THE 1979 METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL: "KASAL-KASALAN, BAHAY-BAHAYAN" BEST PICTURE

Ten movies vied for top honors in the 1979 Metro Manila Film Festival. HPS Productions' Kasal-Kasalan, Bahay-Bahayan was named Best Picture and was the top grosser of the festival. Ina Ka ng Anak Mo received three major awards--- Raul Aragon (Best Actor); Lolita Rodriguez and Nora Aunor (tied for Best Actress) and Lino Brocka (Best Director).

Other awardees: Johnny Delgado (Best Supporting Actor/ Ang Alamat ni Julian Makabayan); Rebecca Gonzales (Best Supporting Actress/ Kasal-Kasalan, Bahay-Bahayan): Ben Lobo (Best Cinematography/ Ang Lihim ng Guadalupe); Gaudencio Barredo (Best Sound Engineering/ Kadete); Edgardo Vinarao (Best Editing/ Kadete); Restie Umali (Best Music/ Ang Sisiw ay Agila) and Rick Acasio (Best Story/ Kasal-Kasalan, Bahay-Bahayan).

"Kasal-Kasalan Bahay-Bahayan" (1979)- Stars Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, Alma Moreno and Rudy Fernandez/with Rebecca Gonzales, Lito Anzures, Jose Garcia, Matimtiman Cruz, German Moreno/ Directed by Pablo Santiago

"Ina Ka ng Anak Mo" (1979)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez,Nora Aunor and Raul Aragon/ Directed by Lino Brocka

"Ang Lihim ng Guadalupe" (1979)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Tina Monasterio, Yvette Christine, Paquito Diaz, Lito Anzures, Vic Diaz, Romy Diaz, Bentot Jr. and Max Alvarado/ Directed by Armando A. Herrera

"Ang Sisiw ay Isang Agila" (1979)- Stars Lito Lapid, George Estregan, Dante Varona, David Aguila and Julie Ann Fortich/with Lucita Soriano, Teroy de Guzman, Yoyoy Villame/ Directed by Jun Gallardo


"Modelong Tanso" (1979)- Stars Cahrito Solis and Vilma Santos/ Directed by Cirio H. Santiago


"Mamang Sorbertero" (1979)- Stars Joseph Estrada, Celeste Legaspi, Rod Navarro, Dencio Padilla, Subas Herrero, Quiel Segovia, Vic Sotto, Veronica Palileo/ Directed by Augusto Buenaventura


"Kadete" (1979)- Stars Jay Ilagan, Ronald Corveau, Rez Cortez, Anna Marin, Fred Montilla, Rosemarie Gil, Alicia Alonzo, Anita Linda, Romeo Rivera, Dino Kortes, Michael de Mesa & Marissa del Mar/ Directed by Emmanuel Borlaza


"Bugoy" (1979)- Stars Dolphy, Lotis Key, Panchito, Paquito Diaz and Max Alvardao/ with Ernie Ortega, Conde Ubaldo & Hero Bautista/ Directed by Jett C. Espiritu


"Ang Alamat ni Julian Makabayan" (1979)- Stars Christopher de Leon, Charo Santos, Eddie Garcia, Perla Bautista, Johnny Delgado, Lilibeth Ranillo, Celso Ad. Castillo and Tony Santos Sr./ Directed by Celso Ad. Castillo

"Alabok na Ginto" (1979)- Stars Roel Vergel de Dios, Veronica Jones, Allan Valenzuela, Anita Linda, Ruben Rustia, Renato Del Prado, Joe Garcia/ Directed by Dr. Antonio C. Martinez

THE 1978 METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL: NORA'S "ATSAY" VS. VILMA'S "RUBIA SERVIOS"

Ian Film Productions' Atsay received the Best Picture Award in the highly contested 1978 Metro Manila Film Festival. The movie also won for Nora Aunor the Best Performer Award, Romeo Vitug for Best Cinematography and Eddie Garcia for Best Director. Other awardees were Mario O'Hara (Best Screenplay) and Jose Tarnate (Best Editing) for Sampaguita Pictures' Rubia Servios and Robert L. Lee III and Peter Perlas (Best Art Direction) for Agrix Films' Katawang Lupa. RVQ's Jack n' Jill of the Third Kind was the top grosser of the festival.

Undoubtedly, the two best entries in the 1978 Metro Manila Film Festival were Atsay and Rubia Servios.

