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"Malungkot ako dahil wala si Marilou," National Artist for Broadcast Arts and Film and 'Jose Rizal' writer Ricky Lee said during the gala screening of the movie's digitally restored and remastered version.

National Artist for Broadcast Arts and Film Ricky Lee had mixed emotions before the gala screening of the digitally restored and remastered version of Jose Rizal, 26 years after its first screening.

Sir Ricky, one of the movie's writers alongside Jun Robles Lana and Peter Ong Lim, said he was both happy and sad on that day.

"Masaya akong malungkot ngayong hapon na ito. Masaya dahil na-restore itong Jose Rizal at mas marami nang makakapanood, nalulungkot ako dahil wala si Marilou [Diaz Abaya, the film's director]," he said.

He then looked back how Jose Rizal came into fruition.

"Noong matapos namin gawin ni Marilou 'yung trilogy namin on women -- Brutal, Moral, Karnal -- gusto niyang gumawa ng trilogy on men, and ang gusto niyang bida doon sa tatlo ay si Cesar Montano.

"That's how we were able to make Jose Rizal nung una, and then Muro Ami, and then Bagong Buwan."

Jose Rizal wore many hats as a nationalist, a doctor, and a writer, but they ultimately decided to create the film with Rizal as an artist.

"Napakalawak ng buhay ni Jose Rizal, kaya naman nung magtukoy para mag-discuss kung ano ang ipo-focus, na-decide namin na mag-focus sa buhay ni Jose Rizal bilang isang artist, bilang isang manlilikha."

Jose Rizal, produced by then GMA Films (now GMA Pictures), was part of the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival where it won 17 out of 18 awards.