Alexis Tioseco and love we share.

Alexis Tioseco memory. Nagsisismula pa lang ako manood ng mga pelikula. Taking films seriously, na hindi lang pampalipas oras. And would stalk film festivals around the metro. and i would always see him. My friend who works for an airline company knew him, well, knew his name. Got Curious, googled it and that was how i stumbled upon Criticine...then i discovered the world...in Cinema.



That is also how i knew Noel Vera, Richard Bolisay, Oggs Cruz and Dodo Dayao. How i discovered Raya Martin, John Torres, Khavn Dela Cruz.

From then on, i can't help but be starstruck when i see him. When i see him in events, it was like an imprimatur that this is an important film event, that it is legit. An EVENT! Then i got to listen to him in RockEd Radio then TV guestings on TV like Media in Focus. He was the face of Film for me, for a long time... maybe even right now.



But one lazy afternoon, on my way to school, decided to listen to radio (which i didn't do anymore) then turned to NU Rock (which i didn't do anymore) and then Francisbrew said it..."In memory of Alexis Tioseco who was murdered last night...one of those useless deaths" - i did not believe it. but i know franicsbrew is not one person to make jokes about that. I texted my friend, and another confirmed it to her. The face of film was murdered in a robbery gone bad, with his girlfriend Nika Bohinc.



I didn't know how to react, still don't know how. His death affected me, even the only thing we shared was a carpet and oxygen in the same theater.



I guess that is a testament to his contribution to the Philippine Film Industry and World Cinema in general. If people like me whose only connection to him was a shared passion for film would be so moved by his death, then he must have been a great person, an important person. i know, how he is being remembered today, that he was. and probably the best that ever lived.



And for that, i am forever grateful to Alexis Tioseco for having a part in my discovery, appreciation and love for Cinema.



I still have a copy of his wishlist on Philippine Cinema plastered on my wall to remind me that there was once a person who loves the cinema so much it made others love cinema as well...