Word got around over the weekend that they’re holding a fundraiser for Pete.
Pete is Pete F. Lacaba, a heroic and committed author, young star in the old Philippine Free Press of Teodoro Locsin and Nick Joaquin who was nabbed, incarcerated and tortured for rebellious activities (from underground) at the height of Martial Law.
He’s a well-admired poet, author, screen writer who wrote memorable articles and did a book on the First Quarter Storm student unrest in the run-up to the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.
One famous early book is “Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage.”
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He was singled out together with his younger brother Emman as the brightest new stars of Philippine poetry by National Artist Jose Garcia Villa. Emman also went underground but was killed by government forces in Basilan.
From Wikipedia: “Born in Misamis Oriental in 1945 (to Jose Monreal of Loon, Bohol, and Fe Flores from Pateros), Lacaba was recognized for his coverage of the First Quarter Storm, an anti-Marcos movement in 1970. During Martial Law, he fought President Ferdinand Marcos and his US-backed military dictatorship.”
He worked with well-known directors in producing films that exposed poverty and injustice.
He’s a multiawarded screen writer. He continued writing poems and was decorated as one of the 100 “Bayani ng Sining.”
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“Oo nga, dami nang performers nag-enlist,” said veteran columnist Al S. Mendoza, an original Lacaba ally.
Lacaba’s last known employment was as editor of a classy life/entertainment magazine under Robina Gokongwei.
Venue of the fundraising event, “Kape’t Ka Pete,” a song and poetry program on March 7, is the Kamuning Bakery Café, 43 Judge Jimenez St. corner K-1st St. in Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City. Performance starts at 6 p.m.
Singers Noel Cabangon and actor Ricky Davao will be among the performers. Other participants are singers Scarlet Brown, Hazel Faith, poets Gemino Abad, Butch Dalisay, Krip Yuson, Vim Nadera, Michael Coroza and Marne Kilates, fictionist Charlson Ong. The list continues to get longer.
One source said Pete Lacaba suffers from an ailment of the nerves.
For more information, contact Wilson (0917-8481818 and 0918-8077777), Mela (0933-8604252 and 0922-8901899) or Vim (0995-1319743).