Eddie Garcia, 89, works non-stop for 62 years
After 62 years in the entertainment industry, 89-year-old Eddie Garcia has a track record very few actors can match. Eddie has done close to 400 movies and television shows and shows no signs of slowing down. He has played almost every conceivable role: the archetypal villain, Fernando Poe Jr.'s perennial antagonist, real-life personalities with a clean image, henpecked husbands and even screaming fairies, to name a few.
For his artistry, he has amassed countless awards — 11 acting trophies and Hall of Fame recognition from Famas, an Urian Lifetime Achievement Award as well as an acting award for an indie film ("ICU Bed No. 7") from the Cultural Center's Cinemalaya. I haven't even mentioned his achievements as a movie director.
With the movie industry in the doldrums, television has given Eddie another medium to conquer. One of his projects, GMA-7's "Kung Mawawala Ka" ran for 60 weeks in 2002-2003. His last assignment was "Koreana" which aired its last episode on the Kapuso network recently.
Talk about being in demand. Only a few weeks after "Koreana" wrapped up, Eddie had a new assignment waiting for him from TV 5—the drama series "Babaeng Hampaslupa," which airs weeknights after "Willing Willie." He's up to no good again as he plays the role of Edward Wong, the brother of George Wong (Freddie Webb) who was shot dead in a previous episode.
Edward has just been released from a Hong Kong prison after serving 50 years. He was convicted of murdering his dad. Now he has surfaced to claim ownership of the Wong business empire. He's about to make life even more chaotic for the characters played by Susan Roces, Alice Dixson and Alex Gonzaga.
In the latest episode, Edward is the typical taipan, dressed impeccably and very business-like in his manners. Nothing seems to faze the former detainee as he manipulates the characters around him. However, when Edward has a showdown with his nephew over control of the Wong businesses, he shows his nasty side. With apologies to the Daniel Day-Lewis movie, we know that "there will be blood (literally and figuratively)" in future episodes. Eddie is the perfect choice for this villain.
At a recent press con for "BH," I learn that Eddie is scheduled to leave for Clark Field for a taping. He says he will probably be up till 3 or 4 a.m. the next day. How does he cope with the long hours? He says he gets a lot of rest because sleeping is not a problem with him. He can sleep any time of day. He admits, though, that he can no longer handle physically demanding scenes like he used to do in action movies. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak," he chuckles. Memorizing long lines is not a problem, though. "When I start having problems remembering my lines, I think that's the time I will retire," says Eddie.
Many show biz personalities invest their earnings in business ventures. Not Eddie. "I am not a businessman. I also believe that money earned but not spent is not your money." He does, however, lead a simple life. He doesn't care for jewelry, fancy cars or high-tech audio or video equipment.
Eddie's only "bisyo" is shooting, a hobby that he's cultivated since the 1960s. He has a military background, having served with the Philippine Scouts in the 1940s. In 1949, he and a friend auditioned for roles in Manuel Conde's "Siete Infantes de Lara." He got in and never looked back after that.
Like many other senior stars like Dolphy and Gloria Romero, retirement is not in Eddie's vocabulary. In a previous interview, I asked him what he thought about growing old. His reply: "Everybody grows old. I'm not afraid of growing old. I'm not afraid to die. When your time is up…when you gotta go, you gotta go," he says with a wide smile on his face.
Disclaimer: The views and observations of the author do not represent the position of Yahoo! Southeast Asia on the issue or topic being discussed.
