Tito Bert was the prime mover of the formation of BARANGAY THEATRE GUILD in the fifties. My mother and I took part in some of their stage and radio plays. One I recall was the role I had of the fake dauphin who was to mislead Joan of Arc in her mission to lead France to victory against the enemy. She entered the room saw me but was not fooled. She then looked around and saw a plainly dressed man and she approached him and suddenly knelt and respectfully said " My dauphin"
True enough, Joan was guided and blessed by God. Too bad Joan ended up burning at the stake.
Bert was among the pioneer cinema directors who was very creative especially after he produced the movie on SAKAY. Macario Sakay was considered at the time a "bandit" but history established the true role of Sakay and he was indeed a hero. for he was a fighter for Philippine Independence.
Other prize winning movies he produced were ANAK DALITA and BADJAO, both in black and white for color was still to come to Philippine cinema.
Bert was born in Bontoc, Mountain Province and was educated by the Jesuits at the Ateneo de Manila. He married his teenage sweetheart Daisy Hontiveros and together they were honored by being named Philippine National Artists - he for cinema and Daisy for theatre.
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