Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Untold Pinoy Story No. 15

The Other Julio

In 2003, Steven Jay Schneider edited and published a book entitled, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. Carefully selected by leading international film critics, it was an amazing compilation of the best films from all over the world: from Bollywood to Hollywood.

The films were listed according to the year that they were released. The year 1975 was a golden age for world cinema. A total of 16 of the best films made in 1975 made it to the list. The list includes Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon, Milos Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock, Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Fox and His Friends, Terry Gilliam's Monthy Python and the Holy Grail, Marguerite Duras' India Song, Pasolini’s Salo, Carlos Saura's Cria!, Jim Sharman's The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Robert Altman’s Nashville, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws and…
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Yes, a Filipino film.

It’s the only Filipino film in a list of 1,001 greatest films from around the world.

There it is. On page 605 of Schneider’s heavy book. The brief description of the film is accompanied by a black –and-white still photograph of its lead actor.

And everyone probably knows which film this is.

Yes, the only Filipino film which made it to the list of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die was Director Lino Brocka’s Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag (translated in this book as Manila In the Claws of Brightness).
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This film has been a perennial favorite among movie critics from all over the world. And Filipinos must be proud of this film. Perhaps, the only person who despised this film was former First Lady Imelda Marcos. Because it did not show the true, the good and the beautiful, according to her.
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Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag was a serialized novel in the weekly Liwayway Magazine before it was turned into a movie. It was written by Edgardo M. Reyes, a construction worker from Tondo. The novel was so successful that Edgardo M. Reyes wrote a sequel entitled, Bangkang Papel sa Dagat ng Apoy. This was also turned into a movie in 1984 starring school dropout-turned-actor-turned-mayor-turned-senator-turned-vice president-turned-president Joseph Ejercito Estrada and his rumored paramour, Laarni Enriquez. Helmed by the novel's author and first-time director, Edgardo M. Reyes, this movie did not reap the same level of success that Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag enjoyed.

During the mid-70s, Lino Brocka started filming his trilogy film for Cine Manila Artist. The film is entitled, Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa. The entire first episode of this film was shot at the Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Education (DARE) center in Bicutan. Aiming for authenticity, Lino Brocka used the guys there as movie extras.

After Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa was shown, Lino Brocka started filming Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag.

Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag is a film about Julio Madiaga, a provinciano whose girlfriend, Ligaya Paraiso, was lured into the city by a job recruiter, in the hope of giving her impoverished family a better life. But after Ligaya left, her family did not hear from her again. Nor did Julio. Worried about Ligaya, Julio ventured into the city and searched for Ligaya. And that’s when Julio discovered that the city was everything but the paradise that Ligaya’s recruiter had pictured it to be. But this was just the beginning. Julio’s search for Ligaya led him to an even more shocking discovery about Ligaya’s fate.

The shooting of the film went on very smoothly. At the end of every shooting day, the meticulous Lino Brocka would always view the movie rushes.

After shooting several scenes for a number of days, the ever-perfectionist Lino Brocka felt uncomfortable with the actor playing the lead role of Julio Madiaga. In Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.’s brilliant screenplay, Julio Madiaga was a starving provinciano who did odd jobs in the city while searching for Ligaya, which was brilliantly played by Hilda Koronel. However, the daily movie rushes showed that Lino Brocka’s Julio Madiaga was healthy-looking, even chubby. And the actor seemed to be putting on more weight with each passing day. The actor was physically miscast for the role.

Because of this, Lino Brocka decided to replace his lead actor.

It did not matter to Lino Brocka that he had shot several scenes which would just go to waste once he changed his lead actor. It did not matter to Lino Brocka that he had to reshoot all the scenes and start all over again.

Lino Brocka needed a more suitable Julio Madiaga as soon as possible. He could not afford to stall the filming any longer. Lino Brocka searched around.

And there he was! The personification of Julio Madiaga.

Lino Brocka’s choice as replacement for the original Julio Madiaga was a student from the Ateneo de Manila whom he met at the DARE center in Bicutan. He was a bit player in Lino Brocka’s Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa. Ironically, the original Julio Madiaga was the lead actor in the first episode of this trilogy film where the new Julio Madiaga was just a bit player.

