Direk Maryo J: Magnifico!

Acclaimed director Maryo Jarolan delos Reyes—Direk Maryo J to many—had thoughts of retiring in his mother's home province of Bohol where he owned several pieces of property.

He owned a villa on a farmland in Barangay Progreso, Alicia town, about 88 km northeast of Tagbilaran.

The property was an inheritance from his mother, Lourdes, which he converted into a farm which was planted with rice, coconuts and bananas.

The death of famed director Maryo J. Delos Reyes set off an instant
emotional outpouring from a stunned industry including one
of his many talents Scarlet Geulen-Boiser. Contributed Photo

He once said that farming was viable industry that would benefit the townfolk and that he saw himself retiring as a farmer.

Direk Maryo also acquired a property in Barangay Dao, Tagbilaran City, which he named “Celebrityville.” Inside the property were his house and four-unit apartment which he named after his movies --“Pari 'Koy,” “Niño,” “Annie Batungbakal” and “Magnifico.”

Last week, Direk Maryo instructed his caretaker Tata Castillo, 40, to clean his house since he would be there on Jan. 29 with some of his celebrity friends. He also wanted to supervise the finishing touches on his house and the plans to build a pool inside the property.

But Direk Maryo didn’t make it home. He died on Jan. 27 after suffering a heart attack.

His sudden death brought shock to his fellow Boholanos.

“Nakurat ko kay kalit lang jud (I was so shocked because [his death] was so sudden),” said Castillo.

The industry began an outpouring of grief and remembrance immediately after news of his death.  The director’s reputation and generosity evidently touched those across his life.

Among those grieved the loss of such a major and influential talent was singer-actress-comedianne Scarlet Geulen-Boiser, one of Direk Maryo’s talents whom he treated like his children.

“He’s like my second parent, mentor, critic, talent manager and friend. He was a very generous friend. It seemed that I lost an angel who was always helping me,” said Scarlet.

Scarlet started her showbiz career in 1998, but she made a big splash when Delos Reyes pushed her career to star in films and some teleseryes on ABS-CBN and GMA.

She said she learned valuable lessons from Direk Maryo.

“Positive nga tawo si Direk Maryo. He said we should learn to forgive and forget the bad things that happened.

He only wanted positive vibes, really happy,” she recalled.

He constantly told her that there was no point getting depressed by problems no matter how big these were because these would be dealt with by a bigger God.

Another actress TinTin Ng described Direk Maryo as "a big hearted and compassionate man.”

Lutgardo “Gardy” Labad, bosom buddy and musical scorer of his landmark films, described Delos Reyes as a “preciously Boholano and Filipino, a good, true, beautiful human being.”

Last Wednesday, Scarlet (who was with Ms. Rose Sabijon Rara, Architect Niño Guidaben and fellow actor Mark Sepe) broke down as soon as he saw Direk Maryo inside a coffin.

Scarlet was overjoyed by the number of people who love Direk Maryo...people from showbiz, politics, business, all sectors of society.

“Many people love Direk Maryo J,” said Scarlet.

And they keep coming to bid Direk Maryo a fond farewell last Saturday, perhaps less with tears but more with recollection of beautiful memories and anecdotes about Direk Maryo.

Direk Maryo was all that — and more.

Every time we met, he would ask, “Kailan ka ba bibisita sa farm ko?”  Before I could answer, he added,

“Anong masasabi mo sa teleserye?”

In 2013, when he saw me and my nephew Jhelmar Jala during the first Saulog celebration, he convinced me to allow my nephew to enter showbiz. But Jhelmar didn’t enter showbiz because he’s still studying.

The last time we met was in 2016 during the launching of the Blue Way, a dance workshop organized by Gardy.

He asked, “Kumusta ka na Leo? Bakit hindi ka nagpapakita sa akin? Kailan ka ba pupunta sa farm ko?”

He was also very accommodating if I want to interview him or his talents.

Direk Maryo wanted to become a priest. But it didn’t happen when he enrolled at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communications in 1974.

At that time, he was very active with the Philippine Educational Theater (PETA), the country’s premiere theater group.

From 1965 to 1975, he participated in various art and theater seminars and workshops here and abroad as organizer, moderator and instructor.

He also became a professor and lecturer at the UP College of Mass Communications and began writing for television drama anthologies. He had directed many films and television series since his directorial debut in 1978.

His critically acclaimed drama films were "Magnifico" (2003) which received the Crystal Bear in the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival, "Naglalayag" (2004) which garnered major awards in the 2004 Manila Film Festival, the box-office hit "A Love Story" (2007) and his last film "The Unmarried Wife" (2016).

