JERRY OLEA
Noong 1982 pa inumpisahan ni National Artist Ricky Lee ang libreng scriptwriting workshop, at 29 batches na ang kanyang tinuruan.
Para sa Batch 30 na mag-uumpisa sa Linggo, Disyembre 14, 2025, at sa Batch 31 na magsisimula sa Mayo 2026, sa unang pagkakataon ay katuwang ni Sir Ricky ang Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP).
Masayang-masaya siyempre at lubos na nagpapasalamat ang 77-anyos na si Sir Ricky sa tulong ng FAP sa paghahanda ng materials para sa workshoppers.
“Yung pagkain pa lang, alam natin na for the past several decades, yung weekly na pagkain, si Sir ang gumagastos nun,” sabi ni FAP Director General Paolo Villaluna sa mediacon nitong Disyembre 12, Biyernes sa Max’s restaurant, Sct. Tuazon St., Quezon City.
“And we’re talking here of the books, the notebooks, the tokens, the loot bags and ang strange—we have a National Artist na nagbibigay ng free service niya, and then siyempre wala man lang konting honorarium.
“So gastos ng kuryente, so many logistical expenses that our National Artist actually shoulders.
“Parang it’s only incumbent sa gobyerno to actually help.”
Paano nila naisip sa FAP na tulungan si Sir Ricky sa kanyang libreng scriptwriting workshop pagkatapos ng mahigit apat na dekada?
“OK, ever since the pandemic, yung workshop ni Sir, online lang,” tugon ni DG (Director General) Paolo.
“Since we’re friends naman, we’re a small community. Graduate ako ng Ricky Lee workshop, medyo nagsasabi siya, gusto niya na raw mag-workshop.
“Gusto niya na tumulong uli sa community. And then yun nga, every year, iyon yung gusto niya. Kaya lang, may logistical limitations.
“So sabi ko, noong nakakuha na ng budget ang FAP at kasama sa mandato namin ang training…”
Noong Oktubre na-release ng gobyerno ang budget para sa FAP, kaya nakapag-launch ng restructured FAP nitong Disyembre 12.
Pagpapatuloy ni DG Paolo, “It’s really good for the government to honor its commitment, to actually help the industry.
“So, when we got our budget, one of the workshops na nakalinya na ay ang Ricky Lee workshop talaga.
"So we approached Sir Ricky, and then he was just really happy na meron nang suporta from the government to hold that workshop.
“I mean, you have to understand, every batch ni Sir Ricky Lee is producing 35 screenplays. From my batch, The Cleaners, Blue Room, Some Nights I Feel Like Walking.
"And these are really good films. And that happens every batch. So, we’re hoping Batch 30 and 31 will produce more scripts din.”
ricky lee, hurt by netizens' harsh accusations
Matapos malathala kung sinu-sino ang napiling participants sa Batch 30 and 31 ng Ricky Lee Scriptwriting Workshop ay naintriga ang selection process.
Nasaktan si Sir Ricky sa parunggit o paratang ng netizens, lalo na mula sa dating workshoppers.
“OK, personal ito, ha. Alam ko ang hirap ihiwalay ng bago kong posisyon at saka personal, kasi I’m also a filmmaker at saka graduate din ako ng Ricky Lee Workshop,” pasakalye ni DG Paolo.
“Yung una kong reaksyon kasi sa pangyayari was I got hurt for Sir Ricky. Kasi Sir Ricky got affected, e.
“And somewhat like… Sir Ricky, who’s a brilliant writer, a National Artist, and most importantly, a really, really good human being.
“'Tapos magkakaroon ng allegations against him, at alam ko affected siya, medyo nasaktan ako doon.
“But let us be fair. Anyone has a right to complain. Any person has a right to share their grievances online.
“Ang ano naman ng social media, democratized expression, e. At the same time, yung mga expression na iyon, may consequences din.
“Kaya sumabog ito, e. Parang, ‘he said, she said.’ But to be honest, the process of Sir Ricky, underline ko lang iyong sinabi niya.
“Kami, FAP will be supporting him. Ang sa amin, logistical support. Hindi kami nakialam sa pagpili ni Sir Ricky. Coz we trust Sir Ricky and his process.
“And ako, noong batch ko, marami ring mga kilala. Pero kalahati nun were hindi kilala. And we all learned from each other, e.
“Magandang maghalo si Sir Ricky. This is unfortunate, what happened. And I think it’s because… for several years, walang workshop si Sir Ricky. 'Tapos biglang nagkaroon.
“And everyone wanted to be part of it. Which is a good thing, but the bad thing is people feel not good na hindi nakapasok.”
Magiging regular na ba ang pagtulong ng FAP sa free scriptwriting workshop ni Sir Ricky?
“We want it to be a regular thing, but I’m also a personal friend of Sir Ricky, I wanna make sure he is also healthy enough to do it,” sambit ni DG Paolo.
