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Allen the activist

Allen Dizon thinks he's blessed. He doesn't have to march on the streets and ask the government to step down before it's too late. He does it the best way he knows how — through his indie films.

"Kahit hindi ako nagma-martsa o sumasama sa mga aktibista, ito ang contribution ko, ang paggawa ng makabuluhang pelikula," he said shortly before the screening of "Patikul," which is competing in the Directors' Showcase of the 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival at CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines).

One politically-charged film after another has given Allen the tag `activist actor.' And he considers the tag as a badge of honor.

Sure, anger, pity, fear, sorrow and all else in-between wracked him as an activist actor. But he doesn't care. Everything — especially relevant films — comes with a price.

He stifled sobs not once, but many times as Amman, the father of a bright boy whose education was in danger of being nipped in the bud.

"Binabasa ko pa lang yung script, naiiyak na ako," Allen recalls. "Magulang ako. At hindi ko hahayaang mawalan ng edukasyon ang myembro ng pamilya kayo."

Allen had to wipe away the tears the minute his director, Joel Lamangan, told him not to cry. "Patikul" is already a drama film, and copious tears can lead to overkill, direk Joel explained.

It was not easy, and Allen himself told his director so. But Allen had to toe the line.

After four films (the others are "Sigwa," "Dukot" and the upcoming "Deadline") with direk Joel, Allen doesn't have ifs and buts on the set. He endured painful kicks and the punches as a deep penetrating agent/military man in "Dukot." But Allen went on with the show and romped away with the Best Actor trophy in the 58th FAMAS.

Two years after it was shown in theaters, Allen still feels the effects of "Dukot" on his life and career. He is set to go to Europe, where the film will be shown in November. Then, it moves to Australia in January next year.

But before that, Allen will star in another disturbing film, "Deadline," where he plays a no-nonsense provincial journalist who risks his life to expose a political warlord in Mindanao.

Allen knows these films are not the kind that smell of box-office success.

"Hindi magbabayad ang mga tao para lang umiyak," he observes. "Nagbabayad sila para ma-entertain or ma-in love."

But he knows he's doing something worthwhile. Allen reports that the owner of an elite school in Pampanga where his children study, asked him if they can show "Patikul" before the kids.

Allen could have jumped up and down for joy.

"At least, makikita ng mga bata ang isang mundong bago sa kanila. Makikita nila gaano kahirap ang mawalan ng education."

This hands-on father makes sure he is home for his children everyday, even if it means traveling late at night after a shooting or taping in Manila, and arriving in his native Pampanga at odd hours in the morning or evening.

"I just had my Makati condo rented out because I can't sleep there alone," Allen declares. "Gusto ko palaging maingay. Ginigising ako ng bunso ko at sinasabing, `Daddy, play tayo.' Naglalaro kami kahit pagod ako."

His children, aged nine and six, can't watch Daddy's heavy films yet. But they recognize Allen when he has a TV show. His next is the new primetime suspense-erotic drama "Nasaan Ka, Eliza?" on ABS-CBN.

Showbiz may have been good to Allen all these years. But he can't see his children entering the industry for now.

"Hindi ko iniisip na pasukin ng mga bata ang showbiz. Gusto ko makatapos muna sila at magkaroon ng business. But they will have to decide for themselves," says Allen.

Until then, their dad will enjoy every trip to the mall with them, every meal in the fastfood chain of restaurant his wife runs in Pampanga, as if it were the last.

He may be running from one set to another, or shifting from one role to another, Monday to Sunday. But at the end of the day, Allen will always bring his bone-tired body home, where his family is waiting for him.

Right then and there, Allen will cast away all traces of the actor in him in the same way that he shed that sexy image for more mature, more fulfilling roles that bring out the best in him.