THE SEVENTIES # 1114: DOLPHY, NIÑO MUHLACH, WITH PHILLIP SALVADOR, MARISSA DELGADO IN LINO BROCKA'S " ANG TATAY KONG NANAY" (1978)

(Synopsis) Dioscoro “Coring” Derecho (Dolphy) is a gay beautician who likes dressing up in women’s clothes. He has been taking care of Dennis (Phillip Salvador), his boyfriend of five years. However, Dennis leaves him without word. Dennis has been shacking up with a bar hostess, Mariana Jimenez (Marissa Delgado). After some time, Dennis returns with a baby boy. He leaves the baby behind and tells Coring that he is joining the U.S. Navy. Coring is now saddled with a child. He is baptized Marlon Brando Derecho or Nonoy (Nino Muhlach).

Coring changes his lifestyle as he does not want Nonoy to undergo the same identity crisis and the mockery and taunts that go with it. As the boy grows up, he tries hard to be a father. He acts straight when he is with him. This alienates his gay friends who are also forced to ad like men when they’re with the boy.

After several years, Dennis returns. He sees Mariana again who is now rich after her widower-husband died. Mariana is now different and wants the child back. He tells her where to get him. She approaches Coring. But Coring doesn’t want to give up Nonoy. But after consultation with Bebang (Lorli Villanueva), his aunt, Coring agrees to give up the child. He scolds him more often, so that Nonoy would be more amenable to live with Mariana. 

One day, he packs his bags and sends him to her well-appointed house. But Nonoy does not get along with his real mother. He always gets in her way. Nonoy decides to return to Coring. In a gay beauty contest, it is Coring’s turn to speak. He talks about the trials and hardships of being a gay—the joys and sorrows, the loneliness. Rain cuts short his speech and he rushes back home. He sees Nonoy on his doorstep.

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

"Ang Tatay Kong Nanay" (1978)

Lotus Films, Inc.

Release Date June 2, 1978

Story and Screenplay Orlando Nadres

Cinematography Jose Batac, Jr.

Film Editing Augusto Salvador

Music Lutgardo Labad

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Dolphy, , Niño Muhlach, Phillip Salvador, Marissa Delgado/ Also Starring Lorli Villanueva, Soxy Topacio, Larry Leviste and Orlando Nadres

THE SEVENTIES # 1108: CHANDA ROMERO, PHILLIP SALVADOR, MARISSA DELGADO, MONA LISA, BEN RUBIO IN LINO BROCKA's "MANANAYAW" (1978)

(Synopsis) Letty (Chanda Romero), a sex model in a supper club “fashion drama”, is the kept woman of Ramon Vergara (Ben Rubio), a politician. He is enamoured with her naive amorality and rewards her with ample favors. Dindo (Phillip Salvador), her partner in the act, is a dreamer who hopes to become big as a legitimate fashion model. His unaffected ways are soothing and precious to Letty. 

Ramon sets up Letty in a furnished apartment. His wife, Carina (Mona Lisa), expresses her disgust but allows his indiscretions as long as they remain as temporary arrangements. However, Ramon falls deeply in love with Letty and wants to have a child by her. Letty begins to feel the pressure. She does not want to become pregnant. 

She leaves the supper club and showers her affection on Dindo, who, it appears, is also in love with her. Ramon discovers the affair and throws out Letty. She is forced to live with Dindo in his small apartment. But Dindo is the practical type and aspires for a higher standard of living. The two soon realize that they cannot live together. Letty goes back to the supper club and dials Ramon. She is now agreeing to his demands — and to his macho domination.

Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times

"Mananayaw" (`1978)

Emperor Films International, Inc.

Release Date May 14, 1978

Story and Screenplay Jose Dalisay, Jr.

Cinematography Jose Batac, Jr.

