Samar is in the heart… and in direk Chito’s art

Being a Waray like him, I love it when director Chito Roño shoots his films in our dear old Samar, like his latest Badil, which was shot mostly in the breathtaking paradise that is Biri Island. Chito’s camera enfolds the place in loving embrace, letting himself (and the audience) be seduced (defenses down) by its irresistible charm.

One of the nine entries (original number is 12 but three backed out) in the Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival (All Masters Edition) which officially ended yesterday, Badil (the Waray word for homemade dynamite used in illegal fishing) is the story of Lando (played by Chito’s protégé Jhong Hilario), an obedient son of Ponso (Dick Israel back in harness even if not completely recovered from a stroke) who is tasked to watch over their territory on the eve of Election Day. Ponso suffers a stroke, so the task is passed on to Lando who witnesses the inner workings of the secret system that makes winners and losers in every election. His girlfriend Jen (Nikki Gil) is an election watcher for the opposite side.

Like the eight other directors each given P1.5M seed money by Briccio Santos, head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) which spearheaded the filmfest, Chito as requested by Santos shot major scenes in Biri Island, as did the eight others in their own hometowns — Maryo J. delos Reyes (Bamboo Flowers) in Bohol, Gil Portes (Ang Tag-araw ni Twinkle) and Mel Chionglo (Lauriana) in Quezon; Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes (Sonata) in Bacolod; Joel Lamangan (Lihis) in Bicol; and Romy Suzara (Tinik) in Nueva Ecija. The two mostly-Manila-based are Elwood Perez (Otso) and Joey Javier Reyes (Ano ang Kulay ng Mga Nakalimutang Pangarap?).

Chito finished Badil in 11 days on a budget of P2.5M (he had to put in PlM), the fastest he put a movie to can.

“Naka-program na kasi ako,” said Chito who finished two of his movies in two years each, Star Cinema’s Dekada ’70 and Regal Films’ Bakit Pa Kita Minahal. “Those were record-breakers,” Chito added in jest. “Bakit took that long because of the conflict of schedules of Ruffa (Gutierrez) and Kris (Aquino). Dekada naman was delayed because Vilma (Santos) was getting death treats.”

Noted for making horror-suspense thrillers (The Healing, Sukob, etc., the last being an episode of Shake, Rattle & Roll in last year’s Metro Filmfest), Chito happily changed gears with Badil (which may still be showing in some SM Cinemas which is a co-sponsor of the filmfest, so Chito and I are urging not only our fellow Warays but everybody to catch it pronto!).

“It’s a very personal movie so I handpicked the cast,” added Chito. “Dick is medyo paralyzed pa and he fits the role perfectly because his character suffers a stroke the night before the election. He plays the ward leader of a political party.”

Although the Sineng Pambansa is non-competition and only a showcase, did Chito feel more challenged because the eight other directors participating are all multi-awarded, the industry’s crème de la crème?

“This is how I take it…First of all, I appreciate the efforts of FDCP, thanks to Briccio Santos, for encouraging the masters to be active again,” explained Chito, referring to Elwood and Romy who have opted to take a break from directing. “Ako, masyado akong commercial, I’ve been doing mostly mainstream films. So I grabbed the opportunity to do a film that I really like to do — you know, bahala ka sa buhay mo kung ano ang gusto mong gawin. Kumbaga, your output is your message.

“If you put out a personal film, if you put out a film that’s really from your heart, that’s how you read it. I never thought of accepting this Sining Pambansa offer to do another commercial movie. Why should I do a commercial movie, eh, palagi ko nang ginagawa ‘yon? You know, the kind of movie that Star Cinema or Regal Films wouldn’t do, even if you are dying to do it.”

His efforts are paying off. Badil has been getting rave reviews (check out the blog sites) and by word of mouth has been attracting more audiences.

“But I’m sad that the filmfest has ended too soon,” rued Chito.

What’s up?

Here’s a letter from reader Vicky A. reacting to Funfare’s recent item about the plan of Ogie Alcasid to revive the unkindly-interrupted dzMM Music & Memories program of Boots Anson-Roa and Willie Nepomuceno on the radio arm of TV5 of which Ogie is the head of the music department:

Count me as one of those naghihinanakit sa ABS-CBN. I have stopped my online subscription kasi Music & Memories was scrapped; it was the main reason for my subscription. But I’m happy to learn that Ogie appreciates a good program enough to revive it. I can hardly wait for the return of the Boots-Willie tandem.

Same here, Vicky A. I’m sure a lot of other Music & Memories fans are happy, too.

Filipina actress Best Actress in NY Filmfest

FLASH: GMA 7 child actress Barbara Miguel (photo) won Best Actress at the Harlem International Film Festival (HIFF) in New York for her performance in Nuwebe. Also starring Jake Cuenca, Nadine Samonte, Anita Linda and Manny Castaneda, Nuwebe was written and directed by Joseph Israel of GMA News.— Reported by FERDY LAPUZ

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)