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One year on, film critic Alexis Tioseco's killers still scot-free


Let's not do this again next year. It was an odd thing to say in a house gathering of friends, but then, this wasn't your usual gathering. Linen-covered tables were set up in the garage, and waiters were serving refreshments to the guests. Here and there were sweet bouquets of flowers gathered in pretty sinamay cloth. Friends talking in clusters, the occasional laughter subdued. The venue is 39 Times Street in Quezon City, the same street where President Aquino has lived for a long time. It is evening, on the first of September, 2010. Sheets of rain hit the ground, washing the dirt away from the pavement. The house has been the Tioseco residence for three decades, and in it, exactly one year ago, film critic Alexis Tioseco and his girlfriend Nika Bohinc were senselessly killed by murderers who remain at large. The night they died, many of their friends showed up at the house, hardly believing what had happened. They were such good people, it was unfathomable that anyone would want them dead.


Alexis loved the Philippines Alexis was not even thirty, and he was one of those rare fellows who are not only brilliant and eloquent but sincerely kind. What makes the loss even more painful is Alexis truly loved the Philippines. Director Erwin Romulo once wrote that Alexis was the "most important person in Philippine cinema today," and those who were blessed to have met him would no doubt agree that he did not just love Philippine cinema, but the Philippines. As a Filipino-Canadian, he could have easily chosen to stay in Canada with the rest of his family, but it was this country he chose, and this country that benefited from his passionate work in film criticism. He wrote numerous articles on Philippine cinema, and would have written so many more. But the kind of love Alexis had is best understood in his essay where he writes, "The first impulse of any good film critic, and to this I think you would agree, must be of love." The essay is "The Letter I Would Love to Read to You in Person," published in Rogue Magazine. It is about his relationship with cinema, and it is also a love letter to Nika. Ultimately it reveals how good a person he was, and the way he loved spills from the pages. In it we get a glimpse of what beautiful people they were, and how much less wonderful the world is without them. Justice has yet to be served But the fact remains that they are not with us anymore, and though last night was "babang luksa," marking the end of mourning, his friends and family are far from healed. The fact is, like many other cases in the Philippines, justice has yet to be served. Not only do the criminals remain uncaught, an innocent man was jailed for the crime for the strange reason that he 'had the face of a killer.' Asked if they would like to issue a statement, Nika's family in Slovenia declined, saying "it is useless in your country." It is painful to hear, because you can't argue with that. "This whole warmheartedness and this whole kindness of the Filipino - really, it does not translate when we are inefficient. Maybe now is the time to be ashamed because the goal is to one day be proud again," said RockEd founder Gang Badoy at the service last night. "It has been one year of no answers, and it has been a year of even more questions. While the police have filed a case for robbery and homicide, many questions remain. Who planned the murders? Who paid the killers? And why did they want Alexis and Nika dead?" read Chris Tioseco from the family statement. They appealed to the current administration -- President Aquino lives on the same street, after all -- saying they believe he is sincere and steadfast in his aim of making the Philippines a better and safer place. They asked for a thorough investigation of the case, which has had no significant movement for twelve months. "Only last month was a warrant issued for Criselda Dayang, an accomplice. The warrant has not been implemented and she remains at large," he read, imploring the authorities to do their job. "We understand that it's not going to be easy. But we won't settle for anything less than a thorough and exact investigation. How can we not strive for justice for my brother and Nika, who died with the love of this country in their hearts?" he asked. Making a difference Apart from the statement, it was difficult for anyone to find the right words. Alexis' sister Bettina thanked those present, then Gang Badoy spoke. "I can understand the family of Nika giving up, but if you have it in you, can you stay in the fight with us? Keep asking, kahit parang wala nang nakikinig," said Gang Badoy. "If they see that a lot of people lit candles and many people came to remember then they'll know what they've caused. And if they lose just one night of sleep, maybe for now that's all I need. But justice is the goal on all levels," she said. Chris requested those present at the gathering to help them in their struggle. "This is a country where one phone call makes a major difference. One push can change everything. And it's not hard to do these things or to call that one person you know who may know somebody, or whatever it takes just to push the investigation," he said. After the service, clips of interviews with Alexis were shown before the screening of Mike De Leon's "Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising," a fitting love story. While waiting for the film, friends spoke in clusters, the occasional laughter subdued. Had the circumstances been different, you could easily find the same faces in a room, except instead of sadness and anger there would be happiness and love. Alexis and Nika would be there. Should the appeal be heard, and the investigation conducted as it should be, hopefully next year will be a different kind of gathering. - YA, GMANews.TV