THE EIGHTIES # 1052: LORNA TOLENTINO, GARY VALENCIANO, RICKY DAVAO, WITH GINA PARENO, RICKY BELMONTE, DANTE RIVERO, MARITA ZOBEL IN LINO BROCKA'S "NATUTULOG PA ANG DIYOS" (1988)

"Natutulog pa ang Diyos" (1988)

Seiko Films

Release Date September 22, 1988

Serialized in King Komiks by Ruben Marcelino

Screenplay Orlando Nadres, Gina Tagasa

Cinematography Pedro Manding

Film Editing Augusto Salvador

Production Design Benjie de Guzman

Musical Scoring Dionisio Buencamino 

Executive Producer Robbie Tan

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Lorna Tolentino, Gary Valenciano, Ricky Davao, with Gina Pareno, Ricky Belmonte, Dante Rivero, Marita Zobel, Michael Locsin, Tina Godinez

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Synopsis: Bernardo (Dante Rivero), the Velascos’ driver, is getting old and decides to marry his girlfriend, Patria (Gina Pareno), a bar hostess. As he is a loyal servant, the couple is given spacious quarters in the Velasco residence. However, Patria is continually envious of their wealth and hopes one day that they will be lifted from their lowly status.

Both the master’s lady and the driver’s wife become pregnant at the same time. The Velascos have been waiting a long time for their child. One day, they decide to spend some time at their beach resort. They bring along Bernardo and his wife to do the menial chores. As she cooks for them, Patria starts comparing the future of her child with that of the Velascos. She is resentful that hers will grow up in poverty.

A storm hits the beach resort. Mike Velasco (Ricky Belmonte) is called to an emergency as his building’s annex is gutted by fire. His wife, Rose (Marita Zobel), starts having labor pains and is rushed to the hospital by the couple. But the van breaks down and a midwife has to be called in. Patria helps. Rose delivers a baby. She falls into a deep sleep all throughout the delivery. Patria also starts experiencing contractions. Happily, the midwife comes in the nick of time and helps Patria in the delivery of a baby boy.

The two wives are recuperating. Bernardo decides to switch the babies in order that his son would be given the opportunities he missed. His son has a birthmark on the sole of his foot similar to the one he has. He is christened Andrew (Ricky Davao) by the Velascos.

But Patria knows she gave birth to a boy. She cannot relate to Gillian (Lorna Tolentino), the Velascos’ daughter, and maltreats her. She gives birth to two other children, Lani (Tina Godinez) and Boy (Michael Locsin). Patria spoils Lani and sends her to school. She regularly beats up Gillian and has her schooling stopped.

One day, Patria is given P20,000 worth of jewelry to sell. These are stolen by Lani who has them pawned. Gillian is accused of the theft. In order to pay for the missing jewelry, Patria dresses up Gillian and brings her to a nightclub. Gillian is a reluctant bar girl; customers complain about her insolence. She is spotted by Mark (Gary Valenciano), a self-made executive. He asks the manager that she be his companion.

Mark brings her to the boulevard and she tells her story. He is sympathetic and offers her an office job. She comes home and tells Patria about the offer. Bernardo agrees that she shouldn’t work in a nightclub.

All this while, Andrew grows up to be a spoiled brat without any direction in life. He is always at loggerheads with his father. He takes a fancy to Gillian though he is often rude to her. He often peeps when Gillian takes a bath. One day, he receives a resounding blow from her when he insults her.

Andrew is jealous of the attention that Mark lavishes on her. One day, he challenges him to a fight and is beaten. Lani too is envious. She eats the chocolates that Mark sends. One day, Gillian decides to confront her. She admits to eating the chocolates as well as stealing the jewelry.

Andrew behaves officiously and arrogantly towards his real parents. Bernardo decides it is time to tell him the truth. He shows the birthmark on his foot to prove that he is his father.

Now that Andrew is aware of his real parentage, Patria embraces him for the first time. But Bernardo wants him to help them in the case of the missing jewelry. Andrew gives them his allowance and pawns his jewelry. He is always begging for more money from the Velascos.

Bernardo advises him to secure his inheritance from the Velascos. He must marry Gillian. As she spurns his advances, he is told to rape her.

One day, with the excuse that her father has met an accident, Andrew brings Gillian to a motel. He points a gun at her. But Gillian kicks his crotch and wrestles the gun from him. She shoots him.

At the hospital, the weeping Patria embraces the unconscious Andrew. She reveals the truth about the babies. To prove her contention, she has Bernardo show his birthmark. The Velascos are incredulous.

When Andrew gets well, the Velascos confront the Bemardos. They are given their separation pay. Rose slaps Patria for the cruelty she showed Gillian. Andrew is given a choice to continue on as a Velasco son. But he decides to help his real parents. Gillian is in the arms of Mark.

(Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times)

 

Original theatrical  poster of Lino Brocka's "Natutulog pa ang Diyos" (1988)

(Private Collection)