Video 48: THE EIGHTIES # 434: SNOOKY, LLOYD SAMARTINO AND INTRODUCING TOM BABAUTA IN LINO BROCKA'S "STRANGERS IN PARADISE" (1983)

Synopsis: Moana (Snooky) and her grandfather are outcasts of a tribe inhabiting a remote Hawaiian island. Her grandfather, a former chieftain, was ostracized for the behavior of his daughter who sired a bastard, Moana, with a tourist. Moana’s mother ran away to the other island, leaving the two behind.

Moana’s grandfather recently died and she is now all alone. As she was brought up with hardly any human contact, she fantasizes about socializing with other human beings.

One day, Kimo (Tom Babauta), a well-built and handsome young man, chances upon her and befriends her. The two become lovers. Tony (Lloyd Samartino), a Filipino resident of Honolulu, is vacationing in the same island. He likes to lie on the beach. He is spotted by Moana who is fascinated with his camera. She becomes drawn to Tony who has a different allure, having been brought up in modern civilization. Kimo becomes jealous and hits Tony. Moana leaves him and follows Tony to his hotel.

Tony brings Moana to Honolulu. It is not a happy time for her. Tony’s girlfriend is critical of her. His mother, Marietta (Mila Ocampo), also disapproves as she thinks she is a girl of the wilderness. Marietta asks Greg (Raul Aragon), the philandering husband of her sister Sol (Alicia Alonzo), to convince Tony to drop her. He talks to Moana who tells him her story. She relates how a stranger went to her island and seduced her mother, how the stranger was wounded by her grandfather. He realizes that she is his daughter. He apologizes for leaving her mother. He had no intention of doing so. He was afraid of her grandfather who eventually attacked him. With the mystery of her parenthood solved,

Moana decides to leave Honolulu. She bids goodbye to Tony. Kimo gives her a warm embrace as she sets foot once again on her island.

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