The new Julio Madiaga indeed looked the part. He was skinny. His eyes could convey a thousand emotions. And he could really act.

The new Julio Madiaga was Rafael Aranda Roco, Jr.

Some showbiz insiders were skeptical about Lino Brocka’s decision to give the lead role of a major film to this guy who had no acting experience other than playing a bit part in Lino Brocka’s previous film.

But Lino Brocka was adamant. He wanted no one else to play Julio Madiaga.

And Lino Brocka was eventually vindicated in his decision. Rafael Roco, Jr. won the 1975 FAMAS best actor trophy for Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag. For a new actor whose only acting experience was appearing as a bit player in a Lino Brocka movie, winning this award was truly a major triumph. This came close to the acting record of Christopher de Leon who won the FAMAS best actor trophy just the year before for his very first film, Lino Brocka’s Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang.

Despite his thinning hair, Rafael Roco, Jr. instantly became the most sought-after leading man. He was paired with the leading actresses of the day in some of the best movies directed by the greatest Filipino film directors during this golden age of Philippine cinema. He shared stellar billing with Nora Aunor in Mario Ohara’s Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos; with Vilma Santos in Celso Ad Castillo’s Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak; with Hilda Koronel in Behn Cervantes’ Sakada and Lino Brocka’s Hayop sa Hayop; with Chanda Romero in Eddie Romero’s Banta ng Kahapon and Gil Portes’ Sa Piling ng Mga Sugapa, with the latter giving him another best actor trophy from Gawad Urian, and many other memorable films. During the filming of Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak, Rafael Roco, Jr. started wearing a wig due to his thinning hair.
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In 1982, Rafael Roco, Jr. also landed an important role in the film, The Year of Living Dangerously which starred Mel Gibson (star of Lethal Weapon series) and Sigourney Weaver (star of Alien series). This film was directed by Peter Weir who holds the distinction of being one of the only two living film directors who had the most number of Oscar nominations as Best Director. He was nominated for such acclaimed films as Dead Poets Society, Witness, The Truman Show and Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World. And his film, Picnic at Hanging Rock, was among the 16 films in 1975 which made it to the list of films in Schneider’s book, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, along with Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag. While the said book devoted a full page to Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag, Peter Weir’s film had to share the page opposite Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag’s page with another great film.

Rafael Roco, Jr. married a fashion model, Coco Artadi, who therefore became known from then on as Mrs. Coco Roco. Later, Rafael Roco, Jr. decided to finally get rid of his hairpiece. And he shaved his head permanently. He also replaced his screen name with his real nickname. Thus, Rafael Roco, Jr. became known as Bembol Roco. Although his decision to shave his head limited him to character roles, Bembol Roco remained as one of the country’s most brilliant actors, together with the original Julio Madiaga.

Bembol Roco and the original Julio Madiaga seemed to be destined to affect each other’s lives. They were astrological twins. They were both born on the 20th day of the same year, 1953. The original Julio Madiaga was born on January 20, 1953 while Bembol Roco was born exactly ten months after, on November 20, 1953.

While Bembol Roco studied in what was then an exclusive boys’ school, Ateneo de Manila, the original Julio Madiaga held the distinction of being one of the first male students who were accepted at an exclusive girls’ school, Maryknoll College (now Miriam College), which is located right beside Bembol Roco’s school.

But while Bembol Roco’s roots do not have any link to show business, the original Julio Madiaga belonged to a highly-respected show business clan whose membership stretches from Conrado Conde to Robert Arevalo to Janno Gibbs. His father’s siblings and cousins worked in various aspects of show business: from actors to directors to screenwriters to musical scorers, among many others. In fact, one of his father’s brothers was one of the greatest Filipino film directors ever. Just consider these accomplishments: He was the only film director who won the FAMAS best director award for three consecutive years. He also won the most number (seven) of FAMAS best director trophies. He directed such great films as Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, Sisa, Buhay at Pag-ibig ni Dr. Jose Rizal, Daigdig ng Mga Api, The Moises Padilla Story and Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (which won the first FAMAS best picture award in 1953). He was also one of only five Filipino film directors who were proclaimed as National Artists of the Philippines, together with Lino Brocka. Having this man for an uncle must have inspired the original Julio Madiaga to carve his own name in show business at a very young age.

