Rene Requiestas—“National Artist for Film
Sometimes, the value of an artist's work is not judged by the length of his filmography, but the impact i.e. Efren Jarlego may have directed ten thousand movies but he will never, ever be screened in Cannes. Requiestas lived a short, tragic life but his comic legacy remains unparalleled. The name "Cheeta-eh" will continue to reverberate throughout our memory, in a movie where he totally steals the show away from the main star. Rene Requiestas' brand of comedy borders on subversive genius, and decades after his death his mere presence alone can still ignite any screen with the force of an acetylene torch. Watch Elvis and James 1 and 2 and weep. Grieve at what we had lost.
With a lifetime of constant work as a street vendor and eventually a sad alcoholic who had everything in the world but the one girl he truly loved, Requiestas was a troubled genius. Legend has it that he once had to shoot this challenging scene a few minutes after hearing of his father's untimely death.
Celia Rodriguez—“National Artist for Film
Icicly elegant snow queen and gay icon (Just ask Fanny Serrano) who, like Rita Gomez, instinctively knew when to roll and aspirate her R's ("Would you light my cee-ga-rrrret, dah-ling?" "Aaayv been a good ghel "). She's a monument to style and cinematic villainy that channels Bette Davis in All About Eve and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard, and their ilk. Rodriguez can walk a poodle, carry a parrot cage, and wear a turban or a nest of snakes to party and still be taken seriously. The best part is that she remains very much active to this day, playing the same cold, devious, matapobre but always glamorously dressed witch. I think even Susan Sontag would agree: she is the very concept of camp given flesh, blood, and haughty eyelashes.
Rico J. Puno—“National Artist for Music
Say what you want about the potty mouth, the tasteless jokes, the sleazy moustache, and that suspicious wig, but there was a time that when he sang, it was as if God himself descended from the clouds with a microphone, bellbottoms, and a powerful vibrato. But aside from the singing, it's his superhuman ability to deftly turn in clever Tagalog a phrase from any famous American song, making it something that's truly his own. And, in a way, our own, too. Compare: "Memories light the corners of my mind" to "Alaala nung tayo'y mag-sweetheart pa/ Namamasyal pa sa Luneta, at walang pera." As a wise man once said, inferior artists borrow but the great ones steal.
Joey Gosengfiao—“National Artist for Film
Two words: Temptation Island.
(To be continued)
To read Part 1 of Lourd de Veyra's Alternative List, click here.
This is a Crazy Planets is available in newsstands, bookstores and supermarkets nationwide for only P195. For more information, click here.
Artwork by Warren Espejo.
