How Rene Requiestas found his place in the entertainment sun

IT WAS in the mid-’70s when Tony Mabesa, Alex Cortez and Anton Juan worked with the newly established drama group of Imee Marcos’ Kabataang Barangay. The trio was raving about the raw comic talent of a certain Rene. When queried further, they said his full name was Rene Requiestas, a natural comedian whose timing was impeccable.

Requiestas was dark, frail and skinny—the perfect “poor man’s” comic. He lived in the Tenement buildings off South Superhighway. I was told that he had minimal education, but learned to act from experience. He could ape comic scenes straight off the busy streets of the metropolis.

When I was tasked to direct the pre-war zarzuela, “Paglipas Ng Dilim,” I decided to cast Rene as the comic character who sang a Chabacano song—and he ran away with the scene!

Steps

Tony took steps to provide Rene a formal education by getting the chain-smoking comedian a “scholarship” from ace filmmaker, Ishmael Bernal. I went to Bernie and got Rene’s tuition fee.

Once in his classes, however, Rene showed little interest in academics. He was a performer, first and foremost—that’s what he did best. We realized that getting academic credentials wasn’t important to him.

Rene wanted to perform—that, he did with aplomb and great distinction. So, Bernie recommended him to his friend, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, who was then directing the hit television series, “Sic O’Clock News,” where Rene was featured, along with other campus comedians like Ces Quesada and Ching Arellano.

Bernie used Rene in some of his films, and before long, he was noticed by others, including Joey de Leon, who tapped him to be his sidekick in his screen comedies for Tony Cruz. Their comedy flicks were the hits of the era.

As I was living then in New York, I wasn’t fully aware how Rene had leapt to the big leagues. Had fame change him? During one of my visits home, I was waiting for a cab on Morato Ave. Rene passed by in his car and went past me. But, when he noticed me, he instructed his driver to back up to pick me up. He even vacated the front seat, so I could sit there. I was happy to see that he was as self-effacing as ever!