MANILA, Philippines ? We?re honoring teachers this month, so I?m paying tribute to the TV-movie industry people who taught me a lot when I was just starting out in the biz. We may have conducted our ?tutorials? outside of the classroom, but they were rich and vital learning experiences all the same.
When I came back from my graduate studies in radio, TV and film in the States, I was full of book knowledge?which I quickly proceeded to unlearn once I started working here. All of the principles and techniques I was taught by excellent professors were sound, but many of them couldn?t be made to come to bear on the local media experience and environment without having to be tweaked this way and that to make them relevant and workable.
Rare opportunity
On TV, I was given the rare opportunity to work with some of the best people when Henry Canoy tapped me to direct all of the live TV shows at IBC-13. Still wet behind the ears but raring to go and learn from creative osmosis, I was tapped to direct the first TV shows of fledging industry stalwarts, Jose Mari Velez, Joey Lardizabal, Harry Gasser and Joe Cantada, among others.
Later, Pete Roa got me to move to ABS-CBN, where I was assigned to handle ?prestige? shows like the first ?Two for the Road? talk show of society icon, Elvira Manahan, and a show hosted by the similarly stylish Chit Hechanova. Pete turned out to be a great mentor, and believed in my potential. Years later, I was able to return the favor when I got him to cohost a pioneering magazine show for another channel, along with Rosemarie Gil, Bey Vito and Gigi Lacson.
Of course, working with the great Elvira Manahan was a huge learning experience, not just in the media, but in living life to the absolute hilt. When I write my autobiography, Elvira will rate at least a full chapter, but these few words of loving and grateful appreciation will have to do for now.
Baptism of fire
In the movies, I got my baptism of fire as a scriptwriter when I was ?discovered? by the unforgettable likes of Joseph Estrada and Lea Productions? Aling Toneng Santos, not necessarily in that order. The amazing Aling Toneng mentored me through my first feature, which topbilled Lea?s top stars, Hilda Korornel, Jay Ilagan and Dante Rivero.
Lea?s production head was a strict disciplinarian, but she was open to innovative ideas and talent, so she acceded to my request to cast the gifted likes of Laurice Guillen, Tommy Abuel and Walter Navarro in their very first film outings. Even more satisfyingly, Laurice and Tommy have become icons in their own right and remain active in the TV-film industry to this very day.
Joseph Estrada was also a great mentor, because the top producer and superstar got me involved as scriptwriter for around eight of his biggest films. My becoming an ?erap ni Erap? was facilitated by director Chat Gallardo, an outstanding filmmaker, who generously took me under his wing and taught me everything he knew about filmmaking, Pinoy-style.
Working with Erap was even more unforgettable, because he made me part of his nighttime barkada. We would carouse through the night until the witching hour, but aside from having a good time, he would shoot the breeze and share his vast experience as star-producer.
Fundraising show
Since my ?Joseph period? lasted a good number of years, I got a great ?education? from him, the fruits of which I?m still reaping. He even tapped me for the great honor of codirecting his first, big fundraising show for Mowelfund (with no less than the Lamberto V. Avellana), at the Araneta Coliseum, with scores and scores of top stars, participating?but that?s another consciousness-expanding story.
To all my TV-film mentors, thanks for the wonderful education. It may have been hectic and confounding at times, but I wouldn?t have had it any other way!
