabi" (When I Just Told You) 2000: "Ikaw Pa Rin" (Still You)

Awards

Year	Award Given Body	Category	Work	Result
1989	Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Supporting Actor	Ang Bukas ay Akin	Won
1998		Best Actor	Jose Rizal[37][37]	Won
2001			Bagong Buwan	Won
2004		Best Director	Panaghoy sa Suba [37][38]	Won
2004	Film Academy of the Philippines Awards (FAP)			Won
	Gawad Urian Awards	Best Actor		Won
		Best Director		Won
	Brussels International Film Festival	Best Actor		Won
2006	Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Actor	Ligalig	Won
2012		Best Supporting Actor	El Presidente	Won

References

1. "Cesar Montano's son commits suicide". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
2. Biography Archived February 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine www.tv.com Retrieved 29 November 2006.
3. ""Transfer to GMA7"". Archived from the original on July 22, 2010.
4. "Cesar Montano to head Tourism Promotions Board". ABS-CBN News. December 6, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
5. "Cesar Montano: Biography". TV.com. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
6. Muro Ami www.geocities.com Retrieved 30 November 2006.
7. "Cesar Montano's not-so-impossible dream". www.newsflash.org. Archived from the original on 1 January 2006.
8. Panaghoy sa Suba, Thefreeman.com, Retrieved 30 November 2006. Archived November 30, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
9. "A-rating for 'Panaghoy sa Suba'". www.inq7.net. Archived from the original on 12 November 2005.
10. And the winners are... Archived 2008-02-04 at the Wayback Machine www.abs-cbn.com Retrieved 30 November 2006.
11. The Call of the River Archived 2008-01-12 at the Wayback Machine www.cinemaya.net Retrieved 30 November 2006.
12. Two Pinoy films triumph at international film fests Archived 2006-04-26 at the Wayback Machine www.abs-cbnnews.com Retrieved 30 November 2006.
13. Congrats sa mga Winners ng Golden Screen Awards Archived 2008-02-04 at the Wayback Machine www.abs-cbn.com Retrieved 30 November 2006.
14. Panagahoy sa Suba (Call of the river) to Cannes Filmfest Archived 2006-12-14 at the Wayback Machine, Newsflash.org, Retrieved 30 November 2006.
15. Cesar Montano’s Panaghoy... to screen in Cannes filmfest, Filipinoreporter.com, Retrieved 30 November 2006.
16. The Great Raid, IMDb.com, Retrieved 30 November 2006.
17. Cesar Montano to star in another Hollywood movie www.inq7.net Retrieved 30 November 2006.
18. Subok lang Retrieved 30 November 2006.
19. From Hunk to hero to hollywood, Inq7.net, Retrieved 30 November 2006.
20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
21. Chiu, Rey Anthony (5 June 2009). "PGMA names Montano envoy for film, camera". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
22. Sy, Marvin (4 June 2009). "Cesar Montano named special film envoy". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
23. "Archived copy". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2016-03-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
24. "Cesar Montano's son commits suicide". ABS-CBN News.
25. Franco, Bernie (2011-03-09). "Showbiz newbie Carlos Diego Loyzaga joins 'Mara Clara'". Push.com.ph. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
26. "Cesar Montano's son signs contract with ABS-CBN". ABS-CBN News. 13 March 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
27. Rowena Joy A. Sanchez (13 March 2011). "Cesar Montano's son ventures into showbiz". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
28. "Archived copy". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2019-11-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
29. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2019-11-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
30. ""Bulacan Farm Article 1"". Archived from the original on August 9, 2010.
31. "Agribusinessweek". Ww5.agribusinessweek.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015.
32. "Bellisimo Restaurant" Archived August 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
33. "Cesar Montano Converted into SDA". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
34. "Cesar Montano Conversion Story". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
35. "Cesar Montano testimony during Hope Baybay 2014". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
36. "Lakas Sambayanan: People Power (1 of 10)" – via www.youtube.com.
37. Regal Films Retrieved 29 January 2007.
38. Cesar Montano wins film award in Brussels Archived 2016-01-13 at the Wayback Machine www.boholchronicle.com Retrieved 29 November 2006.

External links

• Cesar Montano on IMDb
• Cesar Montano in BIKTIMA Manila Times