Film Editor Segundo Ramos

Music George Canseco

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Chanda Romero, Phillip Salvador and Marissa Delgado/ Also Starring Mona Lisa, Ben Rubio, Rene Hawkins, Joey Luna/ with the special participation of Alicia Alonzo, Fritz Infante

THE SEVENTIES # 1062: DINDO FERNANDO, CHANDA ROMERO, ORESTES OJEDA, LAURICE GUILLEN AND ALICIA VERGEL & INTRODUCING ACE VERGEL IN LINO BROCKA'S "INAY" (1977)

(Synopsis) Inay (Alicia Vergel) retires from teaching in a small town school and resumes being a full-time mother. The film follows her ‘misadventures’ — a series of comic, almost pathetic, episodes—as she adjusts to the greatly altered lifestyles of most of her four grown children.

She has altercations with her pregnant daughter-in-law (Laurice Guillen), wife of her first-born Maning (Dindo Fernando). She decides to visit her other children and entrusts her house to Maning and his family.

Inay’s first stop is Romy’s (Orestes Ojeda) mansion in Dasmarinas Village. His wife, Becky (Dexter Doria), proves to be arrogant and condescending. She becomes intolerant of her provincial mores. In one instance, Inay is mistaken for a housemaid by Becky’s afternoon-tea crowd.

The next destination is the only daughter, Daisy (Chanda Romero), who, much to her dismay, is carrying an affair with a much older and married man. Inay is bewildered when Daisy persists in wanting to give her lover a child. Inay tries to meddle in their affair but fails.

The third itinerary is the condominium pad of her youngest son, Alex (Ace Vergel), an ad agency executive, who shares his pad with a long list of short-time girlfriends and Salud, an efficient housemaid. A small conflict is triggered by Inay’s overzealous desire to indulge in her motherly whims. This culminates in Salud’s expulsion from the suite.

The three city-based children discuss their mother’s plight. On Christmas Eve, they partake of a sumptuous supper prepared by her. The children, however, leave before midnight, each with his or her own life to attend to. Inay feels very lonely and decides to return to the province. She is greeted by Maning who welcomes her with open arms. His wife has just given birth, and she fusses over the baby.

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

"Inay" (1977)

Lotus Films

A Metro Manila Film Festival Entry

Release Date December 24, 1977

Screenplay Jose Dalisay, Jr.

Cinematography Joe Batac, Jr.

Music Ernani Cuenco

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Dindo Fernando, Chanda Romero, Orestes Ojeda, Laurice Guillen and Alicia Vergel/ Co-starring Dexter Doria/ Introducing Ace Vergel

THE SEVENTIES # 1052: NIÑO MUHLACH, SNOOKY (SERNA), ALICIA ALONZO AND ARMIDA SIGUION-REYNA IN LINO BROCKA'S "TAHAN NA EMPOY, TAHAN" (1977)

"Tahan na Empoy, Tahan" (1977)

Lotus Films, Inc.

Release Date November 11, 1977

Story and Screenplay Jose Dalisay, Jr.

Film Editor Augusto Salvador

Cinematography Jose Batac, Jr.

Music Ernani Cuenco

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Niño Muhlach, Snooky (Serna), Alicia Alonzo and Armida Siguion-Reyna/ Also Starring Rosa Aguirre, Lorli Villanueva, Orlando Nadres and Rodel Naval/ with the special participation of Mario O' Hara/ Introducing Allan Ronald Muhlach

(Synopsis) A young widow swallows her pride and goes back to live with her insensitive brothers and sisters. She has earlier left her family to elope with a man they had disapproved of. She suffers extreme humiliation especially from her elder sister but she endures all this so that her two children may have food to eat. (Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times)

(left- Snooky, Alicia Alonzo, Niño Muhlach; right- Niño Muhlach)

photo, courtesy of pelikulaatbp (James dela Rosa)

