Renato Chua (born February 15, 1950), professionally known as Rhene Imperial, a former action star, former producer and currently born-againChristian minister in the Philippines.
In 2023, Imperial returned to the film industry two decades after he retired as an actor, establishing the production company R.A.C. Imperial Multimedia Production[1] and starring in the film Sa Kamay ng Diyos.
After a two-decade break from acting in films, Imperial decided to become a member of the Actors Guild and return to the film industry in 2023, beginning with the films Sa Kamay ng Diyos, Heneral Bantag and Bubot sa Kagubatan, stating that his new advocacy at the guild is to produce films to provide more work for people in the entertainment industry.[2][3]
Personal life
He was married to actress Carmen Ronda, and they had four children. After years of being together they decided to separate. Veteran actress Carmen Ronda died from ovarian cancer in 2010.
Imperial has two children with Janet Jamora (twin sister of Manny Pacquiao's wife Jinkee).
In March 1988, Task Force Anti-Gambling (TFAG) chief Potenciano Roque accused Imperial along with 37 others of being illegal gambling operators.[4] In 1990, numerous illegal gambling operators in Davao City pointed to Imperial as the head of the largest gambling operation in the area, with the NBI charging him with estafa and illegal gambling.[5] In later years, Imperial came to be open about and expressing regret for his prior activities as a gambling operator.[2]
He is currently working as a born-again Christian minister.
Filmography
Alas Tres ng Hapon... Lumuhod ang Maton (1977)
Sa Iyo ang Araw... Sa Akin ang Gabi (1978)
Mga Paru-parong Ligaw (1978)
Boy Singkit (1980)
Maneng Tirador (1980)
Tong (1980)
Boy Nazareno (1981)
Shoot the Killer (1981)
Death Row (1981)
Quintin Bilibid (1981)
K-9 Hunts Takas (1981)
Ninong (1982)
Misyon: Dakpin si Bogart (1982)
Pepeng Hapon (1983)
Sgt. Maximo Velayo: Trigger ng Mga Kumander (1983)
^Rula, Gorgy (August 7, 2023). "Jingle ng Eat Bulaga, kasama sa trademark?!" [Eat Bulaga's jingle a part of the trademark?!]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved August 8, 2023. ...Rhene Imperial na nagtayo ng sariling production na R.A.C. Imperial Multimedia Production.
^ abBRU Digital TV (July 3, 2023). A Digital TV Special (Full Interview) with Mr. Rhene Imperial. Facebook (in Filipino and English). Facebook Inc. Retrieved August 2, 2023. ...katatapos lang namin ng movie, entitled Bubot sa Gubat, directed by me and Angelo Carpio.... Now nagkaroon ako ng posisyon sa Actors Guild, so naging advocacy ko yung mag-produce muli, magbalik sa pagpo-produce bilang isang actor, producer, director...
^PEP Troika (August 7, 2023). "Shira Tweg, newbie talents ng Net25 Star Center, malapit nang i-launch". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. Retrieved August 8, 2023. Kinuha rin si Shira [Tweg] ng nagbabalik-showbiz na si Rhene Imperial sa pelikula niyang Ang Siga ng Tondo... Daw ng R.A.C. Imperial Multimedia Production.