JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

“We’re doomed,” I told Noel as the van crawled through Saturday afternoon-long weekend traffic on Ortigas Extension. “We’re late for our interview with the Messiah of Philippine Cinema. I expect hellfire and brimstone, something out of Patayin Mo Sa Sindak Si Barbara.”

Celso Ad Castillo at his house in Siniloan, 23 October 2010. Photograph by Jessica Zafra.

Celso Ad Castillo, rumored madman, auteur of Burlesk Queen; Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak; Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop Sa Balat Ng Lupa; Asedillo; Patayin Mo Sa Sindak…; Nympha; Ang Alamat Ni Julian Makabayan; Paradise Inn; Snake Sisters; and the infamous Payaso lives in his hometown of Siniloan, Laguna. This is where he receives the moviegoers who come to pay tribute—these days young film critics who have just discovered his oeuvre. I’ve always known of Celso Ad Castillo—I remember critics and artists yelling at each other over Burlesk Queen’s victory at the Metro filmfest. It was my first inkling that Cinema is War.

I’d seen some of his movies and written pompous driveling reviews in the high school newspaper, but I didn’t really get what the fuss was about until I saw Burlesk Queen two years ago. It was like getting punched in the face, holy crap what a movie. So when Ronald Arguelles asked me if I’d like to interview Mr Castillo for the Cinema One Originals 2010 Catalogue my immediate reply was Hell, yes.

And then we kept him waiting for three and a half hours. By the time we got to Siniloan I expected him to throw us out, but he didn’t. We had an excellent conversation. He was candid, pleasant, and utterly lucid, occasionally making pronouncements that gave us whiplash where we sat. Pronouncements like, “Nympha (the bomba movie from 1970) might yet become my Citizen Kane.”

Good thing Noel allowed himself to be dragged to the interview because he remembered to ask what “Ad” means. It’s short for “Advento”.

The interview will appear in the Cinema One catalogue; the outtakes in my column. Can’t wait to write it up.