Legacy has its own way of passing forth many wonderful memories and bequests from one generation to the next.
One of them is people's connectivity.
As a rule, during the lifetime of a person, he or she has built relationships, personal and otherwise, to hold and cherish by his or her family, friends, fellow workers and other people he or she left behind.
The late maverick filmmaker Celso Ad. Castillo, known to many film community members as Enfant Terrible, or Messiah of Philippine cinema ("Asedillo," "Nympha," "Daluyong at Habagat," "Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa," "Aliw-iw," "Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak," "Burlesk Queen," "Virgin People," "Julian Makabayan," among others) had created artistic and business connections in the Philippines and in the diaspora primarily because of his creative genius.
He had done collaborations or co-productions with local and foreign artists and film outfits.
When Celso did the novelty film "Pikoy Goes to Malaysia," he bridged the Filipino movie industry and the Malaysian filmmaking capital Kuala Lumpur and made an impact in collabs symbiotically.
Castillo gained not only friends but business associates in Malaysia.
This paved the way for Ad. Castillo to reach out to the other Asian film capitals like Jakarta, Bangkok etc.
Long after Da Kid—Celso's other monicker—is gone, his name and his legacy live on.
His connection to Malaysian filmmaking is alive.
Celso's younger brother John Ad. Castllio is a living testimony of the late award-winning director that has remained steadfast in collaborating with a Malaysian film production.
At the moment, John is shooting a film with Malaysian creatives in the bucolic areas of Siniloan.
Cast in the movie are three new actresses the Philippines can be proud of in the future.
During his lifetime, Celso was very helpful to his brother.
John mostly acted as assistant director to his kuya (a term of endearment to an older man by affinity and older brother by blood).
He was also the Production Manager of Da Kid's film projects.
In his Facebook wall, John posted his filmmaking in action with the Malaysian group.
"My Filipino-Malaysian movie filmed on location at the forested area of Sitio Butadero in my beloved hometown of Siniloan, Laguna," informed John.
From the looks of it, the movie is reminiscent of Celso’s “Virgin People” cult cinema.
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