Don’t look now, but after making his acting debut on TV last year in the soap opera “Magkaribal,” fashion designer Frederick Peralta is invading the big screen in “Kape Barako,” a sex-oriented gay comedy film directed by Monti Parungao and written by Lex Bonife.

As its title suggests, the film revolves around a struggling coffee shop and how it was able to finally lure customers in, thanks to a secret ingredient that was mixed in the coffee. Even its owner (Johnron Tañada) was puzzled by its sudden turnaround, since the secret ingredient is known only to its two bumbling waiters.

“If I may be brazen enough,” said Peralta, “it’s the gay version of ‘Like Water for Chocolate.’”

We’re not telling you what the secret ingredient is, lest it ruins either your appetite or viewing pleasure (or both). But if we’re going to go by Peralta’s assurances, the film is a guaranteed rib-tickler in a rather raunchy way.

Produced by Peralta’s fellow designer Avel Bacudio on a shoestring budget of P600,000, the film reportedly won positive reviews in New York during a recent special screening of Parungao’s films. It will open in a multiplex near you next Wednesday, Sept. 7.

“It was played in New York with subtitles,” said Peralta, “and American audiences found it funny. It was the only film in the batch shown in New York that made money.”

Like in “Magkaribal,” Peralta, who once played a fashion journalist and radio host, is again playing a designer. But while he only did a character role on TV, this time he’s one of the film’s lead characters, a moneyed but love-starved couturier named Giorgio.

“I once played the role of a confidante to Maricel Soriano when she was paired with Christopher de Leon way back,” said Peralta, who also designs a limited line of bed linens and “couture” cakes for Red Ribbon. “I can’t even remember the film’s title anymore. But this is the first time I’m playing a lead role.”

Peralta has been reaping compliments from friends and entertainment journalists for his performance. Not a few people, he said, found him a “natural” in the role. Mainstream Filipino film critics have yet to give their verdict, but the designer-turned-actor is confident about earning positive reviews, at least, for the film.

The role, said Parungao via text message, was really written for Peralta. It reportedly took him just two straight days to film “Kape Barako” somewhere in Quezon City. The location proved to be convenient for Peralta, who runs a shop near ABS-CBN. Thanks to his time management skills, he was able to shoot the movie without missing his deadlines.

“I have no plans of becoming a full time actor,” he confessed during a phone interview. “Making clothes is still my bread and butter. I consider acting as just another creative outlet that I’d look back on fondly when I grow old. I must admit that being seen on TV and, now, in the movies is a good marketing tool. The medium makes you more approachable to people. They readily warm up to you.”

Peralta declined to disclose his talent fee, but the amount, he said, would be more than enough if he and a companion were to decide to spend a weekend in style in either Boracay or Palawan.

As Giorgio, Peralta has the hots for Tañada’s character. He often hangs out in the coffee shop to unwind even if he has other better places to go to. As the plot thickens, Giorgio offers to bail out Tañada if he agrees to be his lover even for a night. For a moment, the beleaguered coffee shop owner nearly succumbs.

Well, it never came to pass, as fate, in the form of that secret ingredient, intervened. Tañada eventually sells the coffee shop to join his girlfriend in Canada, but not after expressing his heartfelt appreciation—now, that’s an understatement—to an unlikely character. You really have to watch the movie to find out.

“Well, in a way, it was easy for me to relate to Giorgio, who’s also a designer,” said the openly gay Peralta. “But I draw the line at paying someone to gain his affection. I still believe in earning somebody’s love the old-fashioned way. As for future roles, there are already two offers I’m considering. If I could get past my fear of doing sex scenes, shooting would start on one of the films anytime soon.”