CARLO J. CAPARAS, THE NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD AND AN OVERPASS



Many months ago, I was having an animated conversation with a friend when our topic shifted to Carlo J. Caparas (who at that time was a recent recipient of an award; I forgot what award).

Let’s call my friend Totoy Buto (he’s quite thin) and this is how our historic conversation went:

Totoy: Na-meet mo ba si Carlo J no’ng nagsusulat ka pa sa komiks, pre?
Me: Hindi, hindi na yata siya nagsusulat no’n. Busy na siya sa movies.
Totoy: Pansin ko lang, parang panay ang tanggap niya ng award ngayon.
Me: A, oo, mula nang maupo si GMA, parang naging award magnet na siya.
Totoy: May ibig kang sabihin?
Me: Wala.
Totoy: Tingin mo ba, deserving siya sa mga awards niya?
Me: Hindi ko alam, hindi ko alam kung ano mga criteria do’n.
Totoy: Parang malakas siya ke GMA, ‘no?
Me: Mukha.
Totoy: Papasok siguro sa pulitika ‘yan, solid nga naman ang magiging credentials mo kung marami kang awards.
Me: Puwede.
Totoy: Sabagay, mga minor awards lang naman ‘yon. Magiging kasindak-sindak siguro kung mananalo siya bilang national artist.
Me: Hindi imposible ‘yan.
Totoy: Pare naman, si Carlo J, mananalong National Artist? Sa anong kategorya? Sa films?
Me: Malay mo?
Totoy: Napanood mo ba ‘yong mga pelikula niya?
Me: ‘Yong iba.
Totoy: Ano tingin mo?
Me: Alang kuwenta.
Totoy: That’s actually my point, bro.
(I glance at Totoy, somehow stunned with his English)
Totoy: Hindi siya mananalo ng National Artist award dahil sa mga pelikula niya.
Me: Sa komiks.
Totoy: Pare naman, wala namang National Artist for Comics.
Me: Gagawa ‘yong gobyerno.
(Totoy Buto snickers)
Me: Ang punto ko, e, wala namang imposible sa gobyernong ito.
Totoy: Kungsabagay (falls into deep thoughts) pero iba ‘yong national artist, pre, bigyan naman nila ng respeto ‘yong award. May delicadeza naman siguro sila kahit kaunti. Hindi magiging national artist 'yang si Carlo J. Puwera na lang kung bigla siyang gagawa ng mga de-kalidad na pelikula, ‘yong bang parang Godfather.
Me: Ano gagawin mo ‘pag nanalo siyang national artist?
Totoy: Tatalon ako mula sa isang overpass at bago ako tumalon, sisiguruhin ko muna na may parating na dalawang humahagibis na ten wheeler.
Few days ago, it was announced that Carlo J. Caparas was named National Artist for Visual Arts and Film. He couldn’t possibly have clinched the award for his comics works (most of it were very good, actually) since he didn’t illustrate those novels so it was probably safe to say that he got the award for his films.

And it truly boggles the mind.

His films aren’t the type you can call great. Okay, I’ll be succinct, his movies are mostly garbage. Most of his films unfailingly induce severe headache. I challenge you to watch and finish The Lilian Velez Story (Till Death Do Us Part) or The Lipa Arandia Massacre(Lord Deliver Us From Evil) or The Maggie Dela Riva Story (God…Why Me?) or The Vizconde Massacre Story(God Help Us!) or The Cecilia Masagca Story: Antipolo Massacre(Jesus Saves Us!)—notice how God was a requisite in most of his subtitles? The Bible teaches us not to use God’s name in vain and all these films were in vain—and see if, afterwards, you won’t cry for a dozen paracetamols.

His films didn’t contribute in the development of Filipino films, what it did attempt was to make it stagnate. And this government is rewarding him with a National Artist award for that. And hey, don’t forget that he also made a laughable film about the life of my favorite hero, Gregorio Del Pilar.

Totoy is still in the proccess of choosing his overpass.

Lord Jesus Christ, save him.

Comments

TheCoolCanadian said…
Maski ipa-tattoo pa niya ang lahat ng kanyang awards, dahil wala namang merit at alam ng buong Pilipinas ito, WHO THE HELL CARES (Deliver Us From Evil)? Ayan, di ba't ganyan lagi ang mga movie titles niya, kabaliw!

If there's one thing he should be doing is to go back to school. Learn, learn learn. Then go to USC or UCLA and study films. Then, makakagawa na siya ng kasing bigat ng Francis Ford Coppolla na THE GODFATHER.

ANG PADRINO (Pray To God Before You Die).

O, di bah?
August 6, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Anonymous said…
Ron,

Films ? Lino Brocka, Gerry de Leon, Ishmael Bernal, Celso Ad. Castillo, Mike de Leon. Pwede bang ihanay ang mga pelikula ni CJC, sa mga talented na directors na ito ?

Visual Arts ? FV Coching, Larry Alcala, Alfredo Alcala, Nestor Redondo, Alex Nino ? kailan naging illustrator si CJC, at nasapawan ang mga ito ?

Literature ? Mars Ravelo, Clodualdo del Mundo, Pablo S. Gomez, Nonoy Marcelo, Coching ulit, pwede ba siyang ihanay dito ?


Auggie
August 7, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Ron Mendoza said…
JM,

Sayang, hindi naisip ni Francis Ford Coppola na lagyan ng subtitle 'yong The Godfather, mas astig sana. The Godfather (Pray To God Before You Die). Lalo na kung gagawing dialogue 'yon ni Al PAcino. He he.

Auggie,

Para sa 'kin 'yong Kisapmata ni Mike De Leon ay sapat ng dahilan para gawin siyang National Artist. :)
August 12, 2009 at 1:02 AM
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