Vic Delotavo's sketch of Director Lino Brocka and child star Nino Muhlach

THE SEVENTIES # 971: HILDA KORONEL (IN THE TITLE ROLE), MONA LISA, REZ CORTEZ, MARLON RAMIREZ AND RUEL VERNAL IN LINO BROCKA'S "INSIANG" (1976)

"Insiang" (1976)

Cinemanila Corporation

1976 Filipino Film Festival

Release Date December 25, 1976

Screenplay Mario O'Hara, Lamberto Antonio

Film Editor Augusto Salvador

Cinematography Conrado Baltazar

Music Minda D. Azarcon

Executive Producer Ruby Tiong Tan

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Hilda Koronel (in the title role), Mona Lisa, Rez Cortez, Marlon Ramirez and Ruel Vernal

FILM REVIEW

by Mario A. Hernando

Originally published at The Philippines Daily Express/ December 31, 1976

Re-published at The URIAN Antholgy 1970-79

---to read, click images to enlarge---

THE SEVENTIES # 949: LOLITA RODRIGUEZ, RAFAEL ROCO, JR., MAYA VALDES, JUNE KEITHLEY, MYRNA ROSALES, LAURICE GUILLEN, LORLI VILLANUEUVA, CHUCHI, METRING DAVID, ESTRELLA KUENZLER IN LINO BROCKA'S "LUNES, MARTES, MIYERKULES, HUWEBES, SABADO, LINGGO" (1976)

"Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo" (1976)

Cinemanila

Release Date October 14, 1976

Screenplay Orlando Nadres

Cinematography Romeo V. Vitug

Choreography Bayani Casimiro

Costume Design Rikki Jimenez

Film Editor Ike Jarlego, Jr.

Musical Numbers Amado Pascual

Music Danny Subido

Story and Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Lolita Rodriguez, Rafael Roco, Jr., Maya Valdes, June Keithley, Myrna Rosales, Laurice Guillen, Lorli Villanueva, Chuchi, Metring David, Estrella Kuenzler

(Synopsis) The setting is an Olongapo bar. Lolita Rodriguez is an ex-movie queen trying to earn a living for her son and herself. He is mortally embarrassed by her livelihood and sometimes refuses to acknowledge her as his mother. Bembol Roco is the son of a prostitute who has disappeared from his life. He is looking for his mother in the honky tonk bars. He meets Lolita Rodriguez whom he fancies as his lover. However, he thinks of her as a decent woman. But Lolita has financial problems. In order to pay for her debts, she is forced to perform a striptease. Bembol happens to be in the bar when she starts to gyrate, but she ignores his presence. This destroys his illusions. When they are alone together, she berates him and teaches him the value of survival and acceptance of one’s fate. (Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times)

THE SEVENTIES # 810: HILDA KORONEL, LOU SALVADOR, JR., TOMMY ABUEL AND INTRODUCING RAFAEL ROCO, JR. IN LINO BROCKA'S "MAYNILA SA MGA KUKO NG LIWANAG" (1975)

"Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag" (1975)

Cinema Artists

Release Date July 16, 1975

Story Edgardo Reyes

Screenplay Clodualdo Del Mundo, Jr.

Photography Mike de Leon

Music Max Jocson

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Hilda Koronel, Lou Salvador, Jr., Tommy Abuel/ Introducing Rafael Roco, Jr.

Based on the novel by Edgardo Reyes, the film, Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, considered by many critics as Brocka’s best and one of the best Filipino films of all time, follows the life of a probinsiyano, Julio Madiaga, played by newcomer Bembol Roco, who comes to the city to look for a better life, takes on various jobs, and survives only through the help of people like Pol (Tommy Abuel). Julio also goes to the city to look for a long-lost love named Ligaya (Hilda Koronel). He does find  her after a long search, but when she tries to escape with him, she is killed by the Chinaman who had made her his common-law wife. In the end, Julio, Ligaya, and all workers are crushed by Manila’s “claws of light.” (The URIAN Anthology 1970-79)