However, it is ironic though that while the original Julio Madiaga had an equally brilliant actress for a wife and had thick show business blood flowing through his veins, his only biological daughter does not have the slightest interest in following her parents’ footsteps. He did not have any children with his live-in actress partner either to perpetuate his acting legacy. On the other hand, Bembol Roco, whose folks do not seem to have any trace of the acting bug, has better prospects of perpetuating his acting legacy since his twin sons, Ricardo Dominic and Teodoro Felix, have also invaded show business.

But while Bembol Roco and his fashion model wife remain together, the original Julio Madiaga and his actress wife separated after many years of marriage. But he found new love in the person of an equally talented actress who was discovered by former President Joseph Estrada’s younger brother, movie producer Jesse Ejercito, who eventually launched her in the movie, Nang Bumuka ang Sampaguita.
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During all those years that Bembol Roco snatched all the movie roles that would have ordinarily landed on the lap of the original Julio Madiaga, the original Julio Madiaga still continued to shine in some of the most memorable films under the country’s best film directors, despite his failure to shed those extra pounds which cost him the movie role of a lifetime. He was memorable in his role as a priest in a film directed by Laurice Guillen; as a bachelor in a film by respected film critic Pio de Castro III; as a newly-married man in a film by Mike de Leon; and as a brutal husband in a film by Marilou-Diaz Abaya.

But he never got the chance to play another character as memorable as Julio Madiaga.

The original Julio Madiaga was an excellent and versatile actor who started acting as a child. He was the product of the union of a well-known show business couple. His father was an actor with many films to his credit and a one-time director (Maria Kapra, 1947) after World War II. His mother was a beautiful actress who lost one of her arms during World War II.

Like his mentor, Lino Brocka, the original Julio Madiaga died during a road accident in a spot not far from where Lino Brocka had his fatal car accident. He was aboard his motorcycle on his way to return a video to a video rental shop when a car hit him.

He was a great loss to Philippine cinema.

It would have been his face which would have been immortalized in the last frame of that famous and most-talked about ending of Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag.

Even the titles of some of his actor father’s films seemed to echo Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag which is about a young man from the province (Binatang Bukid, 1938) who went to the city to search for his girlfriend (Nasaan Ka Irog, 1937) whose name is Ligaya Paraiso (Ligaya, 1946).

Indeed, this talented son of actor Angel Esmeralda and actress Corazon Noble seemed at first to have been born to play Julio Madiaga.

But he was not destined to play Julio Madiaga after all.

Despite the fact that his close friends called him Julio. But this was not to tease him for losing the greatest Filipino film role in the best Filipino film ever. In fact, they have been calling him Julio long before the novel was even written.

Because his name was, in a way, also Julio.

His real name was the Latin equivalent of Julio.

His real name was Julius.

His full name was Julius Abad Ilagan.

And his screen name was Jay Ilagan.

And you all know the rest of his story.

Images from amazon.com

NEXT: Family, Friends, Partners & Lovers: Beyond the World of Kevin Bacon

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! Nick who are you? I think this is the most amazing post in your amazing blog. The long wait is worth every single word. Julius "Jay" Ilagan as the original Julio Madiaga, Bembol marrying Coco Roco (lucky her she did not marry Atoy Co), Lino Brocka...
I remember watching Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag. I remember things happening in a street called Misericordia. I don't know what that name means but while watching the movie It evoked a feeling of misery, sadness, despair.
Keep the stories coming. I don't mind the long wait.

haaynaku said...

Hey Lee, email me your address. This post is worth a jar of hummus.

:)

Hayup sa build up ang post na ito. I knew it was Jay Ilagan but I did not want to cheat and peek at the end of the post.

Love this story!!!!

Anonymous said...

i never knew that...

that was great.keep it up!

ron cruz said...

wow! ang tagal ko hinintay to!

amazing! wala kang kupas!

Anonymous said...

wow, the wait is really worth it! i knew it was jay ilagan and got my suspicion stronger as i continued reading on.

wonderful! more, more, more!

