Tributes to the fallen artist Mike de Leon (“Citizen Jake,” ‘”Bayaning Third World,” “Aliwan Paradise,” “Bilanggo sa Dilim,” “Sister Stella L,” “Batch ’81,” “Kung Mangarap ka” Magising,” “Kisapmata,” “Kakabaka-kaba Ka Ba?” “Itim” etc.) are only during his death but more so, during his lifetime because he deserves them if only because of his genuine commitment to arts and letters.
The following are just some of the eulogies male showbiz citizens churned out to remember Mike by.
Julian Eudela, a dedicated staff of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP); Jose “Peping” Almojuela, Mike’s perennial assistant director who now works as a farmer in Pandan, Catanduanes; Skilty Labastilla, a young critic, Founding President of the Society of Filipino Film Reviewers (SFFR) and Pablo Biglang-awa, filmmaker are just some of the voices vented on the loss of a prized possession of Philippine cinema.
Eudela: “It still feels unbelievable that I actually had the chance to get to know you. I was scared at first, since I've heard about your world-famous temper (well-known even in France and Italy, lol). Instead, I found a very generous man. Thank you for trusting me with a portion of your library, including the original screenplay of ‘Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag.’ Up to now I still keep them in their boxes, in fear that you might want them back should anything happen. Funnily, I took the advice of some of your friends seriously (non-verbatim) ‘If he hasn’t gotten angry at you yet, then you’re not truly close.’
“Thank you for all the fun stories during my multiple visits, and of course, for giving Philippine cinema its greatest films!
“Our friendship was not built over decades, unlike many who adore you, but a young one. I would love to remember you in this way.
“Goodnight, Sir Mike.”
Eudela said he preserved a photo of him and de Leon when he had him sign the newsprint of the National Award he declined last year.
Almojuela: “Sulat ng pamamaalam (Letter of adieu)
“Mahirap magpaalam, lalo na't ang paaalaman mo ay hindi na ito maririnig o mababasa (It hurts to say goodbye, especially if the one you’re bidding goodbye to won’t hear and read them).
“Saiyo, Mike (For you),
“Alam mo naman siguro na nang gawin natin ang ‘Batch '81’ marami ang nagsabi sa akin na mahirap ka katrabaho. Istrikto. Walang sinasanto. Pati artista, tinatapunan ng iskrip (You might not know this but when we did the movie, there were a lot who told me that you were difficult to work with. Strict. Spared no one. You even threw scripts to hard-headed actors).
“Hindi nila ako napigilan, kahit anong pananakot ang ginawa nila sa akin. Tinuloy ko pa rin ang pagiging bahagi ng iyong staff (I didn’t listen to them even if they discouraged me so much. I pursued my being part of your staff).
“Noon ko nakita na hindi ka kasinsama ng kanilang pagkakakilala sa iyo. Nakita ko ang pagpapahalaga mo sa mga kasama sa produksyon. Kung ano ang pagkain ng artista, yon ang pagkain ng lahat. Nasabi ko nga na kahit alam kong atheist ka, mas Kristiyano ka pa sa karamihan ng mga Kristiyanong kilala ko (That was when I saw that you were not as bad as what they knew about you. I saw your concern with your production staff. What the stars ate were the same food for all. I told myself that however you were an atheist, you were more Christian than many of them).
“Mula sa pagiging iskrip supervisor, hinubog mo ang aking kakayahang magsulat. Tuwing may revision ang eksena, ikukwento mo sa akin ang gusto mong mangyari at ipapasulat mo ito. Hindi naman kita binigo dahil isinama mo ako sa closing credits para sa (From being a script supervisor, you molded my writing ability. Whenever there was a scene revision, you would tell me what you wanted and you would make me write them. I didn’t fail you because you included me in the credits for) additional dialogue).
“Marami ka pang pinagawa sa akin sa ibang mga pelikulang pinagsamahan natin. Pina-edit mo sa ako, ginawa mo akong choreographer, pinasulat ng lyrics hanggang sa ginawa mo akong (You made me do many things in other films we were together. Yu made me an editor, choreographer, lyricist until you made me your) co-writer.
“After doing all these, somehow, binigo kita. Hindi ko pinagpatuloy, ginamit ang mga itinuro mo sa akin (…I failed you. I didn’t pursue what you taught me).
“Pero, salamat pa rin. Wag kang mag-alala. Nakatago lang lahat ang mga iyon. Lalabas din sila sa tamang panahon (But thanks just the same. Don’t you worry. All of them are kept neatly elsewhere and in my head. They will come out at the right time).
“Maraming salamat (Thanks), Mike, at paalam (and goodbye).”
Labastilla: “Unlike his fellow Philippine cinema titans Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal, Mike de Leon wasn’t especially prolific, directing only 10 full-length films. But in terms of batting average, he might have outshone them: seven of his films are considered masterpieces. Among my all-time favorites is ‘Batch ’81,’ an endlessly rewatchable gem and a searing allegory of Martial Law abuses.
“May he rest in power.”
Biglang-Awa: “I was part of the post team at Solid Video for Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo and the 1-inch video full length, ‘Bilanggo sa Dilim’ before being hired as a CG artist at Cinema Artists Phils. Electronio Studio. A start-up company, initially, we were building a portfolio of digital prints for an Ayala Museum show, an exhibition of computer graphics imagery in 1987 to launch the studio but projects came in - program titles, TV commercials, station IDs and the exhibition never happened.
“Along with the workstations, Mike also bought a digital film scanner, a digital recorder for stills, and motion picture camera. While we were busy on our projects, Mike would do extensive tests on the film recorders. A 4K image during that time would take 20 hours to be rendered and exposed onto a 35mm slide film. Furthermore, there was no proper safe action setup for the Oxberry 35mm motion picture camera, Mike would do tedious tests, spending hours, days to expose numerous three-second film footage and have it processed at the lab. He would call us each time to preview the looped film clips. It was Mike’s dream to scan and colorize the enchanted bird digitally for the pre-war LVN Salumbides’ film, ‘Ibong Adarna.’ The shop became successful. Mike even wanted to build a full post production setup to complement its CG services but dropped the idea after the Gringo Honasan led RAM coup attempt in 1989.
“Mike is a strategist, always demanding precision for his perfect world but never imposing. A generous boss, he would reward and sponsor essential trips whenever possible. He would gift us expensive pasalubongs and items from his personal collection. A priceless relic I still keep is an antique assemblage of wood printing blocks he bought from a flea market in Germany.
One time I had the opportunity to sit with him while previewing his first full length film. He projected a 16mm print of ‘Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising’ on the conference room wall. It was front-row seat to a live directorial annotation, reminiscing endearing moments of his directorial debut experience. Now, I barely remember all the details but I can still feel the honor and privilege of being with one of the most brilliant Filipino creative minds.
Paalam at maraming salamat (Goodbye and thank you), Mike!”
Photo Caption: Mike de Leon (Photo Credit: Julian Eudela)
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