Atsay is remarkable in several ways. It has a strong social message, aimed at primarily those who forget that maids are also human beings. In the character of Mrs. Anton (Angie Ferro), screenwriter Edgar M. Reyes is able to embody the thousand faults which middle-class housewives are heir to. Atsay can also pride itself on being truly Filipino. Its mood is set by its Pilipino credits (in sharp contrast to the English credits of the other entries). The film deliberately exploits local color, dwelling not only on rural but also on picturesque urban scenes. The story, needless to say, can happen only in the Philippines, where domestics and beerhouses are national institutions. But the most striking thing about Atsay is its cinematography (Romeo Vitug). The slow dissolves, the multiple exposures (such as the brilliant train sequence), the surprising angles, the flawless composition---these border on genius. The cinematography is so extraordinary, in fact, that it covers a multitude of sins. The most grievious sin of all is the ending. In the end, Nelia (Nora Aunor), after having been humiliated, beaten, raped, dehumanized by the vultures of the city, decides to stay in the city anyway in the hope that an impoverished construction worker (Ronald Corveau) will make her live happily ever after. Such ending, while assuring the viewer that human nature is not totally evil, is unmotivated and, in fact, goes against the very theme of the story. For Atsay is the story of how the city dehumanizes, of how human beings become swine (this point is made through blatant symbolism in a shot of Nelia inside a cage-like jeep), of how Manila is a prison (note Vitug’s several shots of cage-like structures). “Atsay” is a story of how individuals are no match against the cruelty of the city. The construction worker, for example, becomes the victim of a construction accident. A young pretty virgin from the province is raped while she’s drugged. A kind-hearted old man is shot down while protesting against exploitation. The ending of Atsay contradicts the film’s affirmations. It would have been much more in keeping with the theme (not to mention the current concerns of the national human settlements program), if Nelia were shown rejecting the city and, in hope, returning to her province for a new life.

Rubia Servios, on the other hand, does not dilute the message. Willy (Phillip Salvador), the son of a powerful and wealthy figure, is portrayed as totally evil, devoid of any redeeming quality. To screenwriter Mario O’Hara and director Lino Brocka, the province is the same as the city. Rubia Servios (Vilma Santos) is raped both in the city and in the country. Rubia kills Willy in the country. Violence unites all places. It is the “unity” of conception, scripting, design, and direction, in fact, that Rubia Servios is superior to Atsay. Lino Brocka does not waste shots in his attempt to create a Filipino classical tradegy. He subordinates everything to the building up of one emotion in the viewer, that of hatred of Willy. So despicable does Willy become at the end that, when he is murdered by Rubia, no viewer can say that Rubia is at fault. And yet, morally speaking, no one is allowed to take the law into his own hands. The law, in fact, put Willy in prison for the first rape. There is no reason to think that the law will not put Willy to death for the second rape. By conditioning the reader to condone Rubia’s revenge, Brocka succeeds in questioning one of our deeply-rooted moral beliefs.

The unity that characterizes Rubia Servios contrasts sharply with the tendency of Eddie Garcia in Atsay to exploit Vitug’s versatility even at the expense of tightness. There are shots in Atsay, for example, which could easily be cut without hurting the film’s integrity. Even the train sequence, one of the best sequences in Atsay, is far too long.

Rubia Servios is Lino Brocka’s film; Atsay is Romeo Vitug’s. Nora does an excellent acting job; but so does Vilma Santos, and Rubia is a much more demanding and difficult role. Edgardo M. Reyes is an established literary figure, but Mario O’Hara is much better screenwriter. Overall, Atsay may be much more impressive than Rubia Servios. In terms of challenging our moral and legal convictions, however, Rubia Servios is much more significant.

Isagani Cruz

TV Times 1979

"Atsay" (1978)- Stars Nora Aunor, Ronald Corveau, Armida Siguon-Reyna, Roldan Aquino, Renato Robles, Angie Ferro, Bella Flores/ Directed by Eddie Garcia



"Rubia Servios" (1978)- Stars Vilma Santos, Phillip Salvador and Mat Ranillo III/ Directed by Lino Brocka



" Jack n' Jill of the Third Kind" (1978)- Stars Dolphy, Nora Aunor, Rolly Quizon, Panchito, Paquito Diaz, Martin Marfil, Georgie Quizon, Max Vera/ Directed by Frank Gray, Jr.