Despite the fame and recognition, Direk Maryo remained grounded and level- headed.

Close friend Gerry Lugod said that while the director was born and based in Manila, he knew how to remember his roots.

“He felt he was really Boholano even though he was born in Manila,” he said.

In Bohol, he supported students and some schools without any the fanfare and publicity. His family donated a lot for Progreso Elem. School in Alicia.

He accepted speaking engagements and conducted acting and film making workshops.

In fact, Direk Maryo had planned to establish a film school in Bohol and conduct a local film festival.

Direk Maryo made an effort to showcase local talents and promote Bohol when he directed movies such as “Nandito Ako,” “Nagmamahal Sa’yo” and “Bamboo Flowers” which were entirely shot in Bohol.

I once asked him why did he choose to film the movies on location in Bohol?

His replied: “I'm from Bohol and I want to showcase the beauty of my home province.”

Direk Maryo supported Oplan Bangon Bohol (OBB), the brainchild of the Association of Young Boholano Professionals in Metro Manila, to help fellow Boholanos when the province was hit by earthquake on Oct. 15, 2013 which brought Bohol to its knees.

Down-trodden by the tragedy, Direk Maryo offered “Bamboo Flowers” to OBB as part of his contribution to the fundraising.

So long Direk! You’re truly magnifico!

***

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

HNU now Bohol’s first solar-powered university

Wake-uppers:

Seen:  Spotted in Bohol last Friday was Gigi Caciuleanu, world famous choreographer, professor and contemporary dance innovator on cultural management, identity and Diasporas and the transformative power of dance. He is in Bohol to share his specific technique and his original style of contemporary dance during the Bansay sa Ting-init 2016’s 2^nd Bohol International Workshop. Gardy Labad is the project director.

Danicop Ticugan Spring in Loon town.  Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

Scene: We fell head over heels for places like Loon’s Danicop Ticugan Spring, one of the least-visited springs in Bohol.  It is accessible to hikers and visitors who want to beat the heat. You can indulge in the soothing coolness of the spring. The trees growing on cliffs and mountain slopes give the place a cool ambience to beat the summer heat. And the good thing: No entrance fee.

* * *

The Holy Name University (HNU) has joined the ranks of universities in the country adopting solar power harvesting technology as a way to bring down energy costs.

School officials on Friday assembled on the rooftop of the HNU’s fifth floor at Scanlon Building to inaugurate a solar photovoltaic power plant composed of 1,100 solar thin film panels provided by OrionGroup International Inc.

Some employees and guests check the 1,100 solar thin film panels provided by OrionGroup International Inc. on the rooftop of the Holy Name University (HNU) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol province.  HNU is the first academic institution to fully integrate solar power energy system in the province and the Visayas. 

 Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

Also present were former HNU president Fr. Florante Camacho, Dr. Christopher Bernido, chairman of HNU’s board of trustees, some deans, teachers and the media- Bohol’s Queen of All Media Ardy Araneta, Dave Albarado, Rey Chiu, Liz Butron and Angeline Valencia.

The solar power plant is capable of producing 100 kilowatts of electricity, said Engr. Rynor Jamandre, president of OrionGroup International Inc.  

Jamandre said solar power is the use of the sun’s energy. He said that concerns over pollution, environmental degradation and resource depletion have led to an increasing awareness of the importance of developing solar energy.

HNU (formerly the Divine World College of Tagbilaran), founded in 1947, is the first academic institution to fully integrate solar power energy system in Bohol and Visayas.

Jamandre also said that HNU’s solar power plant is the largest thin film solar installation in the country as of today.  He said most projects are using crystalline solar panel. The power production can be remotely monitored from an Android or iphone devices.

HNU president Fr. Francisco Estepa, SVD, said it would save the school roughly 20 to 25 percent of its monthly energy cost.

“We believe there’s other energy in the environment we could tap.  The solar energy is safer and cheaper. We really contribute to the cooling of the earth,” he said.

There are many advantages of solar power, said Jamandre.

“Of course, you save your energy bill every month; the roof will always be cooler because you have a cover of solar panels. And the most important is we save carbon emission. It’s very important because global warming is a reality. We are doing our part to make it happen one project at a time,” he said.

The solar power can be used for many years, said Jamandre.

With the project, HNU joined other Manila universities in the use of solar energy, namely La Consolacion College,  Manuel L. Quezon University,  St. Scholastica’s College and Mapua Institute of Technology.