Unknown said...

Whoa...I never realized Jay Ilagan was such a showbiz blue blood. Cool!

Oh, and the title of the next entry is too intriguing for words. Can't wait to see what it is!

^__^

Edong said...

ang lupet talaga!

iba ka!

Anonymous said...

ang tagal nga naming naghintay but it was worth it. man, youre so good in writing we want to keep you for ourselves but those people who havent read your blog are missing a lot. you should have a column sa mga dyaryo sa pinas.

Anonymous said...

Hi Nick,
I'm always looking forward to your next story. I hope you can write more often. :) This is such an impressive piece of work. Keep it up!

Anonymous said...

i never knew bembol was an inmate at the rehab. i've read from the book "lino bracka: the artist and his times" that roco was indeed discovered in a rehab, working there as a counselor or a guide or something. but i guess it less matters now if bembol was indeed a junky. wat matters more is that your stories are addicting. if only philippine showbiz reportage could be like this...chismis will never be the same again.hehehe. congratulations

-closet chismoso

dex said...

Finally a new post! I kinda guessed who the other Julio was halfway through the article. Great job!

Anonymous said...

wow! it never fails talaga! long wait was worth it!! i know the stuff about bembol roco since i'm friends with one of his kids. but about jay ilagan and all the connections? panalo!!

thanks and keep it up! i'm already looking forward to your next story.=)

-chris

Anonymous said...

wow! thanks!
Oh by the way, can I link you in at my multiply site...

thank you...

Anonymous said...

Thanks! Finally, no. 15's released hehehe...

Nick, pwede ko ba malink to site mo... post ko lang sa blog ko... proud to be pinoy!

Didi said...

You write it so well Nick! I love reading your entries! Every sentence captivates me more and more!! :)

Hope to read more and more and more!! :)

Cheers! Nick!!

Unknown said...

ang galing mo talaga... first time i read your blog natapos ko lahat. sana every week meron...keep it up :)

Anonymous said...

FANTASTIC, Nick! Bravo, bravo for a well-written story! Love it!

Anonymous said...

loooong awaited post! ang galing pa rin. :) i've been reading your stories for months now. pero it's just today that i had the guts to post a message/comment.

i linked you already in my multiply site...i hope it's okay...

Rique

Anonymous said...

galing ever! u never fail to impress. like what everybody said... ur posts are worth the wait. more power po!

Anonymous said...

more power, ang galing!!!!!

Anonymous said...

this story was worth the wait. wonderful job, Nick!

Anonymous said...

nick,

you are a very good writer, very meticulous, likes trivia, very smart, but very shy, i guess. my wife and my two girls love you. it's good my wife doesn't know you. joke!!!!!

hope you write more stories and wish we could meet you someday.

i'm a stage actor, but that was a long time ago. i hope you write something about Filipino actors, directors and playrights like the late Bienvenido Noriega, the prolific Ben Cervantes, and something on Irma Adlawan, Divina Cavestany, Joy Virata, etc.

pls don't disappoint us, we will wait for them, nick.

charlie's angels and mcgyver
(that's me and my wife and kids who are all amazed by your stories)

Anonymous said...

hi nick,

did u get my comment? am not very good with computers. my comment just disappered from the screen. my daughter who's guiding has fallen asleep.

thanks.

charlie's angels

Anonymous said...

wow..im amazed.. :-)

i love reading your entries..dami ko natututunan.. :-)

Anonymous said...

dear nick,

i recommended your stories to my friends and just like many of your readers, they got hooked. how are you able to write about those things?

this afternoon, my boss saw me while i was rereading no. 15. i thought he'll get mad because we are not allowed to browse during office hours. but guess what, he ended up reading the whole lot and was really impressed.

pls keep the stories coming.

glenda of chinabank

Anonymous said...

nick,

my wife got me hooked on your site. my wife loved your blog so much it's the first thing she does after dinner and the children thing.

you are so good!!

by the way, are you from NY or anywhere in the eastcoast. we are from Rye, NY. hope we could meet up.

pls post more "untold" pinoy stories.

marvin

Anonymous said...

Very informative.. Thanks for the post. Now I have some gossips to say to my friends.

