Ricky Lee on 'Para kay B,' its sequel 'Lahat ng B,' and keeping his promise of writing personal dedications

With the aim to recognize and showcase the cinematic masterpieces of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricardo “Ricky” Lee and fellow National Artists Nora Aunor and the late Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Cine Icons, a project of the Cultural Center of the Philippines under its Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division launched last March 17 at the CCP Black Box Theater.

During the talkback after the screening the Ishmael Bernal-directed “Himala,” Lee gave a valuable advice to young and older aspiring writers:

“Ang masasabi ko sa young and struggling writers, hindi masama ang salitang struggling. I don't think that you should ever stop struggling. Fifty years na akong nagsusulat, and I am still struggling. It never stops."

“Huwag niyo ring ambisyunin na maging Ricky Lee o Doy Del Mundo o Pete Lacaba kasi nag-iisa kami," he added. "Kung gagawa kayo ng kagaya namin, kami na ang kukunin. Xerox copies na kayo. Pero kung gagawa kayo ng kwento na galing sa boses at karanasan ninyo, kayo ‘yun at walang kapareho sa buong mundo. Pagbutihin lang ninyo at tiyak na papanoorin ‘yan ng tao,” he added.

Lee is still the same dynamo of a writer, producing stories in all genres he chooses to engaged in. 

He loves writing so much, he even promised writing personal dedications in his books for those who seek them — even if the number goes up to 3,000 copies.

In the last quarter of 2022, he told us he promised to write personal dedications to the initial 2000 pre-ordered copies of his latest novel, “Lahat Ng B.”

By mid-March, it had sold more than 3,000 copies, which will all need to sign with personal messages.

“Madugo! (bloody),” Lee told GMA News Online, taking to account the word “personal." 

“I am the type who doesn’t like giving the same dedication message,” Lee said.

“Lahat Ng B” is the much-awaited sequel to his first novel, the best-selling “Para Kay B,” which was published more than a decade ago.

“[Para Kay B] continues to sell. [It's had] several reprints I lost count. There’s a fan base and there’s a new edition with a new cover you can buy in Lazada or Shoppe,” said Lee.

We had a follow-up online conversation with Lee and here are excerpts.

For those who haven’t read “Para Kay B,” are there still copies available?

“Para Kay B” is my best-selling book, aside from “Trip to Quiapo.” It has been reprinted many times. It has a fan base. It became part of the lives and loves of many people. Many are sending me messages, telling me they’re reading it again and again.

That’s why when I posted a question on Facebook two years ago, if they were interested in a sequel and what were their suggestions, the response has been warm and overwhelming. So now, finally two years later, the sequel is finished.

I didn’t plan to have a sequel for “Para Kay B.” The one that was supposed to have a sequel was “Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata.” When I was writing it, it reached 600 pages. That’s why I decided to cut it in half. What was published was the first half. I just have to get around revising it.

You mentioned before that if you’re writing, your focus is distributed to different works-in-progress. 

'Di pa rin ako nagbabago as a writer. I still find it difficult to focus on just one project. On a given day, usually at dawn, I would be finishing a script, then I would to go outlining a next film, then shift to commenting on a teleseries draft from GMA, where I work as a creative consultant.

For example, sometime last year immediately after finishing the script of
(Mac Alejandre-directed) "Bela Luna," I wrote the first scenes of my next
script, "Sex Games." There was a time when I finished and submitted two scripts, "Silip sa Apoy" and "Isang Gabi."

I am writing the whole day, whatever I am doing — naglalakad, kumakain, naliligo. Even when I'm asleep, pagising-gising ako sa magdamag, jotting down notes. Lalo na pag may deadline. I suppose that makes me really a writer.

(During my younger days) When I finished writing short stories, I shifted to writing screenplays and teleplays. That’s why it took me so long to go back writing literary works. I think it was in 2005 when I decided to rest for a while writing screenplays and focused on writing my first novel, "Para Kay B."

At the time, I finished the first drafts of three novels. I didn't know which of the three I was going to prioritize for revisions and eventually, which would be the first to publish.

Then I attended the wake of the mother of Ely Buendia (sometime in August, 2008) with our UP group of friends like Moira Lang, Ann Angala and others. Right there, they challenged me to finally publish my first novel. Kasi ang
dami ko pang kaba noon (I had a lot of apprehensions. I was so nervous).

I decided on "Para Kay B," at mula noon, ilang gabi ring tumulong sila sa akin to give feedback on my draft, to comment, to offer suggestions mula content hanggang sa title.

Acclaimed young playwright Eljay Castro Deldoc adapted “Para Kay B” into a play years ago. Did he also propose to adapt it into a screenplay, especially now there’s a part 2 (“Lahat Ng B”)?

There have been a lot of instances wherein “Para Kay B” was staged as a [full length] play using the adaptation of Eljay Deldoc, [in] schools like PUP, UST and UP Los Baños.

There’s even a version created by a group of deaf performers — very touching and I really appreciated all the love. There were also producers offering to make it a film, when the book has just been launched.

But I would like to affirm the literary identity of the novel first, before it will be adapted into film, that’s why I stalled for some time.

I also have a commitment to a producer who is a friend and gave me a down payment. And there were a lot of offers that came later. One was to adapt it into a series. Soon, maybe it will happen.

Who is going to direct the film version, should it ever happen?

When “Para Kay B’ first came out, some of my friends had plans to do an omnibus film based on scenes from the novel.

I was able to gather more than 30 filmmaker-friends and everyone agreed to do their parts for free. They’d have their other short films; Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza, Jeffrey Jeturian and a lot more.

I asked a grant from the NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) so even if there’s a minimal budget for each one who will do the project, but the proposal was rejected. But there were two who finished their short films at the time, Sari Dalena and Paolo Herras.

If given the chance to choose the actresses to play the lead characters in “Para Kay B,” who would you like to play Irene, Sandra, Erica, Ester and Bessie, in that order?

I am very open whoever is chosen to play the characters if ever “PKB” will be adapted into film, though it’s wonderful to imagine Judy Ann Santos, Julia Barretto, Barbie Forteza and Meryll Soriano. Basta mahuhusay.

Is there another novel you’re working on? What it is all about? Or any book that would come out next?

I want to continue the novel I was writing simultaneously with “Para Kay B” and “Si Amapola.” It’s a political novel about four generations of Filipinos under different presidents whose background is the history of Philippine cinema.

After “Lahat ng B,” I am starting to write my memoirs. And a gay novel. And “Trip to Quiapo 2.” As I told you, I’m a restless, fidgety writer. I can’t focus. We’ll never know, maybe out of nowhere, one title I didn’t mention would be the first out for publication. — LA, GMA Integrated News