The 1960's was my boyhood years. There were very few cinemas then in downtown Manila. I got to watch most of the movies on a re-run double programs at the nearby Noli Theater a few blocks from where we lived. The theater was only ventilated with Hopia-Mani vendors plying their trade right inside the cinema. But it was the 1960's, and not everybody get to watch movies almost weekly like we do.
That was when I got to know the King of Philippine Movies - Fernando Poe , Jr or FPJ for short. Everybody seem to idolize the king, so I tried other action stars like Jess Lapid, and Jun Aristorenas, just to have something to debate about with my classmates about who the bigger star was. A lot of movie stars did gained comparable fame but they soon faded and FPJ's buddy, Jess Lapid was killed in '64. Joseph Estrada obligingly played second to the King as so were the other stars, and FPJ was considered the most respected star of Philippine Cinema until his death in 2004.
There were actually no cowboy days in the country but the movie-goers didn't mind for about half of the movies shown in those days were westerns. Some say that once you see an FPJ movie, you've seen it all. Quite true since the plot, except for some variations were almost the same. FPJ was paired with almost all the popular leading ladies but more often than than usual, he get to beat up the usual gang of bad guys in the end. For over 40 years his movies lorded over the theaters' box office. He was the champion of the masses, the oppressed, who longed for justice and triumph of good over evil.
I got to see him in person some 30 years ago while he was campaigning for Fred Montilla. Just a few meters away, I just stood there watching, and I missed the chance of shaking hands with the King. Year 2004, I was glued on the TV screen watching the stream of misty eyed people to catch a last glimpse of their fallen idol. As far as I can remember, it was the only time I unashamedly cried while watching a funeral. FPJ was more than just a movie idol - he lived in each one of us who wanted to fight back against the system that oppressed us, the dirty politicians, the evils that victimize our society, and the desire to win a woman's heart.
I call it the FPJ part of me, wanting to beat bad guys and save ladies in distress. I guess my boyhood fondness also kindled my obsession to hone my boxing skills. I got bullied a lot in my pre-school days that I rarely played outside my grandparents' yard. Elementary grade was different since I got to beat up one of the nastiest boy in school who was a head taller than I was. My closest friend then was a son of a PMAer and with him as back-up I sort of got a reputation as a real banger. I remember getting in 3 more fights before I graduated and despite my lack in size I cherished the tag of being known as one of the toughest guy in my school years.
I got into more fights in my younger days and I guess I was lucky enough to get the better from my opponents who were all taller and bigger than me. The last one I had was with a co-engineer in my Laiban days. I have better boxing skills but the guy was bigger and tougher than I was that he was able wrestle me down and banged my head several times on the rocky ground. We got separated just in time and that was when I realized that I need to develop better fighting skills. That was also when I got a bit serious learning other martial tricks.
However, it was when I got to put up my own Combat Aikido Gym with my younger brother that I really got to learn and acquire the "real" fighting skills I need. But it was more than just fighting skills that I developed - it became my vehicle to rev up my spiritual being. Knowing how lethal my skills are, I gained the kind of confidence I need to tone down my fiery temper and the desire to prove my toughness to other people. I spar to test my skills and find loopholes to patch up but never again did I wanted to put myself in a situation where I have to use violence to settle things.
Even after my idol is gone, the FPJ part of me will always be there. I still watch his old movies not just to enjoy them but also to remember the good times and the joy of being young once.
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