Winner of 9 FAMAS Awards

Best Picture - Maynila...Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag (Cinema Artists)

Best Actor - Rafael Roco, Jr. (Maynila...Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag) (Cinema Artists)

Best Supporting Actor - Tommy Abuel (Maynila...Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag) (Cinema Artists)

Best Director - Lino Brocka (Maynila...Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag) (Cinema Artists)

Best Story - Edgardo M. Reyes (Maynila...Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag) (Cinema Artists)

Best Screenplay - Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. (Maynila...Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag) (Cinema Artists)

Best Cinematography - Mike de Leon (Maynila...Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag) (Cinema Artists)

Best Editing - Ike Jarlego, Jr. (Maynila...Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag) (Cinema Artists)

Best Sound - Ramon Reyes (Maynila...Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag) (Cinema Artists)

The young Rafael “Bembol” Roco, Jr was a facilitator at a drug rehabilitation center (DARE) when Director Lino Brocka spotted him in 1974. Brocka was filming an episode in the movie he was currently doing, Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa. Bembol had undergone treatment at the center being a drug user. He was offered a role. The young man, serious and intense, accepted the challenge.

Film Review by Mario Hernando

The URIAN Anthology 1970-79

First published at The Times Journal, July 20, 1975

---to read, click images to enlarge---

Rafael 'Bembol' Roco, Jr. as Julio Madiaga

Hilda Koronel and Bembol Roco

Cornered, Julio defends himself, in this climatic ending...

"In the end, Julian is trapped in a dead end right after committing a murder. A mob gathers ready to beat him up, probably to death. Brocka shies away from showing Julian's violent demise but instead centers on Julian's face. It's a ghastly sight..." --- Oggs Cruz
Movie Review by Oggs Cruz--- see link

THE SEVENTIES # 740: JAY ILAGAN, PERLA BAUTISTA, HILDA KORONEL, ANITA LINDA, LOLITA RODRIGUEZ, MARIO O' HARA, MARY WALTER IN LINO BROCKA'S "TATLO, DALAWA, ISA" (1974)

"Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa" (1974)

Cinemanila Corporation

Release Date November 28, 1974

Cinematography Romeo V. Vitug

Music Minda Azarcon

Direction Lino Brocka

1. "Mga Hugis ng Pag-asa"

Story and Screenplay Tony Perez

Cast Jay Ilagan, Perla Bautista, Jojo Abella, Pio de Castro III, Moey Chudian, Rudy Hermano, Fernando Josef, Roger Mariscal, Mark Migallos, Bembol Roco, Soxy Topacio and Laurice Guillen

2. "Hello, Soldier"

Based on a play by Sis. Angela Barrios

Screenplay Mario O' Hara

Cast Hilda Koronel, Anita Linda, Claude Wilson, Jr., Barbara Browne, Mely mallari, Estrella Kuenzler, Melvi Pacubas, Dante Balois, Edwin O'Hara and Rey Vito

3. "Bukas, Madilim, Bukas"

Story and Screenplay Orlando Nadres

Cast Lolita Rodriguez, Mario O'Hara, Mary Walter, Lily Miraflor, Manny Ojeda

Hilda Koronel and Anita Linda in a scene from one of the three stories, "Hello, Soldier"

Film Review by Noel Vera- see link

THE SEVENTIES # 693: LOLITA RODRIGUEZ, LILIA DIZON, EDDIE GARCIA, MARIO O' HARA AND HILDA KORONEL & INTRODUCING CHRISTOPHER DE LEON IN LINO BROCKA'S "TINIMBANG KA NGUNIT KULANG" (1974)

"Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang" (1974)

CineManila Corporation

Release Date May 30, 1974

Screenplay Mario O' Hara

Cinematography Jose Batac, Jr.

