‘[S]a totoo lang, halos kami-kami lang sa loob ng industriya ang nakakaalam sa mga gawa namin. – Jun Lana’
Acclaimed writer-director Rodolfo Robles Lana, Jr. or Jun Lana, received the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) during the UMPIL National Writers’ Congress held a few weeks ago at UP Diliman’s Gimenez Gallery. Jun was one of eight honorees that included children’s literature writer Christine Bellen-Ang, literary critic Isidro M. Cruz, playwright Al Santos, fictionists Maria L.M. Fres-Felix and Jose B. Manuel, poet Joel Toledo and essayist Marian Pastor Roces.
The Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas is UMPIL’s lifetime achievement award given to outstanding Filipino writers.
UMPIL cited Jun “for his courageous telling of personal and communal secrets and desires and enabling their traversals from the stage to the silver screen. His works examine Filipino personhood… In his expansive, truthful, and imaginative takes on history and contemporary life, he is able to unveil the most ordinary joys and the deepest of longings.”
Since launching his career as a filmmaker in 1998, as a screenplay writer of “Sa Pusod ng Dagat,” Jun has written over 80 screenplays and teleplays and directed over 50 films.
In his acceptance speech, Jun told the leaders and members of UMPIL that the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas is an inspiration to him as the local movie industry is facing challenging times.
Citing lackluster moviegoer attendance in the cinemas, Jun admitted, “Sa kabila ng biyayang ito, tinatanong ko pa rin ang sarili ko bilang direktor, isang producer at, higit sa lahat, bilang isang manunulat — sa kabila ng kalamidad sa industriya — ‘Bakit pa ako gumagawa ng pelikula kung halos wala nang nanonood?’”
Although Filipino films continue to be recognized in the international film festival circuit, Jun also said, “Malaking karangalan iyon, (pero) sa totoo lang, halos kami-kami lang sa loob ng industriya ang nakakaalam sa mga gawa namin.”
Reviving the industry would take a united effort from all sectors and a lot of time, yet Jun remains hopeful. As technology evolves, stories would always remain relevant and necessary.
He explained, “Ang tangi kong maiaambag sa usaping ito ay ang aking personal na paniniwala. Na sa kabila ng mga problema, hindi kailanman mawawala ang halaga ang istorya. Maaring mag-evolve ang definition at anyo ng sine, magbago ang mga plataporma ng distribution, nguni’t ang pangangailangan ng tao na kumonekta, umunawa, humamon at mangarap sa pamamagitan ng kuwento ay mananatili.”
Thus, Jun urged writers and film artists to persist in their craft. “Ang tangi nating magagawa ay magpatuloy na lumikha ng may layunin. Patuloy ang pakikipaglaban ng sine na maghatid ng makabuluhan at mapanghamong mga salaysay, mga kuwentong nag-aalok ng lalim na hindi kayang ibigay ng panandaliang aliw ng social media.”
He underscored that to write with purpose is what he learned from his mentors, playwright Rene O. Villanueva and National Artist for Cinema, director Marilou Diaz-Abaya. And that is what intends to continue. “Lumaban at patuloy na lumikha ng may layunin,” said Jun.
Jun just wrapped up work on the historical thriller “Sisa,” the comeback film of Miss Hilda Koronel.
