Old Cebuano movies and other tales

MY COLUMN “Diego Salvador' and Other Stories” that contained my thoughts after reading the book “Lilas: An Illustrated History of the Golden Ages of Cebuano Cinema” by Paul Douglas Grant and Misha Boris Annisimov of the University of San Carlos Graduate School of Cinema Studies got a response from two personalities in Cebu media and literature. I am referring to Edgar Gutierrez of dyAB and Lamberto Ceballos of Sun. Star Superbalita and the Bathalan-ong Halad sa Dagang (Bathalad).

The book reminds us Cebuanos of the two “golden ages” of Cebuano cinema (1948 to 1958 and 1970 to 1975) and in the process prompts a recollection of Cebu and Cebuano culture during those periods. I noted for example that in photocopying the newspaper ads of those movies, the book also reminds us of the theaters that once dotted the Cebu City landscape. For me, reading the list of movies reminded me of the radio dramas or “soap” from which the screenplays of some of these were based.

Lam recalled some of the theaters that he knew in addition to what I already mentioned: Marbel, which he said was located along T. Padilla St.; Belmar near the old Taboan public market; Lyric at the corner of D. Jakosalem and Imus Sts.; Avenue (along Jones Ave. across the old Social Security System building; and Melody (no location). The old Cebuano movies that he remembered were “Paradista” with Gloria Sevilla and Mat Ranillo Jr., “Korak” (Bisayang Tarzan); “Antingan”; “Bugas Mais” and “Salingsing sa Kasakit.”

Edgar's focus was on radio, he being a veteran broadcaster. He also recalled the “golden years of Cebuano dramas from the 1950s until 1972. I consider this a good reminder because the “golden years” of Cebu radio dramas contributed something to the “golden years” of Cebuano cinema. Edgar noted that those competing in producing radio dramas early in that period were dyRC and dyBU (of the Manila Broadcasting Co.), dySS and ABS-CBN.

Not surprisingly, many of the personalities produced during that time were radio drama talents. Edgar mentioned Emil Rizada, Larry Abelgas, Inday Nita Cortes-Daluz and Cedric Tumulak (father of Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak). Radio soap eventually became so popular, Edgar wrote, that “from 1972 to the '80s, almost all AM radios produced dramas.” Now only three radio stations air these.

I recall that within those periods Edgar mentioned, some radio dramas so stood out that when these were made into films they attracted to the theaters their devoted radio listeners. An example was “Diego Salvador” (voiced by Fermin “Nanding Celeste” Celestial, who later became a Provincial Board member) and its spin-off “Antonio Solitario” (voiced by the late Roger Solante). I was a fan of both but not of their movie versions (us kids laughed at how malnourished the horses used by the characters were).

Another example was “Mayor Andal,” a radio satire about local politics that we kids could not evade listening because it was a favorite of our aunts. But I do not remember the movie. The Cebuano movie comedy that also made it big was “Manok ni San Pedro,” which was originally a radio soap that launched the career of Julian “Esteban Escudero” Daan (who later on became a Provincial Board member). If I remember it right, it was conceived by veteran writer Marcos Navarro Sacol and later continued by Daan with the addition of his sidekick Golyat (Allan Nacorda).

I have not even mentioned the serious radio soaps turned into movies like “Alma Bonita,” “Maria Flordeluna,” “Olivia,” etc. The theme songs of some of these films also became jukebox hits and classics, like “Alma Bonita” (was this sung by Jaime Salazar?) and “Olivia” popularized by Richard Hunter, the “Cebuano Eddie Peregrina.”