Music Lutgardo Labad

Story and Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Lolita Rodriguez, Lilia Dizon, Eddie Garcia, Mario O' Hara and Hilda Koronel/ Introducing Christopher de Leon/ Also Starring Alicia Alonzo, Rosa Aguirre, Lorli Villanueva, Lily Miraflor, Joonee Gamboa, Ernie Zarate, Mely Mallari, Estrella Kuenzler/ with the special participation of Anita Linda/ Featuring Joseph Sytangco, Laurice Guillen, Bey Vito, Jerry O' Hara and Orlando Nadres

Lolita Rodriguez as Kuala, the town idiot

Film Review by Justino M. Dormiendo

originally published at The Times Journal, June 4, 1974

Re-printed at The URIAN Anthology 1970-79

---to read, click images to enlarge---

THE SEVENTIES # 510: DANTE RIVERO, PILAR PILAPIL, HILDA KORONEL, NICHOLAS HAMMOND IN "CHERRY BLOSSOMS" (1972)

"Cherry Blossoms" (1972)

Lea Productions

10th Anniversary Presentation

Release Date August 3, 1972

Filmed on location in Japan

Story and Screenplay Alfred Yuson

Cinematography Steve Perez

Music Jose Mari Chan

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Dante Rivero, Pilar Pilapil, Hilda Koronel, Nicholas Hammond/ Also Starring Patricia Mijares, Mary Walter, Ruben Rustia

THE SEVENTIES # 492: DANTE RIVERO, BOOTS ANSON- ROA, HILDA KORONEL, WALTER NAVARRO, LOU SALVADOR, JR. IN LINO BROCKA'S "VILLA MIRANDA" (1972)

"Villa Miranda" (1972)

Lea Productions

7th Manila Film Festival Entry

Release Date June 18, 1972

Story Marty Gee Aragon

Screenplay Orlando R. Nadres

Cinematography Loreto U. Isleta

Music D'Amarillo

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Dante Rivero, Boots Anson-Roa, Hilda Koronel,, Walter Navarro, Lou Salvador, Jr./ Also Starring Alicia Alonzo, Jose Padilla, Jr., Pedro Faustino, Estrella Kuenzler, Angie Ferro, Joonee Gamboa, Joe Gruta

THE SEVENTIES # 371: LOLITA RODRIGUEZ, EDDIE GARCIA, WALTER NAVARRO AND HILDA KORONEL & INTRODUCING LOTIS KEY IN LINO BROCKA'S "STARDOOM" (1971)/ REPOSTED

"Stardoom" (1971)

Lea Productions

Release Date October 8, 1971/ Opera

Story Orlando Nadres

Cinematography Fredy Conde

Music Jose Mari Chan

Screenplay and Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Lolita Rodriguez, Eddie Garcia, Walter Navarro and Hilda Koronel/ Introducing Lotis Key/ Also Starring Caridad Sanchez, Tita Munoz, Mary Walter, Ruben Rustia, Mario O'Hara and Jimmy Morato/ Co-starring Veronica Palileo, Celeste Legaspi, Joonee Gamboa, Glenn Bernardo, Marco Polo, Estrella Kuenzler

Walter Navarro as Joey, a rising star, sings a number in front of a TV camera in this scene from "Stardoom"

In 1971, Director Lino Brocka directs “Stardoom” for Lea Productions, his “indictment of the corruption of values in the local movie industry.” It tells of a frustrated and ambitious stage mother, Toyang (played by Lolita Rodriguez), who forces her son, Joey, into a showbiz career and ultimately ends up in a tragedy. 70s teenage heartthrob, handsome, clean-cut and the boy-next-door type, Walter Navarro starred as the son, Joey Galvez, who at the peak of his stardom was gunned down by his erstwhile girlfriend Nina (Lotis Key), in a fit of jealousy and anger.

Whatever happened to Walter Navarro? They say “life imitating art.” The young actor was on the height of his illustrious movie career when something tragic happened to his personal life. There are rumors of drugs that eventually ruined his life.

Walter Navarro and Lotis Key