‘Mr. Y’ at the movies

ISAGANI Yambot: “Indie auteurs have shown that film can tackle the same issues addressed in literature.” photo: Joseph Agcaoili

The Isagani Yambot that the Inquirer Entertainment section knew was a tireless movie buff. And thank goodness for that.

In spite of his invariably full work schedule, he was a virtual fixture in screenings of good films, by both internationally renowned directors and struggling neophytes. He always made time for local and international film festivals held in Metro Manila (on top of classical and jazz concerts, art exhibits and plays).

This same Mr. Y was a champion of Pinoy indie films. He would sit with members of Inquirer’s informal movie club during regular screenings of these movies at the second-floor multipurpose hall, and then meet with the filmmakers and cast members present with undisguised enthusiasm.

At the first Inquirer Indie Tribute in December 2010, he said in his speech: “I’ve always dreamed of honoring the indies before I died.” Little did we know … and now we’re just happy that we helped make that dream come true for him. Mr. Y passed on last Friday.

In December last year, for the second Indie Tribute, he gave an inspiring speech, as usual (we’re printing that one with this story), in which his unabashed love for, and encyclopedic knowledge of, cinema were quite evident.

AT THE 2ND Inquirer Indie Tribute (from left): Briccio Santos, Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Mr. Y and filmmaker Ditsi Carolino, one of the honorees. JOSEPH AGCAOILI

Certainly, it was no surprise that Inquirer Entertainment received not a few condolences from the film community.

Writer-director Adolfo Alix Jr., who was attending a film fest in Singapore, sent his sympathies via Yahoo Messenger. Cinemanila founder Tikoy Aguiluz expressed his sadness via Facebook.

Director Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil sent an SMS, pointing out that Mr. Y was a staunch patron of indie film screenings at the Inquirer. Marfil’s “Boses” was one of the first to be shown in the series and Mr. Y, as PDI publisher—and though he didn’t have to— was present to welcome the director, lead star and other guests.

Marfil recalled: “My husband Martin, who used to be an Inquirer reporter, always held him in high esteem. During a seminar in Tagaytay, Mr. Y asked Martin if we could screen ‘Boses’ at the Inquirer. When I met him at the screening, I felt his genuine warmth. We honor him, a cineaste and a good man.”

BOOTS Anson-Roa: “He was my boss.”

Aguiluz said, simply: “Naiyak ako (I cried). He was present at the first Cinemanila fest 13 years ago. I wanted to give him DVDs of some movies. Goodbye, gentleman.”

Cannes-winning filmmaker Raymond Red put it succinctly: “The country has lost an icon of journalism, but we filmmakers mourn the loss of a dedicated indie cinema supporter. However, we know that his convictions will live on through the Inquirer.”

TIKOY Aguiluz

Rico Maria Ilarde, Marfil and Red’s fellow honoree at the first Indie Tribute, said: “As a filmmaker, I’m greatly appreciative of the effort and expense the Inquirer has extended to the indie film community … I feel fortunate to have met him.”

And from filmmaker Briccio Santos, head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines: “This is a great loss to the film industry … he was an ardent supporter, most especially of indie filmmakers.”

A movie fan, too

Our Mr. Y was also a movie fan.

RAYMOND Red photo:AP

Twice weekly, he would walk by the Entertainment section and ask, with a glint of mischief in his eyes, about the blind items in “Rushes.”

“Anyone in trouble this week?” he would ask. Of course, his interest really went beyond curiosity; he was very likely looking out for libel baits. But trust the self-effacing Mr. Y to make even this official function seem like a game.

One thing we didn’t know was that the PDI publisher had at least two direct show-biz connections.

PERLA Bautista INQUIRER PHOTO

One of the first messages of condolence we received was from veteran actress Perla Bautista, his schoolmate at Torres High School in Tondo, Manila.

“He was four batches ahead of us, but he once attended a meeting for our alumni homecoming (Class ’55),” Bautista recalled. “He was always a jolly fellow. And quite popular, too, on campus. He wrote for the school organ, The Torres Torch.”

ELLEN Ongkeko-Marfil photo:ROMY HOMILLADA

Boots Anson-Roa, actress and head of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, worked with Mr. Y not as a film star but as a media person. “Gani was my immediate boss at the media office of the Philippine embassy in Washington DC in the early to mid-1980s,” Roa recalled. “He was generally quiet and reserved, but had a terrific sense of humor. He was an expert in his field. I learned much from him.”

RICO Ilarde photo:romy homillada

The world he moved in as a public figure says goodbye to an esteemed professional and beloved colleague. Inquirer Entertainment says, thank you, Mr. Y, we’ll still be seeing you at the movies!