MANILA - Senator and actor Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. turned 43 years old  on September 25.

Born Jose Mikael Mortel Bautista, the senator isn’t the first in the family to play lead roles at a young age.

His older brother, Marlon Bautista, was always featured playing stellar roles in films produced by family-run company, Imus Productions.

Marlon appeared with their father, actor Ramon Revilla Sr., in action films like “Nardong Putik” and “Tiagong Akyat.”

Bong was busy with his studies then. When he was in high school, however, he was already given meaty roles by his actor-director-father.

He starred in “Gulapa (Ang Barakong Mayor ng Maragondon),” “Kapitan Eddie Set: Mad Killer ng Cavite,” and "Bergado (Terror of Cavite).”

After a short stint in the movies, Bong decided to go to the United States where he studied filmmaking.

When he came back to the Philippines, Viva Films signed him up and was immediately assigned a major part with his dad in “Dugong Buhay,” a very successful project at the box-office.

During one of their movies together, Bong met Maria Jesusa Victoria Hernandez, nicknamed Candy, also known as Lani Mercado.

After an ephemeral romance, they eloped to the US. Later, they had a church wedding officiated in Imus, Cavite.

 Bong starred in many action films before he entered politics. He became vice-governor of Cavite province in 1995 and governor in 1998. In 2004, he won a seat in the Senate.