We got to talk to Cesar, who’s also an award-winning filmmaker for “Banal” and “Puntod”. He now co-directs “Dance of the Steel Bars” with Marnie Manicad (wife of Jiggy) about the dancing inmates of Cebu starring Dingdong Dantes and Brit actor Patrick Bergin. They’re supposed to finish it by April. Born on May 11, 1973, Cesar is the youngest of eight kids and the only boy. “I come from a poor family,” he says. “At 7, I became a cigarette vendor and in high school, a gasoline boy. Walang pera for college so I worked sa Jollibee then applied as fast food worker in Bahrain. Nakuha ako and I worked there for two years, saving all my money for college education. I first enrolled at PSBA taking up accountancy but a teacher told me, di bagay sa’yo to, mag-masscomm ka. So I moved to UST and that’s where I finished masscom. I was in second year when Channel 9 got me to direct some segments in their show on child and women’s issues. I got fascinated by directing so I also enrolled in UP for some film courses and worked as production assistant for Director Peque Gallaga. After college in 1998, I was hired as cameraman for I Witness. After 4 months, kinuha na kong reporter sa GMA News.”
Married to Joy Mendoza, they have a son Remus, 8, and two daughters, AJ, 6, and Butchay, 4. Isn’t it hard to be a filmmaker and a news reporter at the same time? “Somehow, napagsasabay ko naman. I also write songs and help independent bands. As a reporter, I now want to do stories with advocacies, ayoko na noong puro crime at patayan. I want inspiring stories with positive messages. For the first episode ‘I Juander’, Susan and I will show kung may natitira pa bang mga Maria Clara in our women.”
