Richard Gomez gives politics a rest

RICHARD Gomez at the last Sona event, with wife Lucy, a congresswoman. RICHARD A. REYES

Actor Richard Gomez is often asked if he and his wife, Leyte 4th District Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, have plans to have another child soon. Their daughter Juliana, is now 13 years old.

“I told Lucy, ‘Let’s try one more time.’ I’d love to have a boy, or else wala nang Gomez,” Richard said in a recent interview for his coming TV5 game show, “Quiet, Please! Bawal ang Maingay!”

He jested, “When I was single, I was always worried about getting someone pregnant. Now that I’m married, I realize it’s not easy! Dapat pala ’di na ako nag-ingat!”

Turning serious, the 48-year-old actor said he wouldn’t mind exploring “scientific ways” to help Lucy conceive, adding they have not considered adoption.

Asked if he would allow Juliana to enter show biz, Richard said it was up to her. “I can’t impose what I want. She has a few endorsements and does photo shoots and fashion shows, which she enjoys. But she can still be shy,” he said of his daughter.

Competitive

Juliana may have imbibed his love for sports more than his passion for acting, he said. “She likes fencing and volleyball, and participates in sports programs.” Richard is into such sports as rowing, shooting, golf, fencing and volleyball.

“Juliana recently joined a fencing tournament in Laguna, where she placed second. She cried; she’s very competitive,” said Richard, who has won one bronze, three silver and two gold medals in fencing in the Southeast Asian Games.

Richard has no political plans for 2016, but is not closing that door. “Meanwhile, I’m here to support Lucy.” He ran and lost in the mayoralty race in Ormoc City, Leyte, in 2013.

For now, he said, he is focusing on his show biz career. He’s in the cast of “The Janitor,” Mike Tuviera’s entry to this year’s Cinemalaya film festival. He is also shooting Star Cinema’s “The Trial.”

Apart from acting, Richard has found he enjoys hosting game shows. “You’re free to just be yourself,” he said.

“Quiet, Please! Bawal ang Maingay,” airs Sundays, 8 p.m., starting on Aug. 10.

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