Carlo J. Caparas has earned a fan in Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr.

In a press conference held for the movie Ang Panday yesterday, December 16, at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City, the actor-turned-politician said the controversial director actually “paved” his showbiz career.

“Carlo actually paved the way for me to showbiz,” Bong said, whose first adult role in movies was through Caparas’s Dugong Buhay. “I was a greenhorn then and Carlo, along with my father [Ramon Revilla, Sr.], gave me all the encouragement.”

Bong’s next movies were also written and directed by the “Massacre King”—Ang Dibdib ng Sierra Madre and Pieta 2.

It was in Ang Dibdib ng Sierra Madre where Bong met his wife Lani Mercado, who is now running for congresswoman in Cavite.

“Kaya memorable sa amin ni Lani ang movie na ‘yan,” Bong said.

Now, Bong is reunited with Caparas for Ang Panday, an entry of the Revilla-owned Imus Productions to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). This is why the statesman is very excited to show the movie to the viewing public.

Ang Panday is expected to top the box office, Bong added.

In a statement, Director Caparas said Bong was an easy pick to fill the shoes of the late Box-office King Fernando Poe, Jr., who was responsible for making “Panday” a Filipino household name.

“After FPJ, nobody but Bong perfectly fits Panday’s shoes. I’m sure that wherever he is, FPJ is rest assured that Bong will beautifully carry on the ‘Panday’ legacy,” the self-declared komiks king said.