He also became an escort of female impersonators-designers Mike de la Rosa and Pando. “I was paid P75 a night.”
Then the military arrested him while he’s in a rally and he was imprisoned for two years in Camp Vicente Lim with other political prisoners. Upon his release, he became active with PETA as a theatre actor. But then he was arrested again and jailed in Bicutan. “Doon, mga kriminal talaga ang kasama ko at ginawa akong es-mi or misis noong mayor namin. Gagahasain ako sa damuhan pero nagsisigaw ako kaya nabartolina siya kasi bawal yung pipilitin mo. Nung lumabas na siya, dinala ko sa CR, bigla akong itinulak sa wall. E, tumama yung likod ko doon sa gripo ng shower. Napasigaw ako, di na naman natuloy. Nung third try, may nangyari na. After that, pinaglalaba ko na siya ng damit niya.”
He was released through the intervention of Armida Siguion Reyna. He became active not only as a theatre but also as a movie actor. “I was directed by the late Lino Brocka and Mario O’Hara. Si Mario, pinaglalaruan ako. In ‘Kastilyong Buhangin’, I played Boy Pisak, yung nag-torture kay Lito Lapid sa bilangguan. Sa scene na pinatatoohan ko si Lito, nakahubad na siya, ayokong lumapit, baka tilagan ako kasi ang sexy-sexy niya. Nakalitaw ang puwet, ang kinis. Nakikita ko pa yung notes. Tapos, may shower scene with mga bilanggong hubad, led by Tonio Gutierrez, na ang guwapo-guwapo noon na dadakmain ko sa eksena. Ayoko ring lumapit. Sabi ko kay Direk Mario, bakla ako, baka telagan ako diyan. Sila Tonio pang nagsabi, okay lang, alam na namin. Alam na raw nilang bading ako. Tapos, dun sa death scene kong papatayin ako ni Lito sa CR. Pinaupo ako sa inidoro. Hindi ko alam kunsaan siyang manggagaling. Ayaw sabihin ni Direk. Yung pala lulundagin ako mula sa itaas. Pagtalon niya sa’kin, napatili ako: ‘Aaaayyy!’ Cut! Maton ako, tapos tumitili. So na-take two.”
He had so many good anecdotes about the legendary Lolita Rodriguez. “We were doing ‘Larawan’ sa PETA at Fort Santiago, adaptation ng ‘Portrait of an Artist’ ni Nick Joaquin directed by Lino. Sa rehearsal ng scene na mini-mix niya yung tsokolate, biglang may sumigaw: ‘My Candida doesn’t mix her chocolate like that!’ Si Nick Joaquin pala! Lolit told Lino: ‘Palayasin mo yan. Hindi ako magre-rehearse hangga’t nandiyan yang matandang yan.’ Si Lino went to the National Artist at ang tagal munang pakiusapan bago umalis. Si Lolit doesn’t give her all during rehearsal, unlike Charito Solis as Paula na rehearsal pa lang, performance level na and after each scene, umiinom ng beer. But during the actual show, you could na lahat ng binilin sa kanya, nagagawa ni Lolit. She’s really amazing. In the movie ‘Mortal’, nag-shoot kami sa Laguna. Di pa uso mga tent noon. Noong take na, sabi ko, saan tayo magbibihis. She said, ‘Aba, e di dito’. Then she took off her dress. Naka-bathing suit pala siya, then she wore yung pinasusuot sa’ming costume. E, di ginaya ko na, naghubad din ako, kahit naka-briefs lang ako.”
Joel is directing “Mga Ama, Mga Anak” on stage, which was staged by PETA before starring the late actor Ben Rubio. He’s now getting Eddie Garcia as the partriach. We told what he should revive is “Flores Para Los Muertos”, the adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” with Laurice Guillen giving an electrifying and absolutely unforgettable portrayal of Blanche Dubois. “I’d like to do it, but tell me, sino ang makagagawa ng Blance today. Si Laurice was so good, wala kang makukuhang gaya niya ngayon. Si Laurice, first time pa lang umappear sa stage, alam mong may sayad na, e. I was a part of the cast then and I remember ang iingay naming mga bakla with Soxie Topacio then bigla siyang sumigaw ng ‘Quieeeeettttt!’ na pagkahaba-haba. Bakit daw ang iingay namin, e nagi-internalize siya sa dressing room? Napakahirap naman kasi talaga ng role niya kaya kailangan talaga ng mahabang preparasyon. I don’t think anyone can perform the role among our actresses now.”
And we agree. But if ever Vilma Santos would dare to try doing a stage play at this point in her career, the role of Blanche will be great for her. And we think given her range, she can also do justice to the role.
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