It took three years for Ricky Lee to write Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata, after his first novel Para Kay B (o kung paano dinevastate ng pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin), which was launched in 2008.

He calls Amapola, which is about a gay impersonator who becomes a manananggal, a "political comedy."

On the audio visual presentation (AVP), Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos, whom the audience cheered loudly for, praised Ricky Lee for always sharing his talent with others.

The Batangas Governor was referring, in particular, to her agreement with Ricky that he would conduct free workshops for university students and out-of-school youth in Batangas.

Superstar Nora Aunor, who likewise elicited screams in the audience when she appeared on the AVP, acknowledged Ricky Lee as her biographer.

Her name figures prominently in Amapola through the die-hard Noranian character Emil.

She was unable to attend the book launching due to high fever; she sent John Rendez backstage to  greet Ricky and apologize in her behalf.   

Piolo Pascual would have attended Ricky Lee's very first workshop way back in '80 or '81 but instead had to dive into his first starring role in Lagarista.

The matinee idol thanked Ricky for inspiring his poetry. 

National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera also paid tribute to the author of Amapola and encouraged him to continue writing more novels.

Dr. Lumbera and Ricky were both detained under martial law in 1974, but they both survived with even stronger creative powers in almost all artistic fields.

Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo read the excerpt on the death of Emil, the die-hard Noranian character in Amapola.

Judy Ann, looking pert and slim in her Greek-inspired old-rose dress, was a refreshing sight to behold.  

No less than ABS-CBN president Charo Santos Concio read an excerpt from Kabanata 65, the novel's final chapter, as the program was coming to a close.

Ma'am Charo, which how the lady is now addressed in the industry, has known Ricky since she appeared in Itim, the Mike de Leon classic which Ricky co-wrote but which he did not have his name in the credits for. 

The Kapamilya network gave Ricky's book launching its full support, as did Star Cinema and the Sky Dome management.

Paulo Avelino gave a humorous rendition of impersonator Amapola's transformation into a manananggal, with members of the UP Repertory interpreting the excerpt through dance.

Like Direk Joel Lamangan, Joem Bascon was seen rehearsing his role in earnest amid the hussle and bustle before the start of the program. 

Joem read the excerpt, "Sex and the Manananggal in the City," a graphic description of lovemaking between two manananggals.

Martin del Rosario, with the UP Repertory doing a dance interpretation, read the excerpt about Amapola as the Superman who would save the whole world from oppression.

Martin is a second year student of Business Administration at the University of the Philippines, but he plans to shift to Mass Comm. 

That night, Asia's Diva Dulce gave up her talent fee as mentor in TV5's Protege to sing at Ricky Lee's book launching. When she sang Andres Bonifacio's "Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa" the whole Sky Dome fell silent with emotion. 

According to Ricky, singer-composer Ogie Alcasid and actor Dingdong Dantes wanted very much to participate in the book launching, but they had to do their job in Protege.

Direk Mac Alejandre and actress Alessandra "Alex" di Rossi were at the VIP section of Sky Dome.

Mac is an old friend of Ricky from the latter's first scriptwriting workshops. He was also co-project director (with Jo-Ann Maglipon) of Ricky's 1988 book Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon.

This compilation of scripts, feature articles, and stories would have a reprint in 1990 and a special edition in 2009. 

Ricky during the book signing, which took at least two hours to accommodate the queue that wanted their copies (some bought three to four copies each) autographed by the author.

(From left) Keyboard player Freddie Borja and singers Bayang Barrios and Cookie Chua performed "Salinawit" songs while Ricky signs copies of his book onstage.

Salinawit is name given to popular and classic songs translated from English to Tagalog by poet/scriptwriter/editor/translator/journalist Jose "Pete" Lacaba.

These songs, which cover songs from the '50s to the '70s and more, are a huge hit whenever a Salinawit is mounted in Conspiracy or any other venue. When sung by talents like Bayang and Cookie, the songs explode even more beautifully.

Ricky Lee obliged his fans for photo ops (and interviews) before the book launching program, which started at around 4:00 p.m.

Ricky said there were people outside the venue as early as 10 in the morning. Others had come by plane or boat from places as far as Cebu.

Direk Mac Alejandre, who arrived early for the book launching, praised his friend for his "beautiful, beautiful heart" and for leading a "life that's open to extreme joy."

Since they met up in the '80s, when Mac took Ricky's scriptwriting workshop, Mac has gone on to become a much-sought after director of teleseryes and movies. He is currently co-directing Amaya. 

Asia's Diva Dulce and Salinawit creator Pete Lacaba, here singing "Jejemon."

Pete is no mean scriptwriter himself. He wrote Kapit sa Patalim, Sr. Stella L., and more scripts for iconic director Lino Brocka. He also co-wrote Jaguar with Ricky Lee. He was just awarded by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino its Urian Lifetime Achievement Award this year. 

This lady seated in the bleachers section was intently reading the novel while waiting for the program to start.