“We don’t wanna push him too much. We wanna make sure, parang usapan namin, ‘Sir, two batches muna, ha? Kasi alam mo iyon, we have to check your capability.’”
Noong Nobyembre 30, Bonifacio Day, ang huling araw ng pagsusumite ng application sa libreng scriptwriting workshop ni Sir Ricky.
Umabot sa 2,617 ang aplikante. Ang bumuo ng selection committee ay sina Agot Isidro, Arvin Belarmino, Dan Villegas, Dustin Celestino, Dwein Baltazar, Giancarlo Abrahan, Guelan Luarca, Ice Idanan, Ma-an Asuncion-Dagnalan, Mac Alejandre, Petersen Vargas, at Sari Dalena.
GORGY RULA
Sinuportahan din ng FAP ang aspiration ng kantang "Alitaptap" ni Morissette para sa kategoryang Best Original Song ng 83rd Golden Globe Awards.
Sadly, naligwak ang naturang kanta mula sa pelikulang Song of the Fireflies. Ang mga nominado ay "Dream As One" mula sa Avatar: Fire and Ash, "Golden" mula sa KPop Demon Hunters, "I Lied To You" mula sa Sinners, "No Place Like Home" mula sa Wicked: For Good, "The Girl in the Bubble" mula sa Wicked: For Good, at "Train Dreams" mula sa Train Dreams.
Tatlong pelikula naman ang suportado ng FAP sa 98th Academy Awards o Oscars.
Ang mga ito ay Magellan sa kategoryang Best International Feature, Vox Humana sa kategoryang Best Live Action Short Film, at Food Delivery sa kategoryang Best Documentary.
“We’re glad na for the first time, the national government is supporting the Oscar films for campaign,” sabi ni DG Paolo.
First time?
“Dati meron pero PHP1M, alam mo iyon? Alam nating hindi kasya for a campaign. Anora spent US$18M. India spent a billion pesos,” lahad ni DG Paolo.
“Of course, hindi ganoon kalaki ang puwede nating isuporta, no? I cannot divulge the price pero it’s substantial.
“It’s not wow, but enough for a medyo decent campaign.”
Sa kabuuan ay 92 bansa ang nagsumite para sa Best International Feature ng 98th Oscars, at 86 sa mga ito ang eligible.
Ang 15-film shortlist ay ia-announce sa Disyembre 16, Martes. Ang limang nominado ay ihahayag sa Enero 22, 2026.
May chance kaya sa shortlist ang Magellan ni Lav Diaz, na pinagbidahan ni Gael Garcia Bernal?
“For the first time sa Variety list, nasa Top 15 tayo. We’re actually a top-tier contender,” sambit ni DG Paolo.
“Nasa number 15 tayo, but that’s good. Kasi for the first time, nasa list tayo, e…
“And then, sa goldderby.com, which is the number one na predictor site sa Hollywood, we’re actually number 12.”
Anong masasabi niya sa Magellan?
“I love the film! Apart from the fact that I’m a big fan of Lav Diaz, it’s actually a very beautiful film!” bulalas ni DG Paolo.
“And here’s the thing. People think of Lav na mabagal yung cinema, it’s part of the poetry of that film, e.
“The thing is, you go in there, you sit there, and then you start to absorb the film. It’s actually really beautiful.”
NOEL FERRER
Tatlo ang core mandates ng revamped FAP sa ilalim ni Director General Paolo Villanuna.
Una, Professionalization and Worker Rights—creating programs of capacity-building and assistance geared toward the professionalization and welfare of film and audio-visual workers, and guiding and supporting representative industry guilds.
This includes guild accreditation and support, a national skilled workers database, worker policies, and inter-agency coordination.
Ikalawa, Excellence Recognition and International Award Support—giving due recognition to outstanding cinematic achievements and serving as the authorized agency that oversees the selection and support of the official Philippine entry to the Academy Awards and other major international, industry-led awards.
At ikatlo, Upskilling, Workshops, Training, and Industry Support—maintaining educational programs, scholarships, grants, and other forms of assistance so that qualified and deserving workers and groups with exceptional talent and ability in the film arts can access further development.
These mandates are implemented through the Academy’s Film Worker Development, Training and Protection Program (FWDTPP) and the Film Awards and Recognition (FAR) program.
FWDTPP covers guild recognition and support, legal services through Sine-Sandigan, and craft and behavioral workshops.
FAR program, on the hand, oversees Oscar selection and international awards strategy (Pinoy Oscar Pursuit) as well as the Luna Awards and incentives for global winners (Silver Screen Success).
Pahayag ni DG Paolo, “The Academy is tasked to professionalize the Philippines’ film and audio-visual industry workforce, recognize excellence, and provide sustained support through education, training, and industry assistance.
“It is an institution for workers, guilds, and independent practitioners.
“Many of us in the team have worked in the industry and are part of the community.
“Our job is to make sure that the people who create Philippine cinema, who make the industry work, have the protection, recognition, and support they need to build viable, long-working lives in this field.”