FIRST NIGHT ng wake ng lovable film director na si Maryo J. delos Reyes last night (January 30) kung saan galing pa ng Dipolog City sa Zamboanga ang labi nito kung saan siya pumanaw.
Kumbaga sa isang showbiz event, ang daming mga nakiramay at dumalaw kagabi. Ang misa last night ay sponsored ng PAMI sa pamumuno ni Ms. June Torrejon-Rufino na president ng samahan ng mga talent managers ang business manager din ni Direk Maryo.
Tonight, Wednesday ay Regal Night kung saan sponsor ang misa ng film outfit sa pamumuno ni Mother Lily at anak na si Roselle Monteverde.
Sa katunayan, last Monday sa grand presscon ng latest Valentine’s Day offering ng Regal Entertainment na “My Fairy Tail Love Story” at pinagbibidahan nina Elmo Magalona at Janella Salvador bago nagsimula ang event at nag-alay ng isang minutong katahimikan at dasal ang mga dumalo.
Isa sa mga favorite director ni Mother Lily noon si Direk Maryo with his pam-bagets films noon nina Dina Bonnevie, Maricel Soriano at Snooky Serna.
Sa Facebook account ng kaibigang Mauro Feria Tumbocon Jr. na dating film reviewer and writer n anaka-based sa San Francisco California; gusto ko i-share ang thoughts niya on Direk Maryo J.:
IN MEMORIAM: MARYO J. DE LOS REYES.
Perhaps, one of the very few remaining Filipino filmmakers, whose career has encompassed almost four decades, traversing two so-called golden ages of Philippine cinema, Maryo de los Reyes, died today of heart attack in Dipolog, Southern Philippines. He was 65.
His death comes at a time when cinephiles/cineastes have feverishly looked back to the past, savor a cinema that is not burdened by imperative of social message so privileged by critics, but one that is not as self-conscious as the more-acclaimed filmmakers, past and present, yet imbued with dignity and truth so familiar in their rendering, so accessible to their audience.
Ours is the greater loss, when we, as audience and students of Filipino cinema, have not yet fathomed the fuller breadth of his work, consider that his is not easily boxed in to specific category, that he was actually a multi-tasker of a filmmaker: De los Reyes started his career with Agrix Films, became a filmmaker, went to become one of the pillars of the theater company, PETA, went to television. continued making films for big studios like Regal and Viva, managed talents like the Maskulados (a member, Orlando Sol is also an actor), then most lately, acted as Artistic Director of a new grant-giving film festival unique in its focus on stories about peasants and fishermen, TOFARM Film Festival.
From my vantage, Maryo de los Reyes, even with his various attempts at different dramatic forms – the domestic dramas of his much-acclaimed SAAN DARATING ANG UMAGA (1983), MAGNIFICO (2003) and NAGLALAYAG (2004), the opulent, glitzy high dramas of KAYA KONG ABUTIN ANG LANGIT and HINDI MO AKO KAYANG TAPAKAN, both 1984, and the sex-thriller, TAGOS NG DUGO (1987) – I will always remember his youth films, the unbridled. unadulterated fun, the energy of his films, I consider peerless to this day, to cite, HIGH SCHOOL CIRCA ’65 (1979), an auspicious debut film which introduced the talent of then-sixteen year old, Roderick Paulate; the period-defining BAGETS (1984) which ushered the charm offensive Aga Muhlach; and the Nora Aunor trio of sing-and-dance films, ANNIE BATUNGBAKAL (1979), BONGGA KA DAY (1980) and ROCK N ROLL (1981).
Maryo de los Reyes, you are a giant in Philippine cinema, you will be sorely missed. May you rest in eternal peace.
On a personal note: Thank you for the opportunity to screen what I consider your personal film because it is a tribute to your home province, Bohol, BAMBOO FLOWERS (2013), at FACINE 21 in 2014. – Mauro Feria Tumbocon Jr, Director, FACINE
Reyted K
By RK Villacorta
