THE LOST GLORY
By Butch Macaro
Screenwriters’ Guild of the Philippines


Where are they? In the early 70’s, Victor Wood emerged as the hottest male recording star that earned him the titles of Jukebox and Plaka King and for the woman admirers and fans, the Bukol King. The trademark which was solely his were the tousled, shoulder length black hair, the very prominent cleft chin, his brown eyes and his five-foot-ten-inch height, his good looks that made him a standout, aside from his voice that made women swoon when he sang, blended with that unforgettable yodeling. Victor Wood recently turned 60. As Philippine music’s one-time Golden Boy, he turned out 34 gold and platinum records and appeared in 30 films, co-starring with almost all the female stars during that time notably, Nora Aunor and Amalia Fuentes, both fellow Bicolanos.

He was born in Buhi, Camarines Sur and up to this day still waxes nostalgic when he remembers Mayon volcano and ginataang gabi (gabi leaves cooked coconut milk), his favorite.

For Victor Wood, it was really luck that brought about the whirlwind and instant success which then seemed never to end at all. There was the constant adoration of admirning women; the attention of press people vying for interviews; the recording sessions; personal appearances; endless appointments and meetings with prominent and rich people and movie offers from different movie companies trying to get his service.

Victor was literally and figuratively inebriated by his resounding success. He was a picture of happiness and endless bliss but deep inside him, there was an inner turbulence—he doubted if he can cope with the situation. Suddenly, he felt that he could not please all the people around him. Haunted by his humble beginnings, he carried a psychological baggage: he never grew up with a father. He did not know his father Sgt. Kocky Wood well enough, having only a slim idea of how he looked. He was also emotionally bothered, constantly bickering with his mother Rosario Nobleza because of her penchant to rotate lovers. Victor admitted he was very lonely that during his period of success, he dreaded the stage curtain’s closing because he felt so alone. Haunted by his constant solitary walks in the dark through endless passages, he turned to drinking and finally got hooked into drugs.

But change and life’s tranquility did not materialize. Instead the problems and troubles doubled in intensity. He cast off his errant ways just in time and literally crawled himself out of his addiction to harmful drugs.

It was in the late 70’s that Victor decided to migrate to the U. S. with his 12 children. He found employment managing The Palm Plaza Restaurant and rubbed elbows with some celebrities. He became active in the Ninoy Aquino Movement and considered the Lopezes as among his friends. It was a good life. He and his family had a comfortable expatriate life and enjoyed the amenities life in the good US of A offered.

But unexpectedly another of life’s blows hit him. His marriage disintegrated and literally tore him away from his children. In the darkness of his room, Victor asked God why he has to suffer this much and when it is going to end.

At the Stanford University Hospital, he underwent therapy and was diagnosed as manic-depressive with suicidal tendencies. But lucky for him, his mind cleared and he realized that killing oneself is not the final solution to his problems. The thought of his family encouraged him to survive. Victor soon got himself back together to face life, prayed hard as he had never done before. He gained a more positive outlook in life.

Still in the shadows of depression, Victor came home to the Philippines in 1988 without concrete plans for a new life and a brighter future. The Marcoses were no longer in power and he thought then that like himself, the country could be up for a renewal and a change for the better. He surmised then that the government would be free of corrupt officials and he would be at peace. There were reports and rumors that ABS-CBN was planning to hire him and give him a show. It never happened. Again, he was confronted by depression but he knew life must go on. He ran for vice governor of Rizal against the political stalwarts but lack of election funds caused him to lose to his opponent.

Then out of the blue and to his surprise, he was involved with Madame Auring as part of some publicity stunts. Victor denied the liaison and confessed that getting rumored to be the Madame’s lover did not help firm up his reputation.

Now he is into painting having developed an impressionistic style he learned in his short sojourn in Germany. He had already mounted an exhibit at the Caritas Manila and the German Foundation.

He had started reading art books to improve his craft and is still working hard to discipline his mind. Most of the subjects of his painting reflect the images of his rustic origin-- the rivers, birds and butterflies, rice paddies and the majestic Mayon Volcano.

He still admits that his life is incomplete even with his paintings but he has made his will to survive stronger than before, relying on the guidance of the Lord.