THE SEVENTIES # 780: NORA AUNOR, CHRISTOPHER DE LEON, GLORIA SEVILLA, JOHNNY DELGADO AND RONALDO VALDEZ IN GERRY DE LEON'S "BANAUE" (1975)/ RE-POSTED

"Banaue" (1975)

NV Productions

Release Date April 18, 1975

Story and Screenplay Gerardo de Leon and Toto Belano

Cinematogarphy Fermin Pagsisihan and Fredy Conde

Music Tito Arevalo

Direction Gerardo De Leon

Cast Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, Gloria Sevilla, Johnny Delgado and Ronaldo Valdez/ Also Starring Andres Centenera, Ben Perez, Francisco Cruz, Belen Velasco, Linda Castro, Lope Policarpio, SOS daredevils/ Introducing Mercy Bartolome, Precy Marquez/ Featuring Eddie Villamayor and a Cast of Thousands

Banaue was one of Nora Aunor’s most expensive and ambitious movies. Nora shelled out an estimated P 1.6 million (a huge sum that time), excluding her talent fee. She mortgaged her house at Brg. Kapitolyo Pasig for P630,000 and secured a bank loan of P600,000. She even got an advance for her two upcoming movies (Hello, Goodnight, Goodbye and Lollipops and Roses and Burong Talangka). National Artist for Film Director Gerry de Leon, his last complete film, was given the free hand.

For other details, visit Superstarstruck

"Banaue" was Christopher de Leon's second movie after "Tinimbang Ka't Nguni't Kulang" (1974)

After a long search, Banaue (Nora Aunor) and her tribe, the Ifugaos, make the lush mountains of the northern Philippines their new home. They begin to cultivate the land with their bare hands, carving the mountains into a stairway-like “rice field.”

While tending to the land, the parents of the courageous Sadek (Christopher de Leon) are crushed to death by a boulder. The tribe believes these deaths are a fitting sacrifice to their god Kabunian, who blessed them with fertile land. In gratitude, the Ifugaos declare that the rice terraces will be named after Sadek’s first child.
After years of toiling, the wondrous rice “stairway” is finished. But trouble comes to the Ifugaos when mountain nomads wander into their territory. For protection, they engage in a blood compact with the newcomers, who later agree to leave. Pugnoy (Johnny Delgado), a young warrior from the other tribe, becomes captivated by Banaue’s charms. But Banaue has eyes only for Sadek. The Ifugaos’ peace is marred when the other tribe, the notorious Kalingas headed by Aruk (Ronaldo Valdez) wages war against them. During a battle, Banaue’s father (Ben Perez) is decapitated, his head taken by the enemy as trophy. Banaue sets out to recover her father’s head. She is captured and after weeks of captivity, Aruk falls for Banaue. Smitten by her charm, Aruk decides to release her, on the condition that she return. Banaue goes home with her father’s head but is unable to go back to Aruk. Aruk returns and again declare war on the Ifugaos. He challenges Sadek on a one-on-one duel for Banaue's affection and the right to claim the promised land. 

Banaue is now available in DVD and can be purchased in all leading video stores.