Remembering Sir Tioseco...

I don't have much time in my leisure during the day. What is sad is I don't have much to think about since what I do for a living is very mechanical. Almost everything is done systematically by a set of procedures developed way before I started going to college. So it is not until I travel home or when I am alone in my bedroom; trying to get myself to sleep that I start to think about stuff, id est if I am not kept busy by a book or video games.

There is nothing to be fond of this day except for the nice-ness of finally having new hires in our company that makes me feel less of an alien to my surroundings. (To be fair, let me point out that a lot of people have been very nice to me. I won’t give names for the simple reason that one’s being unnamed might be presumed as a sign that they have been hostile or unfriendly to me. I am very thankful to my officemates who did their best in trying to make me feel that I belong; that I am someone they enjoy having around them. And I certainly hope that the arrival of my co-neophytes and the apparent warming of my colleagues would be an indication that I would finally be in the inner circle. I certainly hope I will never have to go to Paseo Center and tell the waitress to give me a Table for ONE.-I’m sorry sir?-Table for ONE. AS in ONE. Let us all pray for this.)

I am sorry for digressing from my real intent of creating this entry. As I have said, there is nothing to be fond of this day. From the start of my day when I was suddenly given additional batches when I am not yet done with the current load that I have; from the arrival of the urgent batch; to the text message that I got from a close friend:

“Bien! D’you knw what I heard in th news? Sir Tioseco is dead! He was murdered by a thief in his house together with hs Slovenian girlfriend. T_T” (Message copied in verbatim)

Coincidentally, I met this friend from Mr. Tioseco’s film class where we were asked to create a presentation about cinematography. Believe it or not, a simple requirement from this class would allow for three-years of wonderful friendship that we do not even think of each other as friends. We consider each other siblings as I call her my Lil Sis and me her Big Bro. It is not just the tie that Sir Tioseco allowed for us to have that made my film class special; it was Sir Tioseco himself that made the subject a big part of my CAS life.

I will never forget the very first day that I entered Mr. Tioseco’s class: I was 15 minutes late for class because I got confused with the classroom assignments. It was unusual at that time for me to be embarrassed for being late; being cocky and all. But I was a bit embarrassed when I entered his class late because he was interrupted in explaining the course syllabus.

I shyly said ‘Hi sir. Sorry I’m late. I was confused with the classroom assignments.’

He in turn replied politely: ‘Hi, sir. What is your name?’

With this warm welcome, I became more comfortable; once again back to being the cocky teenager I was. ‘Bien Landicho, sir.’

I was weirded out when he said: ‘National Artist! There is a certain Bien Landicho(?) that became a National Artist a couple of weeks ago. So you’re a National Artist!’

With this, I replied with a bit of sarcasm that could easily be mistaken as being unsure, ‘Great!?’

To this, the class laughed and Sir Tioseco told me I was a very polite young man. To this date, I was not sure if he returned my sarcasm with his own.

The weeks that passed by were quite out of the ordinary. We spent a lot of time viewing short films and discussing in class our thoughts about the film. We discussed cinematography, editing, directing, audio-visual effects and prior to this class, I only cared about the actors and how I could relate to it. It was an interesting experience. It is also quite interesting that it was the first time I heard of such names as Khavn, Lav Diaz, Kidlat Tahimik, (Dennis Marasigan even!) etc. It was quite nice. He asked us to write journals on the films that we have seen. One of which, put me into tears as I remembered my deceased paternal grandfather. And it was quite amazing how a professor would show empathy to his student’s journal entry and even send an SMS and tell to you in person his concern.

He really was not just a professor or a film critic in that sense; he was a person who cares. In every class we had with him, he would make sure that no voice is unheard. If you have something to add and say in class, you’ll have your chance to do so. If you’re sharing something, he makes sure everyone gives you their full attention. At one point, one student was not yet done speaking when it was time to leave and we were preparing our stuff to leave when he said, ‘Listen to ___.’ To this, we continued to pack our stuff while listening… And he shouted, ‘WITHOUT PACKING YOUR STUFF!’ We definitely obliged. He was sensitive enough to make sure, everyone is given their due.

The thing that made him most popular or unpopular to the students is the required screening of the sequel to Batang West Side; a 9-hour film. I do not understand why I remember petty details but I cannot seem to remember this film’s title. A lot of people were dissed and annoyed with this movie. And I have to be honest; I was one of them-at first.

Come the first class after the screening, the cocky teenager that I was, I made a sarcastic comment before classes started with Sir Tioseco listening, ‘Hay Kat! Too bad you missed the movie. It was a very wonderful movie! There’s nothing like it. It’s the best movie I have ever seen.’ People found it amusing. Even sir himself, found it amusing but I would soon eat my own words when a day or so ago, I was able to gain so much from that viewing. And to this day, I would never forget those realizations. Movies are shortened for economic purposes but movies should be created not for economic purposes.

Second to the last gesture that I would not forget of sir, was when I was hanging out with some friends in Prom A and he came running towards me saying, ‘Hi Bien. I brought the DVDs that you were borrowing from me. Just return them when you finish them.’ And it wasn’t until two weeks after the semester that I would return them; almost forgetting to return them.

The final gesture that I would have to point out as it may not be known by other people (possibly because it is overshadowed by his achievements) is his concern for the less fortunate. When we were shown the film High and Low by Akiro Kurosawa, he put us in a predicament that the rich guy was placed in: ‘Would you give the money to the kidnapper that would cause you to lose your position in the board for the son of your driver who was kidnapped in place of your son?’ When one student from an earlier class (I won’t mention the name), ‘I’ll say, ‘screw you! That’s not my kid!’’ Sir Tioseco replied, ‘______, every morning I see your driver cleaning your dad’s car in the parking lot and sometimes I tell him, ‘Manong, baka pwede namang padamay.’ He makes sure that your car is clean and he does it so without extra pay. He does it out of concern.’ Beat that! And when I approached him twice to ask for donation and to buy some raffle tickets when we were gathering money for Mt. Pinatubo evacuees and our organization’s funds, I did not have to say two words for him to help out. He quickly took out some cash (meager or substantial, it doesn’t matter).

And though I do not get to watch much indie films nowadays, he is responsible for me, having On the North Diversion Road (which I watched for the 4th time a month ago) and Bayaning Third World in my movie library. And even after film class, my friend and I who became siblings after his class try to make time to watch indie films (Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Mababangung Bangungot [Perfumed Nightmares], Bright Future, etc.]

Thank you sir! For the values you instilled in us; for the dedication you have given us; and for allowing us to have better taste in our choice of movies!

(Wow, I really have great memory)

Rest in Peace. May justice be served! I have you in my prayers.

--------------------------

Looking back, I am amazed with how Sir Tioseco lived his life. Though he could have reached higher places and I know he could have helped the Philippine film industry in a bigger magnitude, I have always admired his persistence in pushing through with his passion – INDIE FILMS in the PHILIPPINES.

Looking back, how come I haven’t started my lifelong dream? Reminiscing on how you lived your life, I wish one day I will have the courage to do what you have done-pursue my passion against all odds.

------------------------

entry written yesternight, just got home from his wake