Direk Jose Javier Reyes is one director that I really respect. But I noticed that he's having a tough time keeping his word.

1. He once said at the Take 6 lecture on Screenwriting that he would no longer make a loveteam movie. A year later, he did one. And it's not just a loveteam flick; it's a crappy loveteam flick. I'm talking about Can This Be Love starring Sandara Park and Hero Angeles.

2. He also announced he did not support singing contests (Star in a Million, Pinoy Pop Superstar, and the like) just because he believed that the talents being produced there (like Sarah Geronimo, Erik Santos and Christian Bautista) are all being exploited. Two years later, while channel surfing, I stumpled upon Little Big Star. And guess what? He was one of the judges. And he told everyone there that he really was thankful that these shows are here because they become instruments of finding really talented people and making their dreams come true. Wow.

3. And last but not the least, he also told his entire Screenwriting class that the local television and film industries will never move forward unless showbiz talk shows (The Buzz, Startalk, etc.) are eliminated. He believed, he said, that all these programs do is bring artists down. These shows destroy people and make money out of gossips. Two years later, he became one of the hosts of Entertainment Konek. Galing 'no? Haha.

But as I said, I respect Direk Joey and he's one of the directors I really look up to. And if there's one thing he said that he really took seriously, it would be: If one of these days you see me working in some crappy show, that's because I need to survive. And making good films does not satisfy that basic need.

Oh well. I understand him. But whatever happens, Direk Joey will always be one of the best instructors I ever had in UP.