To draw joyful tears

You know you have done something right by a person when you make him or her shed tears of joy.

In our tribute to retired Navy Captain Danilo Poblete Vizmanos last May 5, this was never truer.  Before he was settled in on the special reclining chair bused in especially for him, he already started crying.

He said it most aptly.  He said that in his two years of incarceration in Martial Law detention centers, he never allowed guards to see him shed a tear.  On this particular afternoon, his tears flowed freely.

If I may say so, and I’m saying so, “Apostasy: Ang Paglalayag ni Navy Captain Danilo P. Vizmanos” is another outstanding Kodao production.  It’s not only because I co-wrote it.  (Besides, the video was mostly Teresa Lorena A. Jopson's.)  Grab a copy.  You will not be disappointed.

Kodao has been doing quite a number of tribute video-documentaries.  We started with Antonio Zumel: He Never Wrote ‘30’.  Then Medardo Roda (Ang Ruta ni Ka Roda).  Then United Nations ad litem Judge Romeo T. Capulong (Abogado ng Sambayanan).  We should have produced another one about Rep. Crispin Beltran but May Day Productions already had a fairly recent one.  The common denominator to all these titles is the historicity of the lives of our subjects and the gravity of their sacrifices for the Filipino people.  These ensure viewers will be genuinely touched. Which is already half of everything.  Had we been featuring upstarts who already think they are better than these people all the skills in the world can not produce a passable video.

Producing a video documentary requires a lot of sacrifice and discipline.  In our case, this is work that takes a lot out from us.  I have had easier political work than this one.  I don’t know how could some people think it is easy or that it can be learned in a year or two.  One may have a PhD on filmmaking or creative writing or even journalism but it is not an assurance of effectiveness.  Ika nga ni NVM Gonzales, either you know how to tell a story or you don’t. 

Because we dive deep into the lives of our subjects, we are in a unique position to appreciate that what we do for them is not even a small slice of what they deserve.  And when they and their families say they are happy with what we come up with, we feel content.  We even forgive ourselves our shortcomings in producing the videos.

Now back to the tribute.  There were moments in the program I will never forget. 

First was when Ka Dan’s grandchildren sang him songs.  I know the feeling of trying to sing while you throat is constricted with emotions.  The kids were very brave.  They finished their songs through their tears.  I never thought these kids can show the depth of their respect and love to Ka Dan when I witnessed first hand how they almost drove him insane with their “kakulitan” when we were filming in Cavite.  Again, grab a copy of the video.  You will understand me more.

Second was when people crowded around him to express their gratitude, admiration and love.  Jun Lozada was there.  But he did not compare with Ka Dan, and rightly so.  This was Ka Dan’s moment.  I was so happy for Ka Dan’s kith and kin.  They witnessed how people embrace a genuine hero.

Another was when Kodao presented him with VCD and DVD copies of “Apostasy”.  Ka Dan asked for me.  “Nasaan si Raymund?” he asked.  Here was a great man and he asked for me.  And all I did was to drive him around a few times and swapped a few stories with him.  When he saw me he grabbed my hand and squeezed it hard.  Ka Dan can no longer sit up but his handshake was firm as only joy and gratitude can generate.

Ito naman ang sarap sa trabaho namin sa Kodao.  When we make someone shed tears of joy we know we did something worthwhile—like having authored a book, , planted a tree, published a poem. 

Lastly, I heard mistress of ceremony Rita Baua say Ka Dan was the “New People’s Navy’s first officer” twice. 

Itong si Rita talaga.