Mixed reactions

FERNANDO. Turned out to be one of local show biz’s best TV-film actors.

Our “exclusive” last week on Ryan Cayabyab’s Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice papal award attracted more than the usual amount of feedback from our readers, who joined us in feting the gifted and selfless musical artist—and in hoping that his “Ryan, Ryan, Musikahan” TV show will again be mounted by a savvy TV station, so that a new generation of singers and listeners can benefit from “Mr. C’s” perceptive and inspiring mentorship. Incidentally, some of them also wondered why, with all of his major accomplishments, he has yet to be made a National Artist. Good question!

Well, since you asked, one of the stumbling blocks appears to be the “purist factor”: Some of the people doing the choosing seem to feel that Ryan isn’t consistently “serious” enough, because he’s also done a lot of “popular” work, while others have been more academic and even abstract in their output, which is so rarefied that only the cognoscenti can “appreciate” it.

In our view, this snooty disdain for popularity is questionable, because it’s elitist—and is contradicted by the fact that other popular entertainers like Fernando Poe Jr. have been deemed worthy of the nation’s top artistic honor.

More controversially, another relevant reason for Ryan’s not yet being hailed as a National Artist could be described as—the inggit factor.

Let’s face it, some people are envious of his preeminent success, so they equate his popularity with compromise and a consequent lowering of standards—which is debunked by other experts, who in fact cite Cayabyab for the high standards he’s set even for his popular works.

Another article that’s elicited a lot of comments is our piece on June Keithley, with some readers recalling her as an outstanding host of a wide range of programs, from magazine, talk, game and kiddie shows. A colleague even cited her as a “pioneering” musical-theater star, starring in a local staging of “The Sound of Music” while she was still in her teens.

‘Stars ’66’

Next, our recent article on Sampaguita Pictures’ eminently  successful “Stars ’66” batch of new screen talents has elicited unusually enthusiastic feedback from nostalgia buffs.

They cited Blanca Gomez as one of the prettiest faces on the silver screen in the ’60s, and agreed that Dindo Fernando turned out to be one of our best TV-film actors.

A particularly well-informed buff even drew up a list of “best actors ever” that included, not just Dindo, but also Oscar Roncal, Eddie Mesa, Lou Salvador Jr., Bing Davao, Ernie Garcia, Von Serna, Ruben Rustia and other now generally forgotten screen artists.

A reader who obviously dotes on the Rodriguez brothers, Ramil and Pepito, declares that they are among the local screen’s most successful pair of male siblings, with both of them having partnered some of the biggest female stars in the business.

Shirley Moreno got her own share of praises as an “exceptionally stunning beauty,” and another fan recalled that, before she became the busy and popular character actress she is today, Gina Pareño even went the sexy and “bold” route for a spell.

—Well, what’s so unusual about that? Another “Stars ’66” talent, Bert Leroy Jr., did more or less the same thing when “bold” flicks were the rage on the local film scene—and so did  many other stars, including even our veteran thespic icon, Eddie Garcia!