Anonymous said...

hello nick,

you're great!!! super!! ang galing!!

my kids told me about your blog and i read the whole lot in one sitting. after that i told them, "why only now?"

my eldest told me because i am very serious and they never imagined me indulging in such trivia. the second daughter said they told me about the blog because they know how much i love reading good articles. and yours are the best in every way.

you just got another fan..

remy

Anonymous said...

hanep! ang galeng naman ng blog na ire.

aba e bat ba ang dami mong alam. reporter ka ba?

taga saan ka ba nick? paano ba kita makikilala?

lolo amang

Anonymous said...

hi nick,

thot it was joel torre.

when is the next one coming?

tolits

Anonymous said...

this is great nick, so when is the next one coming!!!!

joy

Anonymous said...

nick,

i'm n oldtimer and i know most of the things you write. but i am telling you this, you write extremely well.

just like my kumpareng nick joaquin.

my wife and i miss him so much.

justo

Anonymous said...

Hi Nick. You are really good! I really love reading your blogs. Please keep it coming...more, more, more!

I heard from a relative who works in one of the biggest tv network in the country a story of a former ms. universe who used to date a very popular showbiz personality, almost getting married until the former was sort-of-raped by a high-ranking executive from the network. If this is true, hope you can make a write-up of this. Just curious...Thanks so much!

Anonymous said...

nick, you are a great writer, my friends are crazy about your blog.

when is the next post?

jessica

Anonymous said...

nick,

all the stories are great. let's see if ur next will top this one.

chit

Anonymous said...

hey nick,

was born in PI but was raised in LA. your stories help me relate a little bit more to the land i wish to see soon. i love the phlippines but my mom won't let me come and visit alone till i am 24. i'll 24 next month. hurrah!!

btw, are you from LA?

kit santos

Anonymous said...

nick,

when will you post ur next blog?

andy

Anonymous said...

nick,

do these names ring a bell?

joel torre
spanky manikan
nilo ocampo
boots carcer
boying lallana
jun martin
jobart

we are having one for the road and viewed your blog. said they know you.

they say hi.

jusmag

Anonymous said...

hey nick,

can't believe it! we,pinoys here in DC, knew about your blog just yesterday. and we are so amazed. how am i gonna say it, POST KA LANG NG POST, PARDS.

DON'T MAKE US WAIT, KABAYAN.

Anonymous said...

Hi Nick,

Not entirely sure if you received the comment I made yesterday, just wondering if you received the message I sent you. Thanks!

Cheers,
Mike

Anonymous said...

hey nick,

the coolest blog i've ever seen.

nice stories and very good writing style. man, you had me hooked.

joel

Anonymous said...

hey nick,

WOW is all i can say.

you write so well.

ricky

Anonymous said...

dear nick,

luv ur stories & d way u write them.

way to go...

susie

Anonymous said...

hey nick,

i'm wondering when will the next posting be. ang tagal na!

ricky

Anonymous said...

mr. nick,

ang galeng ng blog ninyo. dami kong nalamang untold stories.

isay

Anonymous said...

nick,

ur blog is so cool. i wondr where u gt your infos. anyway, some of them are common knowledge, but the way you write them. oh my. will wait for more of your stories.

kimjun

Anonymous said...

hey nick,

grabe, all your stories are well written. are you a pro writer?

ging

Anonymous said...

hey there nick!

edu manzano mentioned that jay ilagan was one of the finest actors in the phils. christopher de leon also shared this opinion... then i remembered this post , that's all heheh

bonitables said...

hi nick,

untold stories indeed. i hope you keep writing. it's so nice to read your blog after a bad day. :)

Anonymous said...

hey there nick,

luv ur stories. keep posting.

che

Anonymous said...

dear nick,

yes, jay ilagan is one of the finest actors we had. iilan lang ang makakapara sa kanya. sayang na bata, talaga!

lolo amang

laurenwyne said...

what happened to this site.. di na siya active?

Anonymous said...

Any upcoming juicy item on the sexcapades of Gabby Lopez? Too many to mention, according to ABS insiders.

Anonymous said...

when is the next untold story going to be published?