Chito Rono, a Respected Director

Ni Oggie Medina

Chito S. Rono, a versatile director who hails from Calbayog City, Samar, remains humble, low-key, unassuming and approachable despite success.

Eldest among the brood of six children of Carol and Jose Rono (both deceased), Chito studied mass communication at the University of the Philippines and later went to New York to take up cinema course, major in documentary film. When he returned to the Philippines, he worked at the Manila Film Center’s alternative cinema. He did three independent, or indie, films.

During his college days, he became active in Dulaang UP, with the late Tony Mabesa. He became a theatre actor, stage manager, props man and theatre director. He also directed a musicale at the Metropolitan Theatre. For TV, he was one of the directors of documentary Isip Pinoy for years.

His first entry into the mainstream film directing is via the smash-hit movie Private Show (1986), with Jaclyn Jose in the lead. As a director, he observes his surroundings in a detached manner and translates and applies it to his work: “I’m serious whenever I do a movie. I’m not intimidated for I’m prepared. When I arrive at the set, I’m very much ready. I know what I’m doing… I got nervous in technical matters or in things that cannot be controlled.”

He says he is focused and he expects his actors to know what they are supposed to do. “They must know their lines. I show to them that I’m ready. I treat everybody equal, regardless of who he or she is,” he says with alacrity.

Director Rono admitted to me that he is radical at home, or non-conformist type of person. “I’ve always been a rebel… Even my father, who had a high position in government (being a local government minister then), never forced me to do things that I did not want. My mother was the one worrying for there is no income in the arts.”

As to the state of the Philippine cinema, he believes that in show business, there is what we call biorhythm, where there are ups and down, where film outfits can produce more and less movies. He also believes that producing indie film is now conducive to independent filmmakers because of technological growth or advancement. “We live in digital age. It is affordable and easier to do indie film nowadays,” he concludes this brief chat with a wide, sweet smile.

Certainly, Chito S. Rono, also known as Sixto Kayko and director of film “Espantaho”, is one of today’s respected film directors in the Philippine cinema.