Action star Vic Tiro was first acknowledged as the new Bruce Lee of the Philippines by the late comedian action hero Ramon Zamora (who was discovered as a dancer for LVN Pictures).
It was in the first wave of the millennium and Ramon was already in his senior years so he wanted to revive the Bruce Lee generation, at least recreate the decades of kung fu and karate, that became the fad during the early seventies with him as the local version of the Hollywood action superstar and Hong Kong popular martial artist.
Bruce Lee was already long past dead—he died of brain edema in 1973 at the height of his career—but his mystique had been influential even in the current times as Jacky Chan and other martial artists, especially Chinese actors, continue to relive his death-defying stunts, comedic and otherwise.
“Nang makita ako ni Kuya Ramon, ang sabi sa akin, ‘ikaw na ang susunod na (When he saw me, he immediately said that I was the next) Bruce Lee of the Philippines after him,” recalled Vic who is now an actor, writer, director and producer in his own right.
Tiro recounted his teenage years when he would impersonate Bruce Lee including his hairdo with the bangs trademark, studied martial arts, and moved like a swift as thunder action man. “Mahilig na akong mag-ipon ng mga photos ni Bruce Lee mula sa mga special na isyu ng mga magasin kahit na matagal na rin siyang patay noon pero sikat na sikat pa rin (I was already into collecting his photos from different sources like magazines which had special issues on him even if he was long gone but she was still popular),” shared Vic.
“Nang mamatay si Kuya Ramon, sabi ko, ‘wala na, wala na akong suporta’ (When Old Brother Ramon died, I told myself, ‘you don’t have support anymore’),” Tiro quipped.
But Vic was wrong.
It’s because Robin Padilla became his guarantor.
“Sabi sa akin ni Robin, ikaw pa rin ang (He told me I am still the) Bruce of the Philippines. Totoo ‘yan. Hindi ako nagtsatsamba o nagsisinungaling (That’s true. I don’t tell a lie),” said Vic. (Please follow forthcoming OpinYon Laguna, OpinYon 08, OpinYon news online publications for a broader and lengthier discussion on Robin Padilla calling Vic Tiro the new Bruce Lee of the Philippines)