***

BBM’s whirlwind visit to Bohol

While you and I were sleeping, Vice Presidentiable Sen. Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr. had a whirlwind visit to Bohol last Thursday to meet local officials and renew social ties.

His tandem, presidential aspirant Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was not present.

Vice Presidentiable Sen. Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr. 

meet the members of the Bohol United Opposition (BUO)

 in Tagbilaran City.  Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

Marcos was to meet some members of the Bohol United Opposition (BUO). But before the program would start, the venue had power outage. 

He blamed the administration for sitting on the power supply problem in the country.

“Ang  experience ko sa kampanya saan ako pumunta may brown-out e. Yesterday, the day before yesterday ganyan din. Pinuputulan kami ng kuryente everywhere we go. I don’t know  kung ito’y  artificial or talagang..but there is really a big demand that cannot be supplied sa power sa Visayas including Mindanao,” Marcos told Bohol reporters.

He said the administration’s lack of foresight and planning has worsened power supply in Visayas and Mindanao.

“Luzon is beginning to feel it,” he said, “The problem is wala talagang ginawang plano kasi itong gobyiernong ito para sa infrastruktura  na kailangan natin kaya nagkaganito. They have been in power for 6 years they have not able to do anything. Matagal na naming winawarningan yun tungkol sa power supply pero wala naman silang ginagawa.  That’s why this is it. Ito, dedicated sa akin itong brown-out sa akin.”

He also said the government has to examine sources of energy.

“It is very difficult to re-open the power nuclear plant. We already sold the fuel already.  There’s no fuel anymore. If we are going to rehabilitate it to standard of today, sa laki ng gagastusin natin  we might need to put up a new one. But we have to examine the potential of nuclear, we need to examine alternative energies,  we need to examine the traditional sources of energy because we have to increase our power supply and we have to lower our cost of production.”

In other developing and developed countries, they are using nuclear because it is the cheapest to produce power, he added.

Bohol has no power supply based in the island and the existing power load is dependent on the power from the geothermal plant in Leyte. In 2013, the power supply was disrupted causing blackouts and water shortage when Leyte was hit by Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda).  

Marcos spoke before at least 200 members, mostly mayors and vice-mayors, of BUO, a local political party organized by Bohol 2nd district Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado. 

BUO is also supporting presidential aspirant Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay. 

Prominent members of BUO who met Marcos were former Carmen Mayor Che Toribio-delos Reyes who is running for Bohol’s 3rd district representative against incumbent Rep. Art Yap and Loay Mayor Rosemarie Lim-Imboy who is running for governor against incumbent Gov. Edgar Chatto.

Marcos also told reporters that he met Vice Gov. Conching Lim.

“Magkilala na kasi kami. Siya ay dating member ng Blue Ladies,” he said.

“Blue Ladies” was Imelda Marcos’ gang or sort of ladies in waiting composed of the strong, high-profile women or the wives of the country’s top businessman and the Marcos cronies. They were the center of social life in the Marcos years. They were called Blue Ladies, after the color the campaigners of the late Ferdinand Marcos wore when he ran for reelection in 1969 (Sergio Osmeña ran against Marcos).

Marcos in his speech said that he was ready to serve the country.

He also said that it was not a problem whoever would win president since all presidentiables were his friends.

“Maraming nagtatanong eh, Mr Senator kapag ikaw nahalal  bilang Presidente, e hindi mo naging kasama o ka-partido ang Presidente mo, anong gagawin mo? Eh, ako Bakit naman? Tingnan natin ang listahan.  Si  Miriam, siya katandem ko, magkasama kami, magkasundo kami sa maraming bagay.  Si Jojo Binay, galing Norte, natural allies. Si Mayor Duterte, matagal ko nang kaibigan si Mayor Duterte, isa sa tagahanga  ng administrasyon ng aking ama, so magkasundo kami nun.  Si Mar Roxas, kaibigan ko rin. Bukod pa run, pinsan siya ng asawa ko..Araneta ang asawa ko. Madali kaming magtrabaho together.  Si Grace, kapatid ko, e walang problema," said Marcos who laughed on the last part about Poe. 

He continued, "Kaya sinasabi ko, kaya ako nalang ang best position na maging best president. Biro lang ha, kung minsan nagbibiro ng ganyan.“ 

Before he left the venue, he took a look of an old photograph showing his father, the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, who was with the late Gov. Erico Aumentado and former Pres. Carlos P. Garcia.

*   *   *

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.