A Dangerous Life.

Ruben Rustia as Ferdinand Marcos in "A Dangerous Life"

 I did a lot of shooting in the movies, most of the time with guns. But this time it was a camera. I play one of the reporters during the revolution in the Philippines. The People Power Revolution, Gary Busy does the lead in this TV documentary that takes about 8 hours to view...

Working title: The 4 day Revolution, but released as: A Dangerous Life. 

This movie was special to me  'cause I was on the spot of  action at the time it's referring to...in the middle of the Revolution, that is: 1986.  Then I followed the news on TV and didn't go to Manila anymore, hell no. I stayed in the province..!!!. It was an exciting period, with lots of action, millions of people in the streets and speeches from mr. president: Ferdinand Marcos live on TV.. Oh, he was a master in speeches and did so for hours, all by heart. It was fascinating to hear him speak but it was also obvious he'd lost support from the pinoy people.

I remember the commelec farce, the hilarious vote-counting and the protesting people on EDSA. ( Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue). Tanks at camp Aguinaldo, tanks in the streets. But hardly any bloodshed.. Henry Strzalkowski told me recently he had to duck and run to prevent to get hit by (stray) bullets.

 Henry Strzalkowski:

"I and some close friends got a full adult dose when on the third day, Marcos loyalist troops opened fire on us from the Channel 9 tower. A young teen was struck by M16 fire just a few feet from me, and I and my friend Steve Rogers rushed him to a jeepney and tried to get him to East Avenue Medical Center emergency. He bled out in my arms. It was a time I won't soon forget."

Until the last minute the cameras were rolling at Malacañang Palace, Marcos tried to convince the nation, but he couldn't anymore. He was too ill. The helicopter took off for Hawaii, loaded with gold bars, no room for Imelda's shoes...! A house wife became president...Corry Aquino.
It was suppose to be a turn in history, but not much really changed.

The shooting of this movie was like a 'deja vu'.  Just the bullets weren't real......(Some shots were taken  in other Asian countries, even Australia.)

It was an outstanding cast to work with, Gary turned out to be a great guy with sence of humor, I liked him.
The lead actress who also played a foreign correspondent and girlfriend of Bussey was Rebecca Gilling, an Australian who was known for her role as a protagonist who was thought to have been killed by a crocodile who came back with a vengeance in “Return to Eden”.  As correspondents in the movie, they were able to dramatize the historical events that happened between 1983 up to 1986 and interacted with the characters who were based on real people. They were able to find leads with the help of their contact with the U.S. Embassy who sometimes helped them when they were caught in dangerous situations. Many risks are encountered by foreign correspondents then and now where ever in the world.
It's only a small part for me in this movie. I'm a press photographer like a dozen others and we follow the scene, shouting and shooting our cameras. Trying to get as close as we can...

Gary Busy.

Pinoy cast:
1. Dina Bonnevie – Cecille Balamo,
2. Laurice Guillen – Cory Aquino
3. Tessie Tomas – Imelda Marcos
4. Ruben Rustia – President Ferdinand Marcos
5. Mervin Samson – General Fabian Ver
6. Joonee Gamboa – Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile
7. Ray Ventura – Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos
8. Rolly Gruta – Col. Antonio Sotelo
9. Cris Vertido – Doy Laurel
10. Tony Carreon – Monching Mitra
11. Rolando Tinio – Cardinal Jaime Sin
12. Wilson Go – Butz Aquino
13. Rez Cortez – Lt. Col. Gringo Honasan
14. Johnny Delgado – Lt. Col. Red Kapunan
15. Roy Alvarez – Col. Tiger Tecson
16. Vic Diaz – Metrocom Gen. Prospero Olivas
17. Noel Trinidad – Jimmy Ongpin
18. Junix Inocian – Governor Evelio Javier
19. Odette Khan – June Keithley
20. Robert Talabis – Joker Arroyo
21. Jaime Fabregas – Ben Balamo, journalist friend of  Bussey’s 
22. Spanky Manikan – Assistant of Bussey’s
23. Val Victa – brother of Dina Bonnevie’s
24. Dave Brodette – Rolando Galman
25. Pen Medina – Captain Ricardo Morales
26. Mona Lisa – Woman in Wheelchair 
27. Betty Mae Piccio –   Computer Operator
who led the walkout during the canvassing of votes at PICC

There's a lot more material on Youtube. The total documentary lasts some 8 hrs....!

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