Beneath the skin deep “you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours” is a real friendship between action stars Roi Vinzon and Levy Ignacio.
Roi and Levy’s fraternal bond started in the 1990s when Vinzon was doing drama and action movies mostly as antagonist and Ignacio had jumpstarted his acting career from his judo and karate days with Rey Malonzo.
In his acceptance speech as one of the Movie Icon honorees during the 5th Eddys Awards of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (Speed) held last night at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Roi thanked Levy for believing in him.
“Si Levy ang nag-introduce sa akin sa ibang (He introduced me to new types of) action films,” said Vinzon in his message.
It was Ignacio who gave Vinzon a solo launching movie such as “Baby Paterno” which the former produced under Levin Films.
“Nag-a-action na noon si Roi pero pangkaraniwan ang mga stunts niya (Roi was already doing action movies at that time but his stunts were the usual moves),” commented Levy who in turn thanked his friend for remembering him.
“Tinuruan ko si Roi ng bagong stunts na martial arts ang (I taught him stunts which had martial arts as) foundation,” he informed.
Levy is a decorated martial artist in the Philippines and abroad.
When Vinzon and Ignacio were already best friends, the male kids of the former were enrolled in the karate school of the latter in the US.
Roi is married to Mae Cendaña who together with their children are based abroad for the longest time.
Meanwhile, Vinzon has a new ladylove in the Philippines.
When asked why he had mentioned Levy in his speech, Roi said they’re “BFFs.”
“Naalala ko nga siya pero ‘yong asawa ko, hindi ko man lang napasalamatan (I remembered him but I forgot to thank my wife),” the action star teased.