Before people sat up and took notice of John Arcilla’s usually over-the-top, larger-than-life, award-winning performances, we had Raymond Bagatsing, known for his equally intense, powerful acting in everything he sank his teeth into.

An exceptionally gifted actor, Raymond unveiled sterling performances in movies like "Quezon’s Game," "Ang Kriminal sa Baryo Concepcion," "Captive," among others.

Best Actor awardee from the Asian Television Awards in Singapore in 2001 for an episode (The Wedding Ring) in "Maalaala Mo Kaya," the 54-year-old actor told a media conference recently that he refuses to rest on his laurels by not looking at his trophies. He keeps them hidden from view.

Raymond said so during a promotional activity for ''Nelia,'' a suspense-thriller entry to the 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival (Dec. 25, 2021 to Jan. 7, 2022).

“I refuse to put them on display at home. I figure that if one keeps on seeing them, one can get complacent and not move forward or improve furthermore,’’ he said.

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For Raymond, one of the highlights of his acting career was having been cast by Brillante Mendoza as co-actor to acclaimed French actress, Isabelle Huppert, in the Cannes winning film, "Captive.’’

Another was landing a hefty role in 2016’s "1898 Los Ultimos Filipinos", a Spanish production where he co-starred with Luis Tosar, directed by Salvador Calvo.

The veteran actor is also associated with dark characters which he channels to good use in a succession of TV drama serials. Raymond says he doesn’t mind getting stereotyped in those dark characters for as long as he can bring something new---a maniacal twist here, a devilish prank there, surprises everywhere---to the table.

Always, the former action star gets away with it. Menacingly, without as much as lifting a finger.

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In this regard, it would be interesting to cast Raymond and John Arcilla together as adversaries in one helluva movie.

Let’s see who can out-act, who can out-scream who.

By the way, Raymond is facing fellow actor, Yul Servo, in his bid for the vice-mayoralty seat in Manila in the 2022 election. Raymond’s grandfather, Ramon, was long-time Manila mayor in the 70s.

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In the now-showing "Nelia," Raymond is once more tasked with a very difficult role. He plays a doctor tormented by current events in his hospital, where one of the nurses displays shady behavior.

The movie, starring Winwyn Marquez in the titular role, is the maiden venture of A and Q Films, headed by lawyer partners Aldwin Alegre and Melanie Quino.

The 29-year-old beauty queen, who won the international title, Reina Hispanico-americana in 2017, announced during the media con that she was five-month pregnant.

"Nelia" also features Mon Confiado, Aly Forbes, Shido Roxas, Juan Carlos Galano, Lloyd Samartino, Dexter Doria, Dan Alvaro under the direction of Lester Dimaranan.