"Salonga" (1978)- Stars Rudy Fernandez, George Estregan, Trixia Gomez, Ruel Vernal, Raul Aragon, Dencio Padilla, Amy Austria, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Jose Romulo and Veronica Jones/ Directed by Romy Suzara



"Kid Kaliwete" (1978)- Stars Bembol Roco, George Estregan, Trixia Gomez and Jean Saburit/Joonee Gamboa, Cynthia Gonzales, Val Iglesias/ Directed by Manuel Cinco



"Katawang Alabok" (1978)- Stars Robert Arevalo, Daisy Romualdez, Orestes Ojeda, Janet Bordon, Vic Silayan and Lorna Tolentino/ with Manny Luna, Anita Linda, Lucita Soriano/ Directed by Emmanuel Borlaza



"The Jess Lapid Story" (1978)- Stars Beth Bautista, George Estregan, Trixia Gomez, Tina Monasterio, Romnick and Lito Lapid in his first title role/ Direction Gallardo



"Garrote: Jai-Alai King" (1978)- Stars Christopher de Leon, Marianne dela Riva, Dranreb, Johnny Delgado, Amy Austria, Cynthia Gonzales, Allan Valenzuela, Manny Luna/ Directed by Manuel Cinco



"Ang Huling Lalaki ng Baluarte" (178)- Stars Rey Malonzo, Tina Monasterio/ Directed by Artemio Marquez

THE 1977 METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL: "BURLESK QUEEN", VILMA SANTOS TOP FILMFEST

A total of 9 movies directed by the country’s great filmmakers, participated in the 1977 Metro Manila Film Festival.

1) Inay – Lino Brocka
2) Mga Bilanggong Birhen – Mario O’Hara and Romy Suzara
3) Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising- Mike de Leon
4) Banta ng Kahapon – Eddie Romero
5) Walang Katapusang Tag-araw – Ishmael Bernal
6) Burlesk Queen- Celso Ad Castillo
7) Babae, Ngayon at Kailanman – Joey Goiengfiao
8) Sa Piling ng mga Sugapa – Gil Portes
9) Bakya Mo Neneng – Augusto Buenaventura

Ian Film Productions’ Burlesk Queen, the top grosser of the 10-day festival, romped away with most of the awards. It won seven major awards--- Best Picture; Best Actress (Vilma Santos); Best Actor (Rolly Quizon); Best Supporting Actor (Joonee Gamboa); Best Supporting Actress (Rosemarie Gil); Best Director (Celso Ad. Castillo) and Best Screenplay (Mauro Gia Samonte). Pera Films’ Mga Bilanggong Birhen won two awards: Best Cinematography (Romy Vitug) and Best Art Direction (Laida Lim-Perez).

"Burlesk Queen" (1977)- Stars Vilma Santos, Rolly Quizon, Rosemarie Gil, Leopoldo Salcedo, Roldan Aquino, Chito Ponce Enrile, Dexter Doria, Yolanda Luna/ Directed by Celso Ad Castillo

"Walang Katapusang Tag-araw (1977)- Stars Charito Solis, Mat Ranillo III, Eddie Garcia, Liza Lorena, Ruel Vernal, Ingrid Salas, Veronica Palileo, Rustica Carpio/ Directed by Ishmael Bernal


"Sa Piling ng mga Sugapa" (1977)- Stars Bembol Roco, Chanda Romero and Mat Ranillo III/ with Julie Ann Fortich, Paul Lacanilao, Mely Tagasa/ Directed by Gil M. Portes


"Mga Bilanggong Birhen" (1977)- Stars Alma Moreno, Trixia Gomez, Rez Cortez, Armida Siguon-Reyna, Mario Montenegro, Barbara Luna, Ruffy Mendoza and Leroy Salvador/ Directed by Mario O'Hara and Romy Suzara


"Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising" (1977)- Stars Christopher de Leon, Hilda Koronel, Laurice Guillen, Moody Diaz, Bibeth Orteza, Danny Javier, Boboy Garovillo, Briccio Santos, Oya de Leon/ Directed by Mike de Leon


"Inay" (1977)- Stars Dindo Fernando,Chanda Romero, Orestes Ojeda, Laurice Guillen, Ace Vergel, Dexter Doria and Alicia Vergel/ Directed by Lino Brocka


"Banta ng Kahapon" (1977)- Stars Vic Vargas, Rafael 'Bembol' Roco, Jr., Roland dantes and Chanda Romero/ with Lito Legaspi, Roderick Paulate, Ruben Rustia/ Directed by Eddie Romero


"Bakya Mo Neneng" (1977)- Stars Joseph Estrada, Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III, Gloria Sevilla, Angelo castro Jr., Ramon D' Salva, Angelo Ventura/ Directed by Augusto Buenaventura


"Babae... Ngayon at kailanman" (1977)- Stars Charito Solis, Gloria Diaz, Chanda Romero, Vivian Velez, Dindo Fernando, Ronaldo valdez, Tommy Abuel/ Directed by Joey Gosiengfiao

