Barely four years in her acting career Queen of Short Film Festival actress Cataleya Surio got to connect with veteran actor Orestes Ojeda through social media. Orestes, Luis Pagalilauan, didn’t know Cataleya from Adam but he accepted her Friend Request on Facebook because of his kindness to strangers. They were already exchanging posts and messages regularly.
Cataleya, as a movie fan before her stint in the biz, knew who Orestes Ojeda was—a popular actor who had portrayed varied roles from drama, comedy to action. It was in the controversial film “Scorpio Nights,” though, that he made a mark on Surio’s consciousness.
Fresh from Catanauan, Quezon where she was born and raised, Cataleya went to Eastern Quezon College in Gumaca for her business course but show business was always in her mind.
Until she enrolled in a Brillante Ma. Mendoza acting workshop through the intercession of Larry Castillo—a kababayan from Catanauan who was acting as a supervising producer for many of Brillante’s films. The filmmaking workshop was a jump pad for Cataleya’s showbiz career.
At the time, Orestes was already focused on arts business where he sold paintings and other art works of famous and emerging artists. There was no more room for screen work and Ojeda—as affirmed by entertainment journalist Nestor Cuartero—had to beg off from a lot of challenging film and TV offers.
Surio, meanwhile, had to grapple with her own career when she was offered a meaty role in the short film “Paano Bihisan ang Isang Ina?” but the production needed an actor to portray her husband.
According to Cat, there were many names considered but someone suggested Orestes Ojeda. He was contacted by Surio.
But Double OO had already expressed his decision to retire from showbiz and to just concentrate on arts where he found his fortune.
Surprise of all surprises!
Orestes agreed to do the part in an independent film yet. “Maluha-luha po ako, Tito Boy. Sa dinami-dami ng malalaking offers kay Tito Louie para lang mag-artista siya ulit, ‘yong sa amin pa ang pinili niya. Touch na touch ako (I was teary-eyed, Tito Boy. Among the many good offers to Tito Louie just for a comeback, it was our small, modest film that he chose. I was indeed touched),” sighed Cataleya.
Cat said Orestes was a gentleman. “May eksena na gagahasin niya ako, pagkatapos ng take, tatanungin niya ako kung nasaktan ba ako (There was a scene where he would rape me. After the take, he’d ask if I was hurt).
“Nang mag-birthday ako two years before the pandemic, pumunta pa si Tito Louie at nagbigay siya sa akin ng mamahaling bulaklak. Kasama pa niya ang kanyang buong pamilya (When I celebrated my birthday two years before the pandemic he graced my simple event with his whole family who gave me expensive bouquet of flowers),” she recounted.
“Paano ko makakalimutan ang isang Orestes Ojeda na laging nakatutok sa aking career. Sabi niya no’n, mananalo raw ako ng Best Actress para sa pelikula namin, nagkatotoo. At lagi niya akong tinatawagan pag nababalitaan niyang nananalo ako sa pelikula (How could I forget Orestes Ojeda who was always on track of my career. He even said that I would always win Best Actress for our film and they happened. He would always call me when he learned that I won for our film),” Surio said emotionally as she began to sob.
Orestes died of pancreatic cancer early last week at 68.