A movie about Jaime FlorCruz? Why not!?!

BEIJING — What to me was one of the most memorable experiences I had during our four-day stay in this city was finally meeting Jaime FlorCruz and, so to speak, shooting the breeze with him over a late lunch at his favorite restaurant which must be so famous and so popular that it was packed full with hungry people that afternoon.

Our group (STAR columnist/real-estate dealer Wilson Lee Flores and Inquirer columnist Rina Jimenez-David, with businessman George Siy) had just come from a leisurely tour of 798 Art District which used to be a sprawling factory converted into an artists’ haven (more on that in another story).

Funfare readers are familiar with Jaime who, as CNN’s Bureau Chief in Beijing, regularly reports on events around the Asian region. How Jaime got in this city and stayed for more than four decades is a very interesting story perfect for an adventure-romance movie.

That was what Funfare suggested to Jaime —  you know, why not a movie about his life which is full of adventure, drama, a little action and romance?

Shortly before Pres. Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in Sept. 1972, Jaime and a dozen other student activists came to Beijing as guests of the Chinese government. While here, Jaime and two others, Chito Sta. Romana and Eric Baculinao, didn’t risk being arrested upon returning to the Philippines because Marcos had suspended the writ of habeas corpus, so they decided to seek political asylum. True enough, their companions (including the late Roz Galang whom I’ve worked with in Variety, the Sunday magazine of the old Manila Times) were rounded up when they got back home.

“When I left home,” recalled Jaime who speaks fluent Mandarin, “my parents seemed to have a premonition. My mom didn’t want to wake me up so I would miss my flight. My father said, ‘Bring the old maleta baka hindi ka na mabalik.’” Prophetic words, those.

Their first six months in Beijing proved to be a test of strength, courage, endurance and perseverance. Jaime and his two comrades stayed with the farmers and worked like the farmers.

“The government took good care of us,” said Jaime, providing them with food and shelter and all the amenities, “but what was unbearable was the homesickness.”

Soon, Jaime and his Filipino comrades gently blended into the Communist lifestyle. He took up History at Beijing University, said to be one of the best schools in China, and pursued a career in journalism until he was employed by CNN Beijing starting as a reporter and rising to be the network’s Bureau Chief.

On our second day in Beijing (I will tell you why Wilson, Rina and I got here in my next story), Jaime brought his wife, lawyer Anna Segovia, to an intimate lunch at an elaborately-designed restaurant at the Lan Club hosted by Carlos Chan (Ben’s brother who’s the chairman emeritus of Liwayway Group of Companies which has business interests not only in the Philippines and in China and also in other Asian countries) and his son Larry.

Over bites of steamed hairy crabs and other Chinese goodies, we reiterated our suggestion for Jaime to have his bio film done and the whole group said, “Why not?” Off-hand, we could think of nobody but Ricky Lee to write the screenplay and Joel Lamangan to direct it because both of them share the same Martial Law experience with Jaime. Maybe Charo Santos-Concio’s Star Cinema or its sister company that produces indies can produce it and enter it at the Cinemalaya which has become known for showing quality films, the film festival to be reckoned with bar none.

And how many leading ladies would there be?

“Eighty-one,” joked Jaime.

“Which one?” Anna asked in jest.

We dropped the name Kris Aquino as possible leading lady, cast as Jaime’s wife Anna (whom Jaime courted after he met her at the Philippine Embassy while Anna was visiting her uncle consul, until they ended up at the altar; they now have two children).

“I have no principles,” Jaime joked again.

“Poor Kris,” said Anna, also joking.

Seriously now, a movie about Jaime FlorCruz would surely be a winner both commercially and critically.

On second thought, the material is the perfect movie reteam-up of Richard Gomez (as Jaime) and Dawn Zulueta (as Anna) who were such a big hit in the Kapamilya soap Walang Hanggan that there’s a real demand for their big-screen comeback (after Hihintayin Kita sa Langit of years back). Dawn was the original choice for the role of developmental psychologist in the Star Cinema movie The Trial (she was replaced by Gretchen Barretto) but she politely bowed out because she reportedly felt that it wasn’t the right vehicle for her and Richard’s movie comeback.

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