DIRECTOR CELSO AD CASTILLO'S FUNERAL VIEWING AT LOYOLA MEMORIAL CHAPEL, COMMONWEALTH AVE. TODAY TILL WEDNESDAY

MONTAGE

By GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE

PMPC (Phil. Movie Press Club)

  
From my blog “ Manila Showbiz & Lifestyle” farmed out in different versions to www:pmpcstarnews.com, Pilipino Mirror, Remate Online, Scandal, CMT (Columnists Monitoring Team) Update, etc.

According to the text message from  the younger brother/film director and good friend as well of mine John Ad Castillo the funeral wake of  my dear departed guru/  Director Celso Ad Castillo will be transferred today Dec. 3 (Monday) from Siniloan to Loyola Memorial Chapel,  Columbary, Commonwealth Ave., (near Tandang Sora and at Luzon Ave. stop station )  in front of Pure Gold Supermarket, Quezon City, Philippines.

Viewing today starts at 5:00 p.m. until Dec. 5 (Wed.) only.  Expected to arrive are the two sons of Director Castillo from California Christopher Ad Castillo, a film director in his own right and his younger brother a businessman Celso II.

 Friends and colleagues of Director Celso Ad Castillo from the movie industry will pay their last respect as well to the beloved and highly esteemed director.

For the uninformed and the historically-challenged filmmakers and film aficionados of the country, mention of the film directors who trailblazed the 2^nd Golden Age of Philippine Cinema is far from complete without the name of Celso Ad Castillo aka “Messiah of Philippine Cinema,”  “Celso Kid” or simply “D’ Kid” who was once hailed in my definitive interview with no less than Director Peque Gallaga a couple of decades ago  along with Lino Brocka as the “greatest Filipino filmmakers” this generation has produced.

You can’t argue with the unimpeachable, let alone controversial reputation earned by Director Celso Ad Castillo as a damn good artist through much of his career as film director and even as an actor till he breathed his last. I knew him like the palm of my hand as his scenarist/ “brainstormer,” production designer and organizer for his series of film & acting workshops/ seminars we used to conduct as far as Baguio City. And whereof I speak, testify.

That said, Director Celso Ad Castillo fully completed the triangulated greatness of the 2^nd Golden Age Of Philippine Cinema with  two departed others and National Artists for Films Directors Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal.

Who would not miss D’ Kid?