Ricardo “Ricky” Lee: A Phenomenal Filipino Writer

Have you ever watched or even remembered the line, “Walang himala! Ang
himala ay nasa puso ng tao, nasa puso nating lahat! Tayo ang gumagawa ng himala!”
This line was one of the famous lines Naura Aunor has ever said. Who wrote this
phenomenal line? It was Ricardo “Ricky” Lee from the film “Himala”.

Born on March 19, 1948, the 68-year old Filipino writer, playwright, journalist
and novelist garnered a lot of recognition and acknowledgements both from the
national and the international platform. Since 1973, he wrote over 150 film screenplays
and earned over 50 trophies from different award-giving bodies. He also collaborated
with some influential Filipino film directors, Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. His award-
winning films also reached the international film festivals, a few were Berlin, Cannes,
and Toronto.

“I see writing as a job. I think it’s me. I am a writer,” said Ricky when he was
interviewed in a famous TV News Program. He came from Daet, Camarines Norte and
was engulfed in the nurturing arms of his relatives. While he was young, people mostly
see him entering a movie house or even in the school’s library reading piles of books.
His passion engaged in writing after receiving his first national literary award in short
story when he was in high school. Without second thoughts, he ran away from home
carrying his dreams to the busy streets of Manila. Never had he experienced a lot of
trials there, but he did not give up. He was accepted at the University of the
Philippines-Diliman as an AB English Major. Ironically, he did not receive his diploma,
however, he later taught script writing at its College of Mass Communication.

For the past four decades, his major career as a literary writer expanded with a
lot of achievements and recognitions. The young and talented high school student
wrote his first short story “Mayon” in the Philippine Free Press which garnered a lot of
awards and recognitions. On that day onwards, his efforts reaped several national
awards in the Pilipino Free Press and Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for
Literature. He worked as a staff writer in the Pilipino Free Press in the late 1970’s until
the turbulent decades of 1990’s. Some of his famous literary films were Dubai , Anak,
Himala, Muro Ami, Madrasta, The Trial, and Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara. He also
contributed his skills in famous magazines and News companies; Sunday Inquirer
Magazine, Veritas, TV Times, and Metro Magazine to name a few. In 2000, he was one
of the recipients of the Centennial Honors for the Arts from the Cultural Center of the
Philippines and the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas for Tagalog fiction from the
Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas.
 With his enormous recognitions and achievements, he never stopped writing.
Ever since, Ricky conducted workshops on his very own abode. He teaches students
and pushes them to their limits until they are drown with ideas. There came a time that
some participants were incredibly stuck in a concept; he refused to let the group eat
until they process new ideas that would make their concept work out. He says that
hunger does wonders to one’s creativity: it makes you imagine things. Later on, the
kids embraced the concept of realism and portrayed their roles as if they were an
observer, a supporter, or even the main role. Thus, they acted as a beggar in Quiapo, a
squatter in Smokey Mountain, or a bargirl in Ermita. It might be a bit shaken but it was
full of learning and life-sustaining insights.

Indeed, words are powerful. As Ricky continues to live, he said, he will write until
he dies. With his passion and integrity, he is suited as one of the greatest and
phenomenal Filipino literary writer. He was Ricardo “Ricky”Lee.