He got his start in show business when he was discovered by the filmmaker, a National Artist for Film, Lino Brocka,[2] who cast him in a Close Up commercial in 1981.

Often referred to as the "Filipino Christopher Reeve", he was most famous for his roles on the television sitcom Palibhasa Lalake[3] and opposite Sharon Cuneta in the 1983 movie To Love Again.

[a] Notably, he starred as the Filipino-Spanish Ilustrado, Alfonsito, in the 1985 award-winning and daring period film Virgin Forest directed by the celebrated and multi-awarded Filipino filmmaker, Peque Gallaga,[4][5] and which musical score[6] was provided by another film icon, Jaime Fabregas.

[8] He eventually became an action film star, appearing in Bir Mammud: Alyas Boy Muslim (1989), Hindi Kita Iiwanang Buhay: Kapitan Paile (1990) and Hanggang Kailan Ka Papatay (1990).

He married popular fashion stylist and socialite Irene Salud on March 14, 1987, at the St. Pancratius Chapel, Paco Park, Manila.