The novel is about a family whose lives are marked with challenges that span 50 years.’
Last year, I started writing my memoirs but while going through my diaries nung 1970, I saw some incidents and anecdotes that I thought may be good to flesh out into a novel. And so, na-derail na ako, napunta na ako into developing a novel that expanded 50 years in the life of a family simula noong ‘70s.”
These were National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee’s words as we asked him for the inspiration of his recently released novel “Kalahating Bahaghari.”
The novel is about a family whose lives are marked with challenges that span 50 years.
“Matagal na rin naman akong nag-tatackle ng mga gender issues gaya ng tungkol sa kababaihan, gays, lesbians, at iba pa, sa mga pelikula at sa mga nobela ko. Kaya ito ay parang culmination lang,” said Ricky.
Ricky started writing the novel last December 2023, although totally he focused his attention to it only this February. Meaning, he dropped almost everything that he has been doing.
He hopes that after reading the novel, the readers will become more embracing of each other’s differences, be more inclusive in our loving, and be more compassionate in our living.
He hopes that everyone will be able to appreciate his new novel, because it isn’t only about the LGBTQIA+ community but everyone. “Ang mga characters at kuwento dito ay tayo rin naman, anuman ang gender natin. So sana ma-appreciate ng lahat,” he said.
“Kalahating Bahaghari” will have a launch in the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) on September 14, 2nd Floor Main Stage at the SMX Convention Center sa MOA at 6-8 p.m. There shall be actors who are invited to read excerpts of the book including his other book “Kabilang sa Nawawala” both Filipino and English translation by Bienvenido Lumbera and Ben Medina, from Milflores Publishing.
We have witnessed Ricky Lee, despite his stature, to have graciously finished the long lines of people who meet and greet him on book fairs and events; we asked him how he feels about it. What is the importance of spending and engaging with a live audience during Book Fair events?
Ricky explained, “Mahalaga para sa ating mga manunulat na maramadaman ng mga mambabasa na bawat isa sa kanila ay mahalaga sa atin. Dahil wala tayong mga manunulat kung wala silang mga mambababsa. Kaya ako, I really make it a point na lalapitan ko sila, kakausapin ko sila, tatanungin kung anong gusto nilang dedication, at maski hindi ko booksigning days, nagpupunta ako. Gaya noong nakaraaang MIBF 2023, apat na araw akong nandoon from 10AM to 8PM, signing books and talking to my readers. Lalo na ngayon na napakahirap ng buhay at napakahalaga ng pera, I really appreciate that they spend money buying my books. Kung pwede ko lang silang pasalamatan isa-isa.”
Aside from “Kalahating Bahaghari,” the very prolific Ricky Lee continues to write projects that he is very excited to do!
Ricky enumerated, “Sinusulat ko na ang libretto ng ‘Moral: The Musical,’ na ang gagawa ng musika ay si Maestro Ryan Cayabyab. May project rin ako with Phi Palmos tungkol sa isang kabit na bakla matapos mamatay ng kaniyang lover. Meron din akong Sabel with Iza Calzado and National Artist BenCab. At babalikan ko na rin ‘yung sinusulat kong memoirs. Maglalabas din ako ng compilation ng non-fiction works ko, to be published by UP Press, hopefully by early next year. At syempre tuloy-tuloy pa rin ‘yung paglabas ng collection ng screenplays ko with UST Publishing.”
As a parting shot, we asked National Artist Ricky Lee as to why we have to continue writing stories now. How does this serve our community and society in general?
He said, “Lagi namang mahalaga ang pagkukuwento lalo na sa mga panahong ito na hindi na natin alam halos kung sino tayo, kung ano tayo, kung sasan tayo patungo. Sa pamamagitan ng mga kuwento ay nakikita uli natin kung sino talaga tayo, kung bakit tayo nabubuhay sa mundong ito, at kung ano ang minsan ay mga nakatagong katotohanan. Sa mga panahong ito ay nasanay na rin tayong mamuhay ng hiwa-hiwalay, kanya-kanya, at ang mga kuwento ay isang magandang paraan ng pagbubuklod.”
So see you all at the Manila International Book Fair in September as we celebrate Ricky Lee and his new novel.
“Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga interviews sa akin na unlike sa screenplays na isinulat ko sa pelikula, ang mga nobelang sinulat ko ay parang ginawa ko in collaboration with my readers dahil habang binabasa nila ang nobela ko ay binubuo rin nila ang nobela sa loob nila, sa kanya-kanyang paraan. Kaya mas intimate ang relationship ko sa aking mga readers. Wala akong maisusulat kung wala akong mambabasa,” Ricky concluded.
