The Best Actor formerly known as RS Francisco

“Yes, it is my first acting award,” Raymond Francisco admitted about his Best Actor trophy for Bhoy Intsik as helmed by Joel Lamangan at the recently concluded Sinag Maynila 2017 film festival. This was opposite my top-of-mind awareness that he had reaped numerous awards in the stretch of his 20-year acting career.
Fracisco is noted for his sterling performances in the stage play M. Butterfly, the TV show Angels in America, the features Markova and Sibak (Midnight Dancers), the drama series Princess and I, the features She’s The One and Bwaya. All were critically raved.
Perhaps that had something to do with formerly being known as RS Francisco, but the transition is professional. Raymond is the gay actor known for his full female role of Song Liling in M. Butterly, who was advised to adapt the name of RS as it dissimulates his biological gender to make the audience believe his role. 
Like a chameleon, which changes its color based on the need of the environment, he once again changed it to Raymond as it increases his chance of success in penetrating the global cinema market. Bhoy Intsik joined international film festivals before being screened in the national cinemas circuit.
Raymond has this thing for bending himself. His method is more than technique. I complimented him about his perfect “beauty queen” nose as we wrapped up the interview, and he owned up, “It is real; the chin is not.” But do not ask him about his age yet you get the answer, “I will tell you when I am 100 years old.”
This reminds of his character name with the gang name of “Bhoy Intsik” which should have been “Girl Intsik” as he is male who decided to take the female gender. True to character, Bhoy Instik mouths in the feature written by Ronald Carballo: “Nilagyan ko ng ‘h’ ang Boy para mas malandi.”
As Bhoy Intsik wraps up with a Christmas theme, it is easy to associate it as made-for-the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival. But Raymond disassociated, “We planned to enter it in film festivals abroad. The Christmas scenes were because Bhoy Intsik’s birthday is December 24 and because of its underlying theme of selfless sharing.”
No spoiler here. “Sinag Maynila 2017 contacted us to submit our film for consideration and got accepted,” Raymond revealed.

TRUE STORIES OF TODAY. Small-time felons in this drugs-infested times, it results to Extra-Judicial Killings.
Bhoy Intsik, 48, is a tough gay and all-around hoodlum who is a principled soul, even straighter than the most honorable man in Sementeryo, a cemetery in Cavite turned into a living pit by the poor. He married a female (Shyr Valdez) who put up with his sex preference, but not his accidental killing of their only child. He turns into a modern Robinhood who steals from the rich and shares the loot with the less fortunate.
Marlon (Ronwaldo Martin), 18, is a good-looking young man with no permanent address. Like Bhoy, he’s a hustler, an illiterate but street-smart when it comes to how much money he has made from his trade. Marlon at 8 was abandoned by his mother, so he grew up in a lair of drug users, pushers, suppliers and dealers.
Bhoy and Marlon’s first encounter is accidental. They pass by a shabu den when Ninja Cops attack. They are booked for drug-use along with the genuine small-time addicts.
More encounters ensue, mostly situations wherein they compete over target money or valuable items, developing their bitter disdain for each other.
When Marlon loses the rundown bus where he shacks in, he pleads for a temporary shelter from Bhoy, a natural softie who accepts him.
Their true character appears upon living together. Bhoy initially detests Marlon’s untidy ways, but soon finds out the rough diamond in Marlon’s persona who learns fast from Bhoy’s endless lecturing on cleanliness.
Bhoy later softens up to his changed wild boy, starting to call him “son.” Same goes to Marlon who finally finds a family in Bhoy Intsik.
But Marlon’s former stint with drugs haunts him. His shabu supplier (Mon Confiado) wants him to pay up. Bhoy intercedes for Marlon and makes an ultimate parental sacrifice. Tentatively, Marlon is off the hook.
Bhoy is forgiven by ex-wife. Marlon is accepted by the protective adoptive parent/preacher (Tony Mabesa) of pregnant girlfriend Hanna (Elora Españo). But Fate plays a final bitter joke on Marlon, as if a felon like him cannot be happy ever after.
Others in the cast are Jeric Raval, Jim Pebanco with Mile Lloren, Alvin Fortuna, Ahwel Paz, Liz Alindogan and Dennis Coronel.

LEFT- AND RIGHT-BRAINER. And we’ve only touched on one aspect of Raymond’s accomplishment as actor. He’s a certified massive creative and scientific thinker.
At the University of the Philippines, the took up BA Mass Communications, formally training with Dulaang UP and taking part in New Voice Theater, Trumpets and Repertory Philippines’ productions. For his stunning annual performances at UP Samaskom’s epic “Live AIDS Show,” he astounded stage audiences and does so until now.
In 2009, he stopped acting in theater because to work in television commercials as assistant director. He became a favorite choice among huge celebrities and big brands like Globe, Smart, Chowking, McDonald’s, Jollibee and others.
With acting running through his veins and in-depth experience, he returned to acting in ABS-CBN drama series and full-length features.
Raymond is also a successful entrepreneur as president of Frontrow International that sells food supplement brands including the Luxxe New 8 Berry Extract anti-oxidants, skin-whitening products. He is also producing the James Reid and Nadine Lustre concert in Dubai on May 5, 2017.
Even before executive producing Francis Pasion’s Bwaya(2014), the unscreened Sherad Sanchez’s Salvage and Bhoy Intsik (2016), he co-produced Joselito Altarejos’ Kasal (2014) and Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s Lorna (2014).
Bhoy Intsik finally gave Raymond the long-awaited and much-deserved recognition. Besides winning Best Actor, it also won the Sinag Box Office Award for being the festival highest-grossing film.
Shedding tears out happiness, Raymond said in his acceptance speech, “I dedicate this trophy to my superb director, Joel Lamangan, to all the hardworking staff of Bhoy Intsik, my staff in Frontrow Entertainment, as well as my tribute to the LGBT community.”