Ricky Lee gathers his ‘favorites’ at star-studded book launch

Posted by ReyFort Media

MANILA, Philippines — National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee personally handpicked the artists who brought his words to life at the launch of his latest books at the Manila International Book Fair 2025.

The event, held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay last Friday, featured a star-studded lineup of readers — Michael V, Jolina Magdangal, Judy Ann Santos, Jericho Rosales, Luis Alandy, Kyline Alcantara, Meryll Soriano, Chai Fonacier, Jackie Lou Blanco and Phi Palmos — with song performances from Dulce and Arman Ferrer in between readings.

The multi-awarded screenwriter shared that he chose these movie, TV and stage actors to interpret excerpts from his works — Agaw-Tingin, a collection of non-fiction, and his sixth novel Pinilakang Tabing — because they were his “favorites.”

“Yung pinipili kong reader sa bawat launch ko ay talagang pinili ko kasi mga paborito ko sila (The readers I choose at every launch are really chosen by me because they are my favorites),” he said at the end of the program.

“That’s why some of them have become regulars, appearing again and again. And some are new this time, hopefully they become regulars, too. When I chose the excerpts, I already imagined how they would perform them. But when I watched them earlier, I still couldn’t have imagined what they did — they were so good.”

Apart from being a celebration of his new books, the launch also showed how Ricky continues to connect generations of stars — veterans and young blood alike — through his storytelling.

For the artists, on the other hand, doing a public reading of his works was an unforgettable experience.

Jericho admitted in a post-event chat: “Of course, it’s nerve-wracking, but when you think about being called to share your voice or your time… it’s not about me anymore, but about what I’m reading.”

The “Quezon” lead star was particularly asked to read an excerpt about an aspiring filmmaker.

“Sir Ricky chose that (excerpt) for me because (he said), ‘I know it’s your dream to become a director and producer someday, so ma-picture mo na ‘to na ganyan (you can picture this as something like that).’”

“When I was a kid, I wasn’t fond of reading, and now I’m being made to read in front of many people,” Jericho further quipped.

Meanwhile, Michael V elicited the strongest reactions from the audience while reading an excerpt from Pinilakang Tabing. He narrated veteran filmmaker Joel Lamangan’s experience as casting director and assistant director to the late National Artist Ishmael Bernal on the set of “Himala” (1982), a film produced under the government-funded Experimental Cinema of the Philippines.

The crowd cheered when the comedy star recounted Ishmael telling Joel: “This project is above all of us. This is people’s money.”

The line obviously struck a chord with audience members, especially in light of flood control anomalies currently making headlines in the country.

Michael V couldn’t resist going off script, quipping: “Mamaya na yong side comment. Panoorin niyo lang this Sunday. Baka madisgrasya ako.”

At the book launch though, Judy Ann read excerpts about another film that allowed her to work again with Ricky and Joel as writer and director, respectively. This was the 2004 World War II-set drama “Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita.” She then reflected on how the passages, as well as those read by others, still felt very much relevant today, even as these were penned years ago.

“It’s very timely, right? If you think about it, even if some of Sir Ricky’s works were written a long time ago, it turns out the times haven’t really changed. That’s my realization as I listened (to the other excerpts) earlier,” the Metro Manila Film Festival acting Hall of Famer said.

“The times haven’t changed… It has only gotten worse… Yung ngayon mas OA na. The people behind what’s happening no longer have any conscience at all. How did we get here? How did we end up in this kind of situation? The people who should be helping us have lost their compassion. Nakakalungkot, diba (It’s sad, isn’t it)?” (N. Tomada/ Philstar)