There is no point denying that not all actors are meant to last for decades. Popularity is fleeting for some of them; only a few remain visible onscreen despite audiences’ unpredictable and fickle tastes. Coney Reyes is one of the country’s finest actresses, whose staying power is synonymous with impressive acting performances.
Coney has been around the local entertainment industry for 50 years and has taken on varied character roles on the big and small screens. She initially was a TV ad girl receiving a P60-monthly pay before becoming the host of popular noontime shows “Student Canteen” and “Eat, Bulaga.”
The seasoned actress could never forget the first time she committed a mistake on air while doing her spiel as a TV ad girl. However, what she thought was a major blunder became her ticket to becoming a TV host. “He said, ‘I like you. You did well.‘”
“I started May, 1974 in showbiz. I started (in ‘Student Canteen’) on Jan. 6, 1975. May of 1975, I eloped. Sabi nila, ‘Wala si Coney sa ‘Student Canteen,’ wala rin si Larry Mumar sa PBA. Nagtanan ‘yung dalawa,’” she amusingly recalled and revealed that she was terminated from ‘Student Canteen.’ Her good friend Helen Vela replaced her.
Photo shows Coney with son, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
What came next was an invitation from Tony Tuviera for her to join “Eat, Bulaga.” Coney was hesitant to accept the offer considering she came from its rival show. “But someone told me na tinanggal na nga ako at may dalawang anak ako. I had to feed them also, well, because I was also having marital problems then, so, I accepted.”
“That’s another highlight in my career because I didn’t expect the turnout. It did something in my career. ‘Eat, Bulaga’ also helped my career a lot. So, I’m grateful.”
Apart from hosting, Coney eventually got into acting with her eponymous TV drama anthologies “Coney Reyes on Camera,” “Coney Reyes on Set,” and “Coney Reyes Drama Studio” which lasted over 18 years in total.
Fast forward to the present, her flair for acting keeps her star shining amidst a new generation of actors. Coney is in the cast of GMA 7’s “Shining Inheritance,” the Filipino adaptation of the 2009 South Korean drama series “Brilliant Legacy.” She is restaurateur Aurea dela Costa in the series.
“Nagka-Dementia ako dito at Alzheimer’s. So, I’m always open to a challenge. Sabi ko paano ko kaya gagampanan ‘yun (because) I practically played every kind of role — from mabait to mamasan to bar dancers, all those kinds in my show. So, gusto ko naman ito. I was thinking how to develop that and let it work? I wanted a new challenge at syempre may edad na rin ako at papunta na rin tayo sa mga age na may ganun, so gusto ko makita kung paano ko i-attack ‘yun, so I started reading up on it and looking for reels about it.”
Working with a new generation of stars, Coney observed that they have different personalities. “I could see that they were hungering for something. They have goals; they try to reach out and see their goals materialize — in different ways.”
Coney couldn’t ask for anything more in her career and personal life. She is grateful for the unwavering support of people and her children LA, Carla, and Vico.
L.A., short for Lawrence Anthony, and Carla are Coney’s children with former husband Larry Mumar. Vico, the incumbent mayor of Pasig City, is the son of Coney and Vic Sotto.
Speaking of Vico, Coney revealed her son has plenty of admirers. “Marami talagang nagkakagusto,” said Coney and stressed that she never interferes with her son’s love life.
“May mga nagsasabi, ‘Tita, ipapakilala namin si ganito o ganyan,’ at sabi ko naman hindi ako nakikialam. Istrikta daw ako. Kung strict ako, di bawal.”
Coney admitted that in the past, she would ask Vico if he had a girlfriend, but not anymore. “Noon ginawa ko ‘yun, pero ayoko na.”
She continued, “He had girl friends. Mga classmates niya before and they would go out as a group. I know I raised my children na meron silang fear of God. They know what they’re doing.”
Coney confessed that she was surprised when Vico ran for public office. “When he became a councilor, nagulat ako. I know he doesn’t make decisions overnight. He consults, he prays. I’m so blessed. I’m so proud. I want to encourage him, and he’s on the right track. God is with him.”
I asked Coney about her current state of mind to which she responded, “I want to do my best in every area to honor God. I can’t do it alone. So, I always ask for His grace. Every day, my prayer is, ‘I need You. I can’t do anything without You, so please help me through day and night.’”
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