"Pagsusulat ng nobela ang talagang gusto kong gawin sa buhay. Kumbaga, na-sidetrack lang ako sa pagsusulat ng mga script para sa pelikula. Sa kauna-unahan kong nobelang ito, nagbalik lang ako sa talagang gusto kong puntahan."
Those were the words written by respected scriptwriter Ricky Lee on the dedication page of his first novel, Para Kay B (o kung paano dinevastate ng pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin).
Last night, November 30, Ricky officially unveiled that dream in front of his peers, students, celebrity friends, artists, fellow writers, educators, admirers, and literary luminaries—all filling up the spacious Bahay ng Alumni at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
It was indeed the realization of a life-long dream. The author himself readily admitted feeling nervous the minute he was called to give a few remarks. "Para pong gusto ko na lang tumayo dito at pagmasdan kayong lahat dahil natutuwa ako at nandito kayo," said Ricky after the hearty applause.
LABOR OF LOVE. Finishing the novel required a lot of discipline. Ricky stopped accepting movie-script assignments for three years. "Ipinangako ko sa sarili kong di ako lalabas hangga't wala akong napu-produce," he revealed.
The three-year sabbatical actually produced three novels, but Ricky chose to release his love story first because it was challenging and totally unexpected of him. "Kasi ini-expect nung iba na magiging pulitikal ang gagawin kong nobela."
Ricky made the most of the special occasion by extending his gratitude to some of the people who helped him throughout the time he was laboring over the project. Some of those who provided blurbs were Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature; Marilou Diaz-Abaya, filmmaker and educator; TV host Boy Abunda, director Joyce Bernal, and other friends from way back, writers Jose "Pete" Lacaba and Gilda Cordero-Fernando, and rocker Ely Buendia.
The launching kicked off with a program led by actor Piolo Pascual who rendered the invocation before giving the floor to Ricky Davao, Lorna Tolentino, Cherry Pie Picache, Gina Alajar, Chanda Romero, and Eugene Domingo—each one reading excerpts from the novel which is written in popular Taglish. Also on hand to entertain the crowd through music were Malou de Guzman, Cookie Chua, and Mayra Ruaro, now known simply as Skarlet.
Some of Ricky's most unforgettable and enduring works as a screenwriter include Himala, Karnal, Moral, and Andrea...Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina?, among many others. He is also regarded as a mentor by a slew of directors and screenwriters who attended his writing workshops, which started way back in the early ‘80s.
Para Kay B (o kung paano dinevastate ng pag-Ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin) is distributed by Anvil Publishing, Inc. and is now available in all bookstores.