Ramon Revilla Sr.

José Acuña Bautista, or popularly known as Ramon Revilla Sr. (born José Bautista y Acuña on March 8, 1927)^[1] is a Filipino actor and former Senator of the Republic of the Philippines.

He is best known as the "Hari ng Agimat" (lit. King of Amulets) in Philippine movies.

Personal life

He is the youngest child of the 10 children of businessmen Ildefonso Bautista and Andrea Acuña.

Reports say that he fathered 72 children from different women, however only 38 of his children are officially acknowledged and carry his surname. Evelyn Bautista-Jaworski, the eldest among the children and wife of former senator and PBA legend, Robert Jaworski while the youngest is named Abigail.^[2]

The first family of Ramon Revilla Sr. is with the mother of Evelyn Bautista-Jaworski.

Ramon Revilla's wife is Azucena Mortel they produced 7 children; namely, Marlon, Rowena Bautista-Mendiola, Jose Marie (Bong Revilla), Rebecca Bautista-Ocampo (Princess Revilla), Edwin (Strike Revilla), Andrea Bautista-Ynarez, and Dianne.

And with Genelyn Magsaysay, they produced 9 offsprings; namely, Ram Revilla, Ma. Ramona Belen (Mara), Ragene Anne, Ragelyn Gail, Ram Joshua, Ramon Joseph (RJ), Raphael Julius, Reuben Jesse, and Ramlyn Gabrielle.^[3]

Ram Revilla murder

On Oct. 17, 2013, Ramon Revilla Sr., father of the deceased Ram Revilla broke his silence and officially aired his emotions about the Ram Revilla Murder Case and thus gave his official statement:^[4]

Statement of Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. on the Birthday of his Son, Ramon Joseph, Who Has Been Under Detention for Two Years Now:

"Para akong nabagsakan ng mundo ng malaman ko na ang aking anak na si Ramon Joseph ay hindi nabigyan ng piyansa ng hukuman. (I felt like the world fell on me when I was informed that my son Ramon Joseph was not allowed by the court to post bail.)

Ako po ay naniniwalang hindi magagawa ng anak ko ang ganiyang bagay na karumaldumal. (I do believe that my son cannot do anything like that.)

Ang mga anak ko ay lumaki sa salita ng Panginoon. Isa siyang mabait na anak. (My children grew up in the word of God. He is a nice son.)

HINULI SIYA NG WALANG WARRANT OF ARREST AT HALOS DALAWANG TAON NA SIYANG NAGDURUSA SA KULUNGAN. INOSENTE PO ANG AKING ANAK. (He was arrested without a warrant of arrest and for almost two years he has been suffering in jail. My son is innocent.)

TULUNGAN PO NINYO KAMI SA PANALANGIN PARA SA KATARUNGAN NG AKING MGA ANAK NA SINA RAMGEN, RAMONA, AT RAMON JOSEPH. (Help us in prayers for justice for my children Ramgen, Ramona, and Ramon Joseph.)"

Former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr.

Rancho Bacoor, Cavite, Oct. 17, 2013.

— Ramon Revilla, Sr., Revilla, Sr. Official Statement

Revilla statue unveiled

On his 90th birthday last March 2, 2017 the statue of Ramon Revilla Sr. was unveiled to the public.^[5]

The 10-meter bronze statue was made by Filipino sculptor and national artist Eduardo Castrillo. It was unveiled at Revilla's residence in Bacoor, Cavite.^[5]

Also during this event, Revilla's children gave him another surprise by officially opening the "Memo Revilla," a museum showcasing his old photographs and film memorabilia such as the "anting-anting" (amulet) and "panday" (sword).^[5]

The "Hari ng Agimat" 's star-studded birthday celebration was attended by the biggest names in Philippine show business and politics alike. Former presidents Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were among the big personalities who came to the event.^[5]

Education

Ramon Revilla Sr. graduated in Far Eastern University wherein he finished his bachelor's degree in commerce.

Showbiz career

In his initial showbiz entry, the young Ramon Revilla was cast only in bit roles which was not enough for him so he left the movies to become head of the Secret Service Unit of the Bureau of Customs in 1965.

He returned to showbiz in 1972 with the movie Nardong Putik, which started his fame.

Like the tough guy he was, he returned to showbiz on his own terms, creating his own film production, Imus Productions, for him to star in. Together with partner Azucena, they ran the film outfit with Revilla writing and directing his films.

His characters in the films "Pepeng Agimat" and "Nardong Putik" gave him the image of being an invincible superhuman who had in his keeping a special anting-anting (amulet of superhuman powers). This image of his is somewhat alive until now because as just recently ABS-CBN adapted his 4 major films into television series entitled Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla.

Awards

In 1973, Revilla won a Famas Best Actor Award for "Hulihin si Tiyagong Akyat" together with his son Marlon Bautista for a Famas Best Child Actor Award of the same movie. Imus Productions was also recognized as Outstanding Film production in 1975. The next year, Revilla snagged the Outstanding Producer of the Year Award.

In 1979, he was Most Outstanding Actor and Box Office King. At that point, there was really no stopping of his popularity.

In 2011, in the 33rd Catholic Mass Media Awards Night (CMMA), Ramon Revilla Sr. was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.^[6]

Politics

In 1992, the action hero, became a senator, holding office until the end of his two terms in 2004.

Despite having a number of detractors, Senator Ramon Revilla Sr., was able to mark his stay in the senate as the author of some important bills. But the one he spearheaded that raised his popularity was the bill casually called the "Revilla Bill".

An amendment to the Family Code law of the Philippines, enacted into the law on February 2004, states "The illegitimate children may use the surname of their father if their affiliation has been expressly recognized by the father through the record of birth appearing in the civil register, or when an admission in a public document or private handwritten instrument is made by the father."

"The child should not suffer the stigma of his illegitimacy," the Revilla Sr. was once quoted as saying.

Filmography

Movies

References