"I’ve always been a Carlo Caparas fan," said Wycoco who plays himself in the movie based upon a book authored by Cory Quirino (played by Ara Mina) herself and Wycoco’s own NBI files. "Carlo has always been a friend. I admire him as an artist. Every scene is like a painting, from the lighting to the blocking to the execution."
The movie, slated to be shown very soon, has turned out to be a faithful reproduction/reenactment of Cory’s experience a few years ago when she and her assistant (played by Alessandra de Rossi) and driver were kidnapped on their way to a location-hunting somewhere in Quezon Province. The kidnappers literally took the victims for a ride, reaching Camarines Norte. After that long and winding ride, the five suspects ended up at the National Penitentiary.
"Cory’s book was full of angst and emotions," said Wycoco who met Cory only after the kidnapping incident. (They have become good friends, working together in the advocacy against crime. Wycoco is reminding Funfare readers to simply dial 117 which guarantees instant reaction from the nearest police station in case you need immediate police assistance.) "It’s understandable because she’s the victim, she went through the harrowing experience; while the NBI files are very clinical, not showing any ‘emotion’ at all, a very faithful narrative of what happened to Cory based upon her testimony and those of her assistant and driver. Carlo ably combined the best of the two sources in the movie, coming up with an excellent movie."
Why did he agree to do a cameo in the movie... why did he make the movie at all?
"For several reasons," smiled Wycoco.
To wit:
• To highlight the NBI success story and inform the public what the NBI is all about;
• To show an inspiring episode of a woman of courage and great faith, that if you cooperate with the law enforcement authorities, there is a big possibility that the crime will be solved and the criminals will be put behind bars;
• To raise funds for the former employes and retired agents of the NBI to cover their medical and other emergency needs; and
• To "arrest" the slump of the movie industry by producing a quality movie that has social relevance and aesthetic value.
Describing the Cory Quirino case as "as sensational as the Nida Blanca murder case," Wycoco noted that very few other cases can capture the public imagination.
"I admire Cory’s courage to come forward and fight her tormentors," added Wycoco. "She could just have kept quiet about the incident so as not to subject herself to the grilling of the media of which she’s a bona fide member and exposure to public humiliation like other victims of similar crimes."
Asked about his personal advocacy, Wycoco answered, "Because of their inherent vulnerabilities, I believe in protecting our women and children. I was the one who instituted the PNP Women’s Desk in all major police stations all over the country that cater to women victims of violence. Also, human-trafficking is a deplorable crime, demeaning the value of a human being. Women victims are exploited and end up as abused entertainers or workers in sweat shops. I am also active in an NGO network that helps address this problem."
And that’s where the minds of Wycoco and Carlo meet.
"Donna and I are also crime-fighters," said Carlo. "Our films have led to the arrest of suspects. In our own little way, we help law enforcers solve crimes."
The two gentlemen rose from humble beginnings. Born poor, Carlo had to earn his keep as a night-shift security guard while at the same time nurturing his talent for komiks-writing, eventually being hailed as a Komiks King before he shifted to writing-directing-producing movies. Did you know that a street was named for him in Pasig City?
On the other hand, Wycoco came from a simple family, one of the 10 children of a police chief in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.
"I sold pandesal and ice-cream so I could pay for my own tuition fee (P10 a month)," recalled Wycoco. "Our family had meager resources and there were 10 of us children competing for them. I’d always dreamed of becoming a lawyer but I ended up only looking like one. But I have no regrets becoming a policeman instead."
Wycoco finished elementary and high school in Cabiao and went to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as a scholar, later taking up post-graduate studies in Public Administation in Harvard.
He has four children: Patricia, 27, a UP scholar all the way and an M.A. Finance graduate from the London Business School; Voltaire, 25, a Business Management graduate from Ateneo; Mikhail, 23, and Vladimir, 21, both studying Business Entrepreneurship at the University of Asia and the Pacific.
"I brought them up on the same values I learned from my parents," said Wycoco. "Hard work, humility and compassion. You cannot empathize with anybody if you don’t have compassion. I always remind them to keep their feet firmly on the ground."
Asked about his plans for 2004, Wycoco simply smiled.
"Basta," he said, "I never say never."
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)