National Artist Ricky Lee reveals award-winning film 'Himala' was wildly rejected before it was picked up

Newly minted National Artist for Film and Broadcast Ricky Lee appeared on "Unang Hirit" Monday shortly after he was given the high honors and gave writers some encouragement to continue their craft.

According to the 74-year-old screenplay writer and creative consultant at GMA, his award-winning film "Himala" went through a number of rejections before it was finally picked up.

"Sinulat ko 'yon nuong 1976 pa, na-reject siya nang kabi-kabila, napakaraming beses. Nagawa lang siya nuong 1982," Lee told Connie Sison.

“Inilako ko siya sa kung kani-kaninong producer. Lagi siyang nare-reject kasi hindi daw commercial, wala raw love team, or malungkot, or bakit religion ang topic? Bakit namatay ang bida?” Lee looked back.

These questions soon became irrelevant when the film garnered multiple awards, including “Best Screenplay” and “Best Picture” in the 1982 Metro Manila Film Festival.

“Masarap magsulat eh. Pag nakita mo na yung resulta at pinuri na ng iba, maski na ang daming hirap at rejections, okay na siya,” Lee said, adding that surpassing all these challenges are all “worth it” in the end.

Lee, along with Nora Aunor, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, were named National Artists of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts.

The order of National Artist, established under Proclamation No. 1001, signed in 1972, is the highest national recognition of Filipinos who have made distinct contributions to the Philippine arts and culture’s development.

Congratulations, Ricky Lee, and to all our new National Artists! — Hermes Joy Tunac/LA, GMA News