MOVIEGOER: His name is Gratitude
Published Dec 23, 2025 11:31 am
At one point, Senator Lito Lapid, speaking more as an actor than as a lawmaker, wondered aloud, “Kaya kaya ng mga apo ko na gawin ang mga stunts na ginawa ko noon?”
Sen. Lito Lapid (Facebook)
The topic shifted from governance to movie-making during the senator’s Thanksgiving lunch for the media on Dec. 8 in Quezon City.
Asked if he was willing to lend his life story to a biopic, Senator Lito expressed willingness but wondered who would be capable of playing his part. He insisted, however, that if and when such a project materialized, he would prefer that a family member, like a child or a grandchild of his, should play the young Lito Lapid.
At the same time, he confessed that he wasn’t even sure if any of his apos could tackle the part. One must consider that their lolo’s background is worlds apart from theirs. Lito grew up in poverty. He had to strive hard to succeed. His younger family members grew up in much more comfortable surroundings.
Senator Lito’s son, Mark Lapid, general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority, who sat next to him at the head table, said he couldn’t possibly play Lito Lapid in a movie. He encouraged his father to consider the legacy project seriously, as his story could inspire many young Filipinos in similar circumstances.
Always humble enough to admit that he’s relatively unschooled, unlike most of his peers, Senator Lito, however, is credited for having filed 71 bills and 14 resolutions thus far, making him one of the Upper Chamber’s most prolific lawmakers.
Senator Lito is known as a dedicated working legislator whose proposals directly address the needs of the masses.
He’s also known for his sense of gratitude, never failing to look back on his past and the people who helped him along the way. At the media lunch, he requested me to include in our opening prayer to remember the late movie columnist and talent manager, Lolita Solis, who was a fixture in our annual Christmas thanksgiving. Senator Lito also never forgot Jessie Chua (RIP), producer of Mirick Films, who gambled on casting him, then just a stuntman, as the lead star of The Jess Lapid Story.
It was the film that turned around Lito Lapid’s life in the movies and beyond. He also thanked former reporter Alex Marcelino, formerly his right-hand man, for supporting him throughout his career.