Gone too soon
We met filmmakers Francis Xavier Pasion, Janice O’Hara, Joseph Israel Laban, and Eduardo “Edong” Roy, Jr. in their Cinemalaya film debut at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. But they say death comes like a thief in the night.
It was heartbreaking to see that at a young age and with a blossoming career, they all journeyed to their real home, making us feel the loss. We could never see another promising cinematic gem from them again.
Francis, 38, directed breakthrough films Jay (2008), Sampaguita (2010), and Bwaya (2014). All were highly acclaimed in film festivals abroad. We met him when he was still a student at Ateneo de Manila University where he founded the Loyola Film Circle. We could see his excitement to excel in his craft. He transitioned well into television work, directing ABS-CBN teleseryes Sabel, My Binondo Girl, Princess and I, Dyesebel, Nathaniel, On the Wings of Love, among others.
But behind his workaholic nature, Francis had a deep faith. When he learned that we were filming in Italy a documentary on Padre Pio, he kept on asking the itinerary because his bucket list was to “witness a canonization rite.” When we gave him suggestions, he replied, “Thanks for bringing this to my consciousness… I’m suddenly excited!”
So it was not far-fetched when the Pope Francis Papal Visit 2015 happened, Francis flew to Tacloban to film the Pope and, by coincidence, I was the one making his media accreditation ID. Francis passed away on March 6, 2016 due to a heart attack.
Janice, 36, came from the O’Hara acting and directing clan. Being a niece of Mario O’Hara, she was exposed early on to the arts. She started her career as a writer for TV shows Ipaglaban Mo, Maria Mercedes, Nasaan ka, Elisa?, and Nginiig. In 2014, she directed her debut feature, Sundalong Kanin, a historical film during World War II where four children wanted to be soldiers to fight for their country. The 120-minute film won the best feature film at the International Film Festival Manhattan 2015 and the audience award winner at the Cinemalaya Independent film festival 2014.
Joseph, 40, also had a prolific filmography—Cuchera (2011), Nuwebe (2013), and Baconaua (2017). In between making a mark in cinema, he was a managing producer of the GMA News and Public Affairs where he worked in Front Row, Reporter’s Notebook, and the festival director of GMA News TV’s Cine Totoo Philippine International Documentary Film Festival.
His films tackled serious themes involving drug mules, a pregnant minor, colonialism, myths and folklores. Baconaua received the Special Jury Prize and Best Direction award at Cinemalaya. He was a Fulbright scholar who earned his master’s degree in Journalism at the New York University.
It was heartbreaking to see that at a young age and with a blossoming career, they all journeyed to their real home, making us feel the loss.
Joseph was an advocate of urban gardening and, during the pandemic, we would consult him about edible plants. He tested positive for COVID-19 and passed away on July 25, 2021.
On Feb. 21, the independent film community received the sad news that Eduardo “Edong” Roy, Jr., 41, had succumbed to massive pulmonary embolism due to hospital-acquired pneumonia. His films include Bahay Bata (2011), Quick Change (2013), Pamilya Ordinaryo (2016), Lola Igna (2019), and Fuccbois (2019).
His films have traveled abroad, recommended well by the festival programmers. Edong had a foresight in tackling themes that show humanity at its worst, but still gives hope to its audience. His Pamilya Ordinaryo tackles teenage pregnancies and homelessness as real as it gets. Hasmine Kilip, who played the lead Jane, won best performance by an actress at the 2016 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
A lot of sympathy messages flooded producer Ferdy Lapuz of Las Palmas De Gran Canaria Film Festival in Spain when he announced Edong’s passing. “We are overwhelmed with sad news. Eduardo Roy Jr. has passed away. The Filipino filmmaker leaves us fond memories through the Film Festival and a valuable legacy,” he says. “We send our condolences to his family and friends, and to all who have enjoyed the filmography of the winner of the first edition of the Jose Rivero Award to the Best new director for his work Bahay Bata (Baby Factory).”
“Edong was a very promising talent and I believe would have become one of the leaders of his generation of filmmakers,” comments Roger Garcia of the London East Asia Film Festival. “We are deprived of his potential now but at least we have his work to remember him by.”
From the Festival International des Cinemas d’Asie de Vesoul: “We learned with great sadness the death of young Filipino director Eduardo Roy Jr. He received the Critics' Prize in 2014 at the Vesoul IFF of Asian Cinema for his film Quick Change. RIP.”
Life is short for these talented filmmakers but their films will live forever in our hearts.