THE 1976 METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL: "GANITO KAMI NOON..." & "INSIANG" TOP AWARDEES

Eddie Romero's Ganito Kami Noon...Paano Kayo Ngayon? and Lino Brocka's Insiang romped away with top honors in the 1976 Metro Manila Film Festival (known then as the 1976 Filipino Film Festival). Ganito... won 6 major awards--- Best Picture; Best Actor (Christopher de Leon); Best Director (Eddie Romero); Best Screenplay (Eddie Romero and Roy C. Iglesias); Best Art Direction (Laida Lim-Perez and Peque Gallaga) and Best Music (Lutgardo Labad). Insiang was awarded four--- Best Actress (Hilda Koronel); Best Supporting Actor (Ruel Vernal); Best Supporting Actress (Mona Lisa) and Best Cinematography (Conrado Baltazar). Lupita Concio's Minsa'y May Isang Gamu-Gamo had two awards--- Best Editing (Edgardo Vinarao) and Best Story (Marina Feleo-Gonzales).

A total of 10 movies were exhibited during the 10-day festival which opened for the first time on Christmas Day (December 25). JE Productions' Dateline Chicago: Arrest The Nurse Killer emerged as the Top Grosser.

"Ganito Kami Noon... Paano Kayo Ngayon?" (1976)- Stars Christopher de Len, Gloria Diaz, Eddie Garcia, Dranreb Belleza, Leopoldo Salcedo, Rosemarie Gil, Johnny Vicar, Tsing-Tong Tsai/ Directed by Eddie Romero

"Insiang" (1976)- Stars Hilda Koronel, Mona Lisa, Ruel Vernal, Rez Cortez, Marlon Ramirez/ Directed by Lino Brocka

"Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo" (1976)- Stars Nora Aunor, Jay Ilagan, Gloria Sevilla, Perla Bautista, Eddie Villamayor/ with Paquito Salcedo, Lily Miraflor, Leo Martinez, Nanding Fernandez, Luz Fernandez/ Directed by Lupita Concio

"Dateline Chicago: Arrest The Nurse Killer" (1976)- Stars Joseph Estrada, Pilar Pilapil, Mailyn Herrs, Garret Blake, J.C. Marshall, Debbie Brinson/ Directed by Cesar Gallardo

" The Rebel Hunter (True-to-Life Story of Brig. Gen. Romeo Gatan)/ 1976- Stars Ramon Revilla, Sr., Boots Anson-Roa, George Estregan, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Rez Cortez, Max Alvarado/ Directed by Jose Yandoc

"Puede Ako, Puwede Ka Pa Ba?" (1976)- Stars Amalia Fuentes, Romeo Vasquez, Eddie Gutierrez, Vivian Velez, Rosemarie Gil, Ike Lozada, Inday Badiday, Cloyd Robinson, Lilian Laing, Sandy Garcia/ Directed by Elwood Perez & Joey Gosiengfiao

"Makahiya at Talahib" (1976)- Stars Vilma Santos, Rudy Fernandez, Trixia Gomez and Gloria Romero/ with Romeo Rivera, Rocco Montalban, Robert Rivera & Max Alvarado in a Special Role/ Directed by Emmanuel Borlaza

"Kisame Street" (1976)- Stars Dolphy, Nida Blanca, Panchito, Rolly Quizon, Katy dela Cruz, Patsy, Georgie Quizon, Bentot Jr., Margie Braza, Teroy de Guzman/ Directed by Ading Fernando


"Barok" (1976)- Stars Chiquito, Trixia Gomez, Max Alvarado, Tange, Joaquin Fajardo, Palito, Arlene Sison, Ely Roque, Jun Santos, Norma Yumul, Manuel Dagul/ F.H. Constantino

The Interceptorrs" (1976)- Stars Tony Ferrer, Ramon Zamora and George Estregan/ with Edna Diaz, Paquito Diaz, Charlie Davao, Vic Diaz & Max ALvarado/ Directed by Efren C. Pinon

THE 1975 METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL: ESTRADA, SOLIS TOP AWARDEES

JE’s Dilingin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa topped the 1975 First Metro Manila Film Festival winning six major awards--- Best Picture; Best Actor (Joseph Estrada); Best Supporting Actor (Vic Silayan); Best Director (Augusto Buenaventura); Best Sound Engineering and Best Editing (Edgardo Vinarao). Charito Solis won the Best Actress award for Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi. Other awardees were Nida Blanca (Best Supporting Actress/ Batu-Bato sa langit); Luciano B. carlos (Best Screenplay/ Batu-Bato sa Langit); Nonong Rasca (Best Cinematogarphy/ Kapitan Kulas); George Canseco (Best Music/ Batu-Bato sa Langit) and Ophelia San Juan (Best Story/ Kapitan Kulas). Known then as the 1975 Metropolitan Film Festival, the first Metro Manila film festival was held on September 21, 1975, to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. Nora Aunor's entry, NV Productions’ Batu-Bato sa Langit (directed by Luciano B. Carlos), was a hit and won as 3rd Best Picture. Vilma Santos, on the other hand, gave a notable performance in Roma Films' Karugtong ang Kahapon. That time, Nora and Vilma were in their peak, their career and the movies they made were being followed closely, compared, watched, praised, scrutinized both by fans and critics. Their storied and fierce rivalry dominated our movie industry for years. In fact, one could argue that even to this day, a Filipino movie fan is either a Noranian or a Vilmanian.

"Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa" (1975)- Stars Joseph Estrada, Gloria Diaz, Paquito Diaz, Vic Silayan, Tommy Abuel, Subas Herrero, Enie Zarate, Karim Kiram, Paquito Salcedo, Francisco Cruz, Capri Asturias/ Directed by Augusto Buenaventura "Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi (1975)- Stars Charito Solis, Rosanna Ortiz, Tony Santos, Sr. and Dindo Fernando/ with Marianne dela Riva, Gina Alajar, Ernie Garcia, Anita Linda, Angelito/ Directed by Danilo Cabreira "Batu-Bato sa Langit (Ang Tamaa'y Huwag Magagalit!)/ 1975- Stars Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, Nida Blanca, Luis Gonzales, Nova Villa, German Moreno, Ven Medina, Tita de Villa, Nenita Jana/ Directed by Luciano B. Carlos "Karugtong ang Kahapon" (1975)- Stars Vilma Santos, Edgar Mortiz, Gloria Romero, Celia Rodriguez and Eddie Garcia/ with special participation of Jay Ilagan, Romy Mallari Joseph Sytangco, Patria Plata, Ronaldo Ruiz/ Directed by Fely Crisostomo

"Siya'y Umalis, Siya'y Dumating" (1975)- Stars Marlene Dauden, Pinky de Leon, Orestes Ojeda & Alona Alegre/ with Luis Gonzales, Blanca Gomez, Bert Leroy Jr., Walter Navarro & Nestor de Villa/ Directed by Mitos Villareal

"Postcards From China" (1975)- Stars Dante Rivero, Boots Anson-Roa, Johanna Raunio, Ramil Rodriguez and Pilar Pilapil' with Olivia Cenizal, Butz Aquino, Ruben Rustia & Robert Arevalo/ Directed by Cesar Gallardo

"Kapitan Kulas" (1975)- Stars Ramon Revilla, Elizabeth Oropesa, Helen Gamboa and Walter Navarro/ with Max Alvarado, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia & Alma Moreno/ Directed by Lamberto Avellana

"Alat" (1975)- Stars Tony Ferrer, George Estregan, Chanda Romero, Suzanne Gonzales, Paraluman, Ray Marcos, Daria Ramirez, Dranreb/ Directed by Pierre Salas

"COFRADIA": KOMIKS SERIAL (1952) AND MOVIE ADAPTATION (1953 & 1973): UPDATED AND REPOSTED

Billed as 'Ang Mahiwagang Sinderella,' Cofradia was probably inspired by the popular fairy tale character named Cinderella. The 1953 movie was based from a komiks novel created by Dominador Ad. Castillo and appeared on the pages of Mabuhay Komiks in 1952. It is a heart-touching story, as the blurb says, of a girl (played by Gloria Romero) who was afraid to love because---she was black. She becomes the subject of ridicule and humiliation and the butt of jokes, mockery and extreme embarrassments from people around her. But like the fairy tale Cinderella, Cofradia turns into a beautiful young lady with the lighting of a mysterious candle.

Left- Kislap Magazine/ April 29, 1953

Right- "Cofradia" (1953)- Stars Gloria Romero, Ramon Revilla, Chichay, Tony Cayado, Rebecca del Rio, Priscilla Concepcion, Precy Ortega/ Directed by Artemio B. Tecson

The young Gina Alajar reprises the role in 1973. Gloria Romero, the original Cofradia, returns as the mother.

"Cofradia" (1973)- Stars Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Gina Pareno, Rosemarie Gil, Jojit Paredes and Gina Alajar/ with Matimtiman Cruz, Raquel Montessa, Cloyd Robinson/ Directed by Mar S. Torres


Movietime Magazine/ Sptember 1973

(click images to enlarge)

"Cofradia"(1952)/ Mabuhay Komiks/
Nobela ni Dominador Ad Castillo/ Guhit ni Ben S. Maniclang

Komiks materials-
From the collection of Steve Santos