Dolly de Leon, Lav Diaz and Ely Buendia triumphed in their respective fields, while Cherie Gil, Danny Javier, Terry Hall and Vivienne Westwood departed the world in 2022.
TRIUMPH
We started six years ago, but not actually shooting. When I had a concept, an idea, I wrote it and shared it with Filipina producer Bianca Balbuena. I said, 'Can you help me? I have this gangster film.' It's a simple revenge story, in which two friends who betrayed each other have a reckoning. We were able to gather the money, but the two actors I wanted to work with weren't available, as they were doing TV and some movies. I said, 'Okay, let's move on; we'll leave this thing for a while.'
"One day, Bianca said she had a little money again, so we could work on it. I was working on other films, so I waited again. Then, two years ago, Taal Volcano erupted, and that was a good start! So, we went to the volcano and started shooting. The actor I wanted to work with came along, and we were able to pass the military cordon obstructing the area. So, we shot some scenes — and the lead role changed into an investigator who's come to this place to investigate a cold case. And then the pandemic hit, and we stopped shooting. It took us months to get going again.
"In November 2020, I wanted to continue making the film. I went to an island and stayed there for two months, doing location scouting. In January 2021, I called up the actors and all of the people: 'Get ready, get your swab tests.' They all came and brought everything we needed. We were preparing, and then disaster struck: three of our workers got Covid. We had to quarantine for 10 days, and then for another 14 days, and finally we were able to start shooting. We finished the whole thing after spending a month there, then we went to Lisbon to shoot some additional scenes. That was for an extension of the work — involving another investigator, a Portuguese one. The real cut is nine hours long. But the middle part stands on its own two feet, so I took it out and it became the film. Another movie is coming in 2023 that will connect everything!"— Lav Diaz discussing 'Kapag Wala Na Ang Alon' on Cine Europa, 13 September 2022
Kapag Wala Na Ang Alon won the Special Jury Prize, the Silver Peacock at the 53rd International Film Festival of India
"I thought I would be sick of the journey by now, but so far, it's been full of surprises." — Ely Buendia, speaking to Daily Tribune three weeks before the 'Huling El Bimbo' reunion concert of the Eraserheads
"I'm just an actor who needs the work. Whatever the role was, it was just another job for me. But, of course, I knew there was prestige attached to it because it was Ruben (whose art-world satire, The Square, won the Palme d'Or in 2017).
"I admire (my character) Abigail because she just took it upon herself to be in charge without asking for approval from anyone. If I were in her situation, I'd probably still be following people around.
"We often feel so powerless in this world because we're surrounded by beauty, fame, and money. We forget that no matter how less privileged you are, you still hold a certain power in the world that we can harness to our advantage." — Filipino actor Dolly de Leon, interviewed in the New York Times, 7 Oct. 2022
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association gave De Leon the Best Supporting Performance award for her star turn in Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund's Triangle of Sadness.
She has likewise earned three nominations for the same movie: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture at the 80th Golden Globes (to be aired live from the Beverly Hilton on 10 January 2023); Best Supporting Actress at the 2022 Satellite Awards (to be announced on 11 February 2023 in Los Angeles); Best Supporting Actress at the 43rd annual London Critics' Circle Film Awards (to be held on 5 February 2023)
DEPARTURES
"My dad used to play records by (Edith) Piaf and Paul Robeson; when I got into Roxy Music and (David) Bowie, it seemed too massive because it was on the telly. The first outdoor big gig I went to was Pink Floyd at Knebworth in 1975. Trying to relate to that at (age) 13 was like, impossible. How many people have said, 'Until they saw The Clash and the Pistols?' It all changed. In Coventry we all saw the same gig and started to form bands. Me and mates from school did a band called Squad. We didn't have any songs, we just went on stage and made it up." — Terry Hall in Mojo, 2014
Hall, the lead singer of the Specials and a former member of Fun Boy Three and the Colourfield, died on 19 December at age 63.
"You're nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!" — Cherie Gil in the 1985 movie Bituing Walang Ningning
Gil — born Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann — died on 5 August at age 59.
"Lahat tayo'y mamatay / Gusto bang sumabay? / Saan mo gustong mahimlay? / 'Pag nawalan ka ng malay…" — Danny Javier writing the lyrics of what would be his final song
Javier died on 31 October at age 75.