Like Father, Like Son

Ika nga ng iba, like father, like son. Pero ibang level naman ang pagkapareho ni Keempee de Leon sa ama niya when it comes to his newest role. Text by Jason John S. Lim, with an Interview by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Keempee de Leon became part of Iskul Bukol before the show went off air. Ginampanan niya ang role na pamangkin ng Escalera brothers, kasama ni Nino Muhlach. Pero sa magiging big screen version reunion movie nito, ibang character ang gagampanan niya: bilang anak ni Joey de Leon. Hirap 'no? "Ako 'yung anak [niya] kay Patty Pulupot." Keempee tells the story na before daw, during the original run ng Iskul Bukol, the Escalera brothers loved to go to this bar called Agogo Banana. Tito Sotto's character fell in love with Mercing Taga and Joey de Leon loved Patty Pulupot. Patty gets remembered through a scene na talagang ikinatutuwa ni Keempee. "Dumating kaming [mga anak ng original cast] kasama nung mga girlfriends namin," he begins. Gian Sotto and Oyo Sotto introduce their girlfriends to their respective dads. But when it comes to Keempee, his introduction is "Girlfriend ko yan, Dad. Bagong girlfriend ko - si Patty." Ayon kay Keempee, hilarious daw ang scene na ito, especially ang magiging reaction ng dad niya sa pangalan ng bago niyang girlfriend. And what's more: "Kikay-kikay si Pauleen [Luna] doon, e 'yung Patty Pulupot, may pagka-ganoon din yata." This is not the first time na nagkasama si Keempee at ang dad niya sa isang movie. But it has been a long while since they had a movie together. "Masaya." Keempee says na proud siya sa movie hindi lang dahil kasama niya ang dad niya. "After 20 years or so, nagsama ulit 'yung Big Three sa screen. I think the last movie they did was back in 1988 or '89—or something like that. And to think it's part of history na eh." Dagdag ni Keempee, "Nakita ko ulit 'yung mga dating characters, the original characters, like Ritchie D'Horsie, Direk Bibeth [Orteza], Tonette Macho, Mely Tagasa." And that's not mentioning the many cameos pa na siguradong kalolokohan ng mga manunuod. "Sharon Cuneta is the sister of my dad and Tito dun sa show tsaka sa movie. So may cameo, may mga guest na tao, maraming aabangan." At isa pang aabangan—ang mga itsura ng Iskul Bukol cast around two decades later. "Naging mayaman sila lahat actually," sabi ni Keempee, but that doesn't mean na magiging fashionable na sila. Abangan 'yan when Iskul Bukol hits theaters starting December 25, as part of the Metro Manila Film Festival this year. Habang naghihintay, keep watching Keempee de Leon on LaLola, weeknights pagkatapos ng Gagambino.