Memoir on Ishmael Bernal out

“You can be a rebel while allowing yourself to compromise with the system because it’s the only way to later on make the films you want,” said Katrina Stuart Santiago, project director and producer of “Pro Bernal, Anti Bio”—a memoir on the National Artist for film Ishmael Bernal.

“Pro Bernal, Anti Bio” features the legendary director’s personal writings, which he began working on in 1992, or four years before he passed away.

One of those present at the recent book launch was actor Bembol Roco, who worked with Bernal on three films, including “Boy Kodyak” (1979).

“The youth deserves to know how Ishma was like. He was a very important industry figure. He deserved this
tribute,” Roco said.

Comedian and Film Academy of the Philippines director general Leo Martinez said he got to collaborate with Bernal “when he was already so frustrated in doing films that he shifted to commercials and stage plays.”

According to Martinez, Bernal then was “already more relaxed and mellow.”

“I have known about this book for a long time because its proponents are my friends,” he added. “It provides interesting insights on the Ishma that we knew.”—MARINEL CRUZ