October 20, 1969
Donnie Ramirez
We were originally agreed to meet on a Friday, but the meeting didn’t take place until the following Monday. Friday unexpectedly turned out to be a busy day and when I called up my friend at Meralco, an officemate of Robert Jaworski who arrange for the appointment to reschedule my meeting with the cager-turned-actor, he said that it was a good thing because “J” – that’s how he calls him – was also tied up that day.
Early Monday morning, my friend was on the other end of the line, telling me to work out my timetable because Robert Jaworski, FPJ Productions’ bright new star material, will be waiting for me at Meralco at 3 in the afternoon.
“Big J” – that’s how sportscasters and sports scribes have dubbed him because of his built and speed in the hardcourt – is big, a towering six-footer with big, bright eyes and a disarming grin. When we shook hands, his firm grip easily gave him away as an athlete.
Robert Jaworski is good-looking, not in the same pretty boy likeness of Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis and Alain Delon, but more in the style of Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and George Peppard. His is a magnetism that is best described as “animal” – like that of the tough, outdoor-loving Marlboro man, or Goodrich’s hard-driving man!
Down to the basement cafeteria we descended, and over Pepsi (for me) and hot tea (for him), we had our talk. We were intermittently interrupted by officemates who, passing by our table, ribbed him good-naturedly by asking for “autographs.”
“I’m getting used to that,” Sonny – that’s how he’s called by friends – told me smilingly. “Ever since the news leaked out that I’m going to be in the movies, hindi na ako tinigilan ng kantyaw ng mga kaupisina ko.”
It was pretty obvious that he was a celebrity at Meralco. After all, he is one of the stars of the crack basketball team of the giant electric company. Despite the presence of imported hoopsters in the MICAA, Lloyd Higgins, Bill Robinson, Bob Lewis and Paul Scranton, Jaworski always manages to shine on his own, providing a professional brand of hardcourt excitement and action in MICAA cage hooplas.
“I’ve been dribbling the ball since I was a kid,” Sonny told me at A&W in Cubao where we carried on our talk after office hours. But I never imagined that I will someday be playing for the big league like I’m doing now!”
“I’ve travelled at least ten times,” he said, “all because of basketball. I’ve been to Southeast Asia, Middle East, South America and the United States. Matter of fact, I’ve seen more of foreign cities than of the Philippines, that’s why I’m looking forward to the provincial tours in connection with the selection of the Philippines team to the forthcoming Asian Basketball Confederation games in Bangkok in November.”
The final lineup for the ABC tournament is still to be formed and announced, but Jaworski is generally conceded as one of the sure bets for inclusion in the 12-man national team. The Philippines is the defending champion as a result of its convincing victory over the South Korean team at the last ABC games held two years ago in Seoul, Korea.
How did it come to pass that Jaworski got himself in the movies?
“The news about my joining the movies came as a big jolt to most people, I guess. Well, it was a surprise for me, too. I never fancied myself as a cinema actor, not until a man came to my place some few months ago. He said he was sent by Fernando Poe, Jr., who had asked him to fetch me because he wanted to discuss an important business proposition with me. The proposition, as you will guess, was an offer to act for his movie outfit.”
Did he know Ronnie before?
“Yes but not very well. I know he is an avid basketball aficionado. I also know that he is a pretty good player himself. I’ve heard a lot about his cage team at FPJ. It was his brother, Andy, though, with whom I’m more acquainted.”
What made him to decide to accept the offer?
“I gave it a lot of serious thought. I consulted my family and loved ones and they were all against the idea. But I thought again, and I became convinced that it wouldn’t hurt me any if I try. If I click as an actor, it would spell better security for myself and my family.”
Is he planning to quit his job at Meralco and concentrate full-time on acting?
“Oh no! Before I gave my nod to Ronnie, I discussed the matter lengthily with my bosses. They didn’t offer any objections. As a matter of fact, they liked the idea.”
Wouldn’t an acting career interfere with his job?
“I hope not. Lucky for me, the FPJ people realize that I’ve got a very busy schedule. There’s my work at Meralco. Then, there’s my basketball activities especially the workouts sessions for ABC, which are presently going on full-blast. They have assured me that they will work out the schedule of my shootings so that it would not conflict with my other commitments.”
Twenty-three-year-old Robert Jaworski is being introduced in “Fando,” the big color period photoplay which stars Fernando Poe, Jr. in the title role. Immediately after “Fando,” he will be launched to stardom in a contemporary action-drama entitled, “Mga Batang Estibador,” with Paquito Diaz.
Does he envision himself as a tough hero in the image of the late Jess Lapid?
“I don’t know yet what FPJ is planning for me. I guess with my built and looks, action vehicles seem just the natural cup of tea for me. But I would not want to be typecast. I would want to do comedies and musicals, too. I am not saying that I am a Fred Astaire or an Elvis Presley. But I think I can dance and sing a little.
Robert Jaworski was born in Baguio City of Polish-American-Filipino parentage. His father is already deceased and only his mother is left to take care of the family consisting of four sons and three sisters, of which Sonny is the eldest.
Robert graduated from the University of the East Class of ’66, with a BSBA diploma. He majored in Marketing and Management. He has been with Meralco for the last year where he works at the Personnel Department. While in college, he was a member of the varsity team that copped the UAAP championship for three consecutive years. He was also the skipper of the UE squad that won the National Inter-Collegiate Invitational Series twice in a row.
Robert Jaworski’s fate as a movie actor could only be forecasted after he is seen in his film debut in “Fando.” Right now, basketball fans in the country who regard him as one of the finest cage players to come out of Philippines sportsdom in a long, long while are wondering whether he will make it to the big time in showbusiness in the same spectacular manner that he made in big-league basketball.
Let’s hope. Better yet, let’s wish him well. Philippine movies is so sorely in need of fresh new talents and Robert Jaworski seems like a very good prospect to augment the pressing need.