The homes Tirso Cruz III, Ice Seguerra owe to Mother Lily

When Tirso Cruz III started his own family in the early 1980s, the late Regal Films matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde gave him a piece of advice he would never forget.

“In one of our past conversations, Mother told me, ‘Ikaw, Tirso, matuto kang mag-ipon para sa pamilya mo… You should take care of yourself and your family,’” the veteran actor said in his eulogy at the iconic film producer’s wake at the family’s storied property in Valencia, Quezon City.

And Tirso was, in fact, hoping to purchase a small home for his family that time. “When she heard that, she offered to help me buy the house I was eyeing. ‘Sige, tulungan kita,’ she said. “It was a big thing for me because going out and buying a house is no joke. It cost a lot of money,” he said.

Mother Lily bought the house. Tirso promised to pay it off by doing movies. “Sige Mother, I will pay for it by working,” related the 72-year-old-actor.

“A couple of years later, she called me and said, ‘Punta ka dito, kunin mo na ang bahay mo.’ I was like, ‘Mother, may utang pa ako sa ‘yo.’ But she insisted: ‘Sige ka, kapag may nangyari sa ‘kin, wala kang bahay,’” he related.

True enough, the papers had already been sorted out. “It was under my name,” added Tirso, who topbilled numerous Regal Films productions, including his 1985 reunion movie with Nora Aunor, “‘Till We Meet Again,” and the award-winning “Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit” (1989).

Unfailing support

Another actor Mother Lily helped buy a home was Ice Seguerra. Or rather, she gifted him one. After the former child star’s big break on television via the noontime show “Eat Bulaga!” and the sitcom “Okay Ka, Fairy Ko,” film stardom beckoned, thanks to Mother Lily.

In 1988, Ice scored a string of box-office hits: “Wake Up, Little Susie,” “Super Inday and the Golden Bibe,” “Petrang Kabayo at ang Pilyang Kuting,” “Good Morning, Titser” and “Me and Ninja Liit.”

The house was a bonus. “The impact Mother Lily had on my career was immense. She was the first person who gave me my first break in film. Because of the success of the movies I did, she gave me a house,” Ice recalled in a recent interview with the Inquirer.

“It was located in Cubao and we lived there for the longest time… I think I was just 5 years old when she gave it to me,” the singer-songwriter said.

But more than the material assistance and rewards, what Tirso and Ice will always cherish about their respective relationships with Mother Lily was the support and concern she unfailingly showed them, and the opportunities to work with some of show biz’s greatest talents.

A cut above the rest

“She was concerned not only about me, but also about my kids, like my eldest, Bodie, who’s her godson. When my career stalled, she was the only one who trusted me and gave me another break,” Tirso said. “When there were special occasions, like my birthday, she would tell me to just hold it here, at her place. ‘Invite your family and friends. You don’t have to worry about anything. I will take care of it,’ she would assure me.”

For Tirso, Mother Lily, as a producer, was a cut above the rest because she was a genuine fan of Philippine cinema.

“I owe a huge part of my career to her support… She really enjoyed what she did. When she created, it was not only for financial gain, but also for sharing her love for entertainment,” he added. “She made movies people didn’t believe in at first, but she stuck to her gut. She had a feel for what people would like.”

Asked what movie he was most proud of, Ice said it had to be “Aswang” (1992), which had him working with Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes for the first time.

“That chance to collaborate with such master directors was mind-blowing. I love horror movies. I learned a lot and enjoyed the process,” said Ice, who also starred in the fourth and sixth installment of the horror franchise, “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”

And while they’re not exactly getting any younger, they quipped, Tirso and Ice will always see themselves as “Regal Babies.”

“Even when I started to lie low from acting, she would still reach out to me. She was always warm. When I expressed interest in directing films, she said, ‘Sige, gawa ka dito,’’’ Ice said. “She was one of our industry’s pillars. She had her quirks, as some may know. But we can’t deny her contributions to the industry.”

“She helped so many families and launched so many careers,” he added. “I’m happy to be a Regal Baby.”

His moments and memories with Mother Lily, Tirso vowed, will “never, ever fade” from his heart. “I can say that, at one point or another in our lives, our paths crossed. I’m very proud to say that, at my age, I’m a Regal Baby. Always have been,” he said. “And to her, I say not goodbye, but just good night.”