LIFE is a reverie for the judicious but simply a game for hoodwinks… an entertaining tryout for the affluent but a catastrophe for the underprivileged…and a never-ending encounter with uncertainty for those who relentlessly struggle for life isn’t just about finding one’s self but creating it… for life is what and how we make it!
There are still worth-treading thoroughfares and pathways that we haven’t discovered yet not until we get lost along the way. The best part of the journey is the surprise and wonder we meet along the way. It is the exciting quest and the huge bolt-from-the-blue that offer fulfilling reward at the end of the journey.
But there lies death…an unforeseen event that could inevitably blight the smooth-sailing flow of life…a sudden morbid episode that cuts off every human’s single connection with the mortal world.
Such overwhelming devastation struck multi-awarded director Wenn Deramas’ family and friends after learning about his unexpected passing due to heart attack last Monday, February 29, at the age of 48. The shocking news was hard to accept and took a long while before reality finally sunk in.
Atak Araña, Direk Wenn’s loyal protégée and confidante who lives with the deceased since 2003, was the sole reliable source that gave light to the entirety of the shocking incident.
According to the comedian, it was constantly Direk Wenn’s Sunday routine to spend the day with close friends gallivanting around the mall. Since their taping was wrapped-up around 4 AM, the usual morning mass was moved to noon to enable him to take a short rest.
The group had lunch after mass and proceeded to Nail It Spa in Greenhills where Direk Wenn extended his respite for another 2 hours. A light snack followed. Direk Wenn even bought the latest DVD releases for his collection before they watched “Gods of Egypt.” Being an adventurous gourmand, Direk Wenn suggested Pedro ‘N Coi Restaurant, an eatery known for adobo, bistek, and various authentic native dishes.
It was while enjoying dinner when Direk Wenn received a call that his elder sister Wawa was rushed to the hospital after complaining of lingering chest pains. Although assured that she was revived and being closely monitored, Direk Wenn remained uneasy and worried. Concerned and anxious about his sister’s condition, he left in haste and drove to Capitol Medical Center… and found his sister undergoing a rigid reviving process, the 4th, actually.
He was incessantly on the phone with his two sisters in the US providing the latest development. To get a closer look he entered the emergency room only to come out ear-splittingly crying like a lost child—Wawa lost her fight for life and was declared dead at 2:40 AM, Monday! She was 57.
Seeing his sister breathed her last was unbearable for Direk Wenn. He was petrified, shocked, and numbed… weak and deaden. Atak assisted him take a seat. The traumatized director complained of breathing then unconsciously slumped on Atak’s lap. He was rushed to the ER and instantly revived in 25 minutes. But later the attending medical team failed to re-activate his systems when the monitor run on a flat line…and at 6:20, he was declared lifeless after fighting for his life for 3 hours and 20 minutes.
His massive heart attack was directly triggered by his insufferable reaction to his sister’s untimely passing. It will be recalled that Direk Wenn almost died two years ago due to stroke but a successful angioplasty procedure on November 2015 gave him an extended lease of life.
Incidentally, another sibling, Bobong, died just last December also from the same medical condition.
Close friends June Rufino, ABS-CBN COO Cory Vidanes, Vice Ganda, DJ Durano, and Luis Manzano were among the earliest sympathizers that assisted Direk’s family in the whole post-mortem process. From the Capitol Medical Center, his remains in a black and gold casket were brought to Arlington Memorial Chapel along Araneta Avenue where Chapels A, B, and C were reserved to accommodate the anticipated huge turnout of friends and fans that will pay their last respect for the popular director.
His and Wawa’s remains will be laid to rest at Himlayang Pilipino on an undisclosed date awaiting the final decision of their sisters from the States.
Looking back at Direk’s Wenn humble beginnings and rise to prominence
Once, an adventurous soul was sent out to the world on May 11, 1968 and freed to fight his own battle… merely armed with a promising moniker (Edwin Villanes Deramas) and fortified by his unflinching determination to succeed… so he could create an immense change for his family. Though there were cumbersome and critical situations he met along the way, giving up was far from being an option instead these only challenged him to strive harder and fueled his intention even more.
Edwin, more fondly addressed as Wenn (and later, Direk Wenn) finished Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Santo Tomas (where he was actively involved in stage productions in Teatro Tomasino) but modestly started as a waiter at the Aristocrat Restaurant after having tried his hands on sales. Although his position was upheld to Food and Beverages coordinator after two years, the promotion wasn’t sufficient to mollify his aspiration for a more exigent job that would challenge his creative capability.
In 1990 he was employed as Production Assistant of ABS-CBN’s “Tatak Pinoy” subsequent to confidently meeting the standards of Director Laurenti Dyogi who actually hired him. To keep his pockets locked and subsequently saved his transportation costs, Wenn chose to convert the top of the office cabinets for his bed and merely munched on bread and soup from the studio canteen for sustenance.
His innately smart and clever ways showed potential as a brilliant writer during his worthwhile stint in the show that progressively pushed him to join the studio’s creative team until such time when he was assigned his own show… “Teysi Ng Tahanan,” a morning talk show spiced with day-to-day occurrences hosted by dramatic actress-comedienne Tessie Tomas.
