A Conversation with Ricky Lo

He is the most respected, most widely read entertainment writer in the country. Many of our readers–businessmen, government officials, housewives, students–say they turn to the entertainment section to check out his column for the "latest" right after reading the The STAR’s front page for the day’s top stories. Very often, those of us on staff get calls early in the morning from relatives and friends who want–nay, demand–to know who the blind item in the day’s "Curtain raisers" is referring to. Which explains the queue to read the pages of his column as they come off his typewriter (yes, a typewriter, a heavy-duty Olympia–now the secret’s out). There have been occasions when up to four people can be seen reading the page over the shoulder of the typesetter.

We’re all chismosos and chismosas at heart and, whether we want to admit it or not, we all are, to some degree, star struck, fascinated by the world of the artista in all its convoluted glory–or infamy, as the case may be. And when it comes to showbiz, nobody tells it better than Ricardo F. Lo. Whatever the chismis, it ain’t so until you read it in Funfare, Ricky’s daily column in The Philippine STAR, the longest-running entertainment column in the country. Ricky started Funfare in 1970 in the Manila Times. "I’m a movie fan at heart," he says of his foray into the entertainment world.

Ricky has mastered the art of hitting the mark without actually shooting at the target. His columns and articles have raised the level of showbiz writing, taking it out of the depths of mere gossip and "praise" release. His network of DPAs ("Deep Penetration Agents", his term for his myriad inside sources) ensure that very little–if anything at all–is kept secret from the ever-curious public. His blind items and parenthetical statements are like arrows shot into the air, conveying so much more than the words themselves.

It is no wonder then that students of journalism study his writing. His first book, Star-Studded, an anthology of articles on movie stars, has become a handbook of sorts for aspiring showbiz writers. Now they have another volume to study and dissect. Conversations with Ricky Lo, published by Anvil, will be launched tomorrow afternoon in what will surely be a star-studded affair. The book contains 42 selections from his Sunday column of the same title, written in Q&A format, which features interviews of a diverse cast of characters from Charito Solis, Dolphy, FPJ, Eddie Garcia and Gloria Romero to Robin Padilla, Joyce Jimenez, Judy Ann Santos and Cesar Montano. His insightful questioning of these stars led many to reveal hitherto tightly guarded secrets of their lives, making for interesting reading indeed! Conversations with Ricky Lo, by the way, started in 1988 in STARweek; his first conversation was with Edu Manzano.

On the eve of the launching of his second book, we decided to turn the tables on Ricky for once and asked him to answer STARweek’s dozen questions. From his answers, we got confirmation of what we knew all along: that Ricky is just as interesting–if not more so–as the stars he interviews. And–pardon the bias–a whole lot nicer.

What is your idea of happiness?

Happiness is sleeping soundly for eight full hours, uninterrupted, waking up to a beautiful song playing on the radio and looking forward to spending my day-off away from the city.

When and where were you happiest?

You won’t believe it but it was when I set foot in Lourdes 12 years ago on a cold late-November day when the place was practically deserted. I’ve never experienced inner peace and euphoric tranquility such as I did on that day when I strolled around the place where Virgin Mary appeared to the little girls years ago.

What do you like best about yourself?

My capacity to love–unconditionally.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Just one thing? If I could, I’d like to be as tall as Richard Gomez, as handsome as Piolo Pascual, as good a singer as Martin Nievera, as articulate and as intelligent as Kris Aquino, as talented an actor as Christopher de Leon and as brilliant a writer as Nick Joaquin and Kerima Polotan combined. Hindi naman masyadong demanding and ambitious, di ba? Seriously now, I just want to be five, just five, inches taller.

Who do you most admire (living or otherwise)?

Mother Teresa because she’s the true Christian. She never preached about how to be a good Christian, unlike those televangelists who don’t practise what they preach. Mother Teersa just did what a good Christian should do–help the poor and the needy.

If you were not Ricky Lo, Entertainment Editor, what would you be?

I’d be the host of a game show, saying goodbye to the weakest links with glee.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing my ability to write.

What is the ringtone of your cellphone?

It depends. When Aiza Seguerra’s song Pagdating ng Panahon was very popular, that was my ringtone. Last Christmas, it was Jingle Bells. Then I changed it to a Chinese-sounding melody. Now, it’s Game Ka Na Ba because I want to help promote the show of my dear friend Kris Aquino.

What is the best quality a showbiz celebrity can have?

Honesty. But then, not many stars are honest. I understand that they have to tell white lies to protect their "image", even if the contrary is already very obvious.

What makes you angry?

Sloppy work (especially in the office) and stars–well, people in general–who are doble cara (easy to spot if you’ve been in the business for as long as I’ve been–decades!)

If you were to die and come back as someone or something else, who or what would it be?

A book, so people will bring me with them anywhere they go, pressed to their chest(s)–and, hopefully, read me.

What is your all-time favorite movie?

A Certain Smile, including its theme song (by Johnny Mathis).