COGIE Domingo

MANILA, Philippines—Last time Cogie Domingo was in the news, he was embroiled in two sizzling controversies: A lawsuit that his mother filed against a director (“still ongoing,” he says) and the very public discord between politician Chavit Singson and live-in partner Che Tiongson.

He was out of sight for a while, but now he’s determined to do well on his return to show biz. Before he “disappeared,” he had been touted as one of the most promising young dramatic actors of his generation.

Although his name was dragged as the third party in the Singson-Tiongson scandal, Cogie kept mum, while his father denied the rumor outright.

Wishing to start on a clean slate, he made certain to clear matters with Singson first. “We’re now okay,” Cogie says. He declined to comment on Tiongson.

Cogie is set to do shows with ABS-CBN, GMA 7 and TV5. And for his first big-screen role in four years, he is chucking his matinee-idol image for the role of a closeted gay lawyer in “Muli,” directed by Adolfo Alix Jr.

Cogie previously worked with Alix who was a writer on his GMA 7 soap “Kung Mawawala Ka.” In “Muli,” Cogie will have intimate scenes with award-winning young actor Sid Lucero.

The two will play secret lovers who remain committed to each other through the turbulent decades of Philippine history: From the presidency of Diosdado Macapagal to that of his daughter, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“My first question to Direk Adolf was about the love scenes,” says Cogie. “I have no idea ...” Adolf gave him the Oscar-winning films “Brokeback Mountain” and “Milk” as guide.

Noel Ferrer, Domingo’s manager, said that he was inspired by the 1978 film “Same Time, Next Year” in conceptualizing “Muli” with Jerry Gracio, who penned the script which won second place in last year’s Palanca Awards.