It was actually in “Teysi Ng Tahanan,” where I was an occasional guest, that he started his directorial calling. It came to a point when the production decided to add a 15-minute segment where attention-grabbing stories from letter-senders were dramatized. Since he knew I managed talents, he sought for my support in his maiden directorial venture. I could still vividly recall casting college-bred Jackie Aquino and my ward Derick Hibaler as lead actors that delineated the characters in his script. The 15-minuter drama segment took us almost a day to shoot on location in a middle-class subdivision along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City. Since then, his mini-movies received rave reviews that launched his career as a director …ultimately adding “Direk” before his name.
His hard work eventually paid off. After having had established his name as a writer and director, he was promoted as Executive Producer of “Calvento Files,” a dramatization of real life court cases which also gave me the opportunity to provide the show with lead talents and supports.
His baptism of fire was being on the helm of “Maala-ala Mo Kaya, the Movie” which unprecedented success catapulted him as one of the most brilliant directors and gave him mounting assignments… 32 films and over 20 TV drama series. It was Direk Wenn who was solely credited for Vice Ganda’s rise to stardom and box-office dominance in such tailor-made films as: “Petrang Kabayo” (2010), “The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin” (2011), “Sisterakas” (2012), “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy” (2013), “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” (2014), and “The Beauty and The Bestie” (2015).
Since his life is in itself loaded with remarkable true-to-life episodes and notable experiences worth-telling, he drew some scenes from his own emotional cache. Take Ai-Ai Delas Alas single working mother role in “Tanging Ina,” it was in fact based from Direk Wenn’s own mom who raised all five of them after his father vanished during the Vietnam war that kept them in transitory relocation…about eleven houses in all.
His “Tanging Ina” series undeniably established Ai-Ai De Las Alas’ career as a dramatic-comedienne, ditto with Pokwang. Direk Wenn was also behind the success of widely patronized drama series like “Marina,” “Kampanerang Kuba,” “Dyosa,” “ Kahit Puso’y Masugatan,” “Flor De Liza,” “Mula Sa Puso,” “Bituin,” “ Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan,” and Buttercup,” just to name a few.
Direk Wenn’s unrivaled directorial skill and supremacy among his peers was duly recognized by critics and awarded by prestigious award-giving bodies. He was hailed as Best Director during the 2010 Manila Film Festival for “Tanging Ina Mo,” and Most Popular Film Director for “Sisterakas” in 2013, for “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy” in 2014, and in 2015 for “The Beauty and the Bestie.”
His tragic death left behind already conceptualized movie and TV projects plus the launching of his 6-chapter biography book, “Direk 2 Da Poynt,” which took a year and a half to finish. The most awaited book, which rights was bought by Viva’s Vic Del Rosario, extensively chronicles his entire life story from his humble beginning to his prominence in the industry and includes advice and tips for would-be directors.
“Direk 2 Da Poynt,” which was originally intended to celebrate his 25 years in showbusiness, also contains quotes and notable side stories from showbiz people he has worked with: John Lapuz, Jaclyn Jose, Claudine Barretto, Vice Ganda, Direk Lauren Dyogi, and Boss Vic Del Rosario.
But what makes the book a hot copy isn’t his daringness to open his life to the public to inspire others but Direk Wenn’s audacious confessions about and naming his former male partners. It was already publicly shared that one among them was Thaddeus Durano, Jr., a former “That’s Entertainment” alumnus more popularly known as DJ Durano… who also happened to be my subject for photoshoots back in the early 90s. Their ten-year relationship ended on February 2013 when DJ decided to marry his longtime girlfriend Joane Dy and establish a family with their 16 year-old daughter. The separation was devastating for Direk Wenn but everything turned amicably well later and the two still remained friends.
Another unfinished project was a new TV show with a working title, “Picture Perfect,” which features Alex Gonzaga and his new protégée, Atak.
Despite having had lived a colorful past the affable director remained tough, approachable, and has kept his dignity intact. Creative with that distinct brand of originality and infectious sense of humor, Direk Wenn’s ultimate cinematic achievements would be his innate generosity and his unsurpassed capacity to entertain, either in person or on screen.
An excerpt from a press statement issued by Direk Wenn’s home studio states: “Wenn will be remembered for his unbelievable passion for his craft, his comic genius, and mastery in telling stories centered on family relationships. His voice, his vision, and his presence will be missed in ABS-CBN and the entire entertainment industry. But his legacy will live on in the hearts of the Filipino viewers who laughed, cried, and were inspired by his films and shows. So long and Thank You, Kapamilya Wenn Deramas , Philippine cinema’s box office hit director!”
Death is dreadfully bloodcurdling like a murderer that attacks during one’s unawareness. Direk Wenn’s rendezvous with death may be disheartening to accept but it enabled him to take an eternal and blissfully serene sleep he deservingly needed.
Goodbye, Direk Wenn… you may be gone but your legacy won’t be hurled to oblivion. Thank you for making us enjoyed living this life with laughter.
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