if one were to write a story concept for a movie on the life of Ricardo Lee, it would read like a synopsis from one of his classic screenplays.
First, the back story. The boy does not remember the exact day he was born and has a vague memory of his mother who died when he was just five years old. Though he would see his father on few occasions their awkward conversations were limited to a few sentences. He grew up with his relatives in an obscure town in Daet, Camarines Norte where he drowned his loneliness by slipping into moviehouses and burying himself in books at the school library, tearing away pages with striking images. He consistently topped his class from grade school on to high school. Even then his brilliance as a writer was already foreshadowed when he won his first national literary award for a short story he wrote when he was still in high school. Determined to make something out of his life, he ran away from home and took a bus to Manila. He roamed the streets, taking on menial tasks as a waiter during the day and asking his townmates to accommodate him during the night until he collapsed one day in Avenida out of hunger. He was accepted at U.P. Diliman as an AB English Major but never got his diploma from U.P. where, ironically enough, he now teaches. He lived as a fugitive during the Martial Law years and was later incarcerated. All these experiences would prove to be a wealthy source of inspiration from which to draw his stories and characters.
Just as colorful as his life is his body of works spanning over twenty years including short stories, plays, essays, teleplays, and screenplays. Two of his short stories won first prizes at the Palanca Awards for Literature for two years in a row. Thereafter, he never joined any literary contest believing that writers should not compete with each other. His two stage plays Pitik-Bulag Sa Buwan ng Pebrero and DH (Domestic Helper) played to SRO crowds. DH, starring Nora Aunor, has toured the US and Europe in 1993. He has written more than seventy produced scripts, earning for him more than thirty trophies from all the award-giving bodies in the Philippine movie industry. He has never and will never write any literary work in English, a conviction he holds to this day, even if that would mean going hungry.
Among the books he has published are: Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon (an anthology of some of his works), Pitik-Bulag Sa Buwan Ng Pebrero, Brutal/Salome (the first book of screenplays in the Philippines), Moral and Bukas May Pangarap. His screenplay for Salome has been translated into English and published by the University of Wisconsin in the USA as part of its textbook in film studies.
As a writer, Ricky believes in sharing and not in hoarding. Like a barrel that is full, one has to give out in order to receive more. Since 1982, he has been conducting scriptwriting workshops for free at his home.
As a mentor, Ricky Lee's persona reminds you of the character played by Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society. He challenges his students to go to the edge, to explore the limits of their imaginations until they feel like drowning. In one of his workshops in Tagaytay, the participants were stuck in a concept that didn't seem to work. He refused to let the group eat until the concept was finished. Hunger, he says, does wonders to one's creativity: it makes you imagine things. To help them come up with three-dimensional characters he encourages his students to inhabit their characters by immersing themselves in the characters' world, either as observers, participants or by acting out the roles of these characters in their own milieu. Thus, the more intrepid students may opt to act as a beggar in Quiapo, or a bargirl in Ermita, or a squatter in Smokey Mountain, even for one day, with hilarious results. One leaves the exercise a bit shaken but full of life-sustaining insights.
Ricky has yet to write the climax of his long and fruitful career. But those whose lives have been touched by this man, either directly, or indirectly, through the movies he wrote will continue to watch enthralled.
(UPshots 2: Mga Pelikula Mula Sa Panulat Ni Ricardo Lee, February 1997)
FILMOGRAPHY
1973 Dragnet (co-writer, uncredited)
1976 Itim (co-writer, uncredited)
1979 Pabonggahan (a full-length documentary on Pinoy Rock)
Jaguar (co-writer)
1980 Miss X
Brutal
1981 Salome
Carnival Queen
Playgirl
1982 PX
Ito Ba Ang Ating Mga Anak
Relasyon (co-writer)
Cain At Abel
Himala
Haplos
Moral
1983 Karnal
1984 Gabi Kung Sumikat Ang Araw
Olongapo, The Great American Dream
Alyas Baby Tsina
Sinner or Saint
Bukas May Pangarap
1985 White Slavery
1986 Private Show
Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita?
Flesh Avenue
Silip
The Rape of Virginia P. (co-writer)
1987 Paano Kung Wala Ka Na?
Remember Me, Mama
1988 Sandakot Na Bala
Kumander Dante
Birds of Prey (co-writer)
Babaing Hampaslupa
1989 Ang Bukas Ay Akin
Macho Dancer (co-writer)
Sa Kuko ng Agila
Bihagin Ang Dalagang Ito (co-writer)
Dino Dinero (co-writer)
1990 Mundo Man ay Magunaw
Dyesebel
Nagsimula Sa Puso
Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak
Hindi Laruan Ang Puso
Hahamakin Lahat
Hot Summer
Lumaban Ka, Sagot Kita Sa Diyos
Beautiful Girl (co-writer)
Andrea, Paano Ba Ang Maging Isang Ina?
1991 OCA: Muro-Ami (a 5-minute feature for the United Nations)
Kapag Naghalo Ang Langit at Lupa
Isabel Aquino
Isang Gabi, Tatlong Babae (Episode 2)
Pakasalan Mo Ako
Ubos Na Ang Luha Ko
Hinukay Ko Na Ang Libingan Mo
Mongolian Barbecue, The Movie (co-writer)
Ang Totoong Buhay Ni Pacita M.
Anak ng Dagat
Class of '91
1992 Lucia (a full-length film for the British Broadcasting Corporation)
Narito Ang Puso Ko
Apoy Sa Puso
Stella Magtanggol
Kamay ni Cain (co-writer)
Kung Kailangan Mo Ako (co-writer)
1993 Dahil Mahal Kita (The Dolzura Cortez Story)
Ako Ang Katarungan
1994 Bawal Na Gamot
Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin
Loretta
Pangako ng Kahapon
Separada
1995 Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie (co-writer)
Minsan May Pangarap (The Guce Family Story)
The Flor Contemplation Story (co-writer)
Mangarap Ka (co-writer)
Bawal Na Gamot 2 (co-writer)
Sibak: Midnight Dancers
Tagos Sa Laman
Okey Si Ma'am
Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara
1996 May Nagmamahal sa Iyo
Habang May Buhay
Hangga't May Hininga
Sa Aking Mga Kamay (co-writer)
Utol (co-writer)
Madrasta
Lahar
