The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
Filipina actress Carmi Martin confessed before thousands of people gathered at the Rizal Park during the recent Baha sa Luneta protest action—against corruption in government—that it was her baptism of fire joining a street march.
”Yes, virgin pa po ako sa mga rally, (It’s my first time, I am still new in this business called) rally,” confessed Carmi.
The sexy comedienne said that she wasn’t there to make enemies but to enlighten her fellow rallyists about the real economic conditions of actors like her.
”Hindi po puwedeng hindi kami magbayad ng tax dahil kinukunan po kami pagkatapos ng trabaho namin (We couldn’t resist paying taxes because we are deducted once we are done with our work).
“Tapos, ninanakaw lang mga tao sa gobyerno. ‘Yon po ang masakit dahil nakikita ko na maraming binabaha tapos, ninanakaw lang ang pera para sa mga proyekto sa baha (The taxes that we pay only go the pockets of people in the government. What is painful is that I witness the many victims of flash floods where the money for flood control projects are only robbed by corrupt officials),” gushed the captivating actress.
”Kaya po isama natin sa panalangin ang nangyayari sa ating bansa (So I request that you include in your prayers to better our country),” she pleaded the audience.
That was one of National Artist for Film Lino Brocka’s erstwhile actresses talking, only with gentle persuasion and spiritual devotion unlike Lino who was combative and had fierce resolve when fighting against corruption and injustice.
For all you know, the late director was God-fearing and just to his fellowmen.
Carmi, indeed, was Brocka’s baby.
It was the internationally acclaimed film artist who gave the ex-Gerard Peter model the screen breaks on serious acting.
Although the film was a dramedy, he directed her in “Dalaga si Misis, Binata si Mister” with no less than the royal love team Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon.
During that time, Lino was already in the forefront of anti-dictatorship rallies.
At the same time, Martin was being managed by controversial writer, star builder and soon-to-be-TV host Boy C. de Guia, Brocka’s business manager and Boy Abunda’s predecessor.
Another substantial role was given by the progressive director to Carmi in “Cain at Abel,” the first Filipino film to be exhibited at the prestigious San Sebastian International Film Festival.
As an insider in the Brocka-de Guia partnership, I was told that the director was impressed with Carmi’s intuitive acting style.
In “Hot Property,” she was launched into solo stardom, still under his direction.
And in “Bayan Ko Kapit sa Patalim,” Martin walked the red carpet of the 1984 Cannes International Film Festival with other cast members Phillip Salvador and Gina Alajar with Brocka who wore his Free The Artist Barong Tagalog in defiance of Marcos, Sr.’s fascist rule.
After shoots of films, TV shows and commercials, Lino was an active street parliamentarian with fellow movie, TV and stage director Behn Cervantes.
When they joined a national jeepney strike to demand drivers’ rights to fare increase and protest against oil price hike, the two were arrested, jailed and charged with sedition and rebellion cases which were later dropped.
Consciously or unconsciously, belatedly or otherwise, these images of dissent and political awakening had impacted on Carmi.
She’s now a “woke” person, casually, in the mix of arts and politics.
The other Brocka stars who participated in the 2nd Trillion-Peso March at EDSA People Power Monument were Mitch Valdez and Celeste Legaspi who both sang in the rally while a twin rainbow—a symbol of hope—arched on the horizon.
In her social media spaces, Celeste noted: “How many times in one’s lifetime do you get to sing Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal by dear Ernani Cuenco and Levi Celerio with a rainbow?
“Such a blessed special day,” she exclaimed with heart and smiley emojis.
Legaspi was one of Lino’s favorite actress-singers as well as Mitch, the latter starred in his anti-US imperialist film “Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo.”