Veteran actors Tirso Cruz III, Christopher de Leon, and Bobot Mortiz were the Philippine Cinema’s heartthrobs during the 70’s era. They were extremely popular that there were times when they couldn’t get out of the house or attend their own movie premiere nights to avoid drawing a mob from ‘hysterical’ and adoring fans. Boy Abunda describes them as the 70’s Daniel Padilla, James Reid, and Enrique Gil.
Zealous fans pitted them against one another and the competition would even draw a violent physical clash among their supporters. “Patayan noon,” Tirso says in jest to describe their generations’ fandom wars. But, they never let the rivalry turn real. They, alongside the late Johnny Delgado, formed the “Lonely Hearts Club” at the time when they were all mending a broken heart.
Proving that their brotherhood managed to surpass the reel competition, the trio unites in a concert entitled “Timeless.” They’ve been rehearsing non-stop for the show and their natural flair for singing is a big help. Bobot was hailed as a champion in the original run of Tawag ng Tanghalan but he says his time was different compared to the modern-day contest dominated by singers doing high notes. Bobot eventually ventured into film directing.
Christopher says he idolized Tirso and Bobot who started out in the industry a couple of years ahead of him. In a fun game called “Who’s Who,” Christopher is described as their generation’s chick magnet. Bobot alludes him to actor Gerald Anderson while Tirso goes for the term “flavor of the week” to explain Christopher’s intense charisma to women.