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Saturday, November 6, 2021

THE EIGHTIES # 918: CHRISTOPHER DE LEON, LORNA TOLENTINO, DINA BONNEVIE AND JAY ILAGAN IN LINO BROCKA'S "MAGING AKIN KA LAMANG" (1987)

Synopsis: Andy (Christopher de Leon) returns from a soul-searching sojourn in the States. He left the country without telling anyone, including his girlfriend, Elsa (Dina Bonnevie). He wanted to think about his life as he was having an affair with Elsa’s friend, Rosita Monteverde (Lorna Tolentino).

He is invited to a party in Rosita’s house. He renews his acquaintance with Elsa, who has remained single. Rosita offers him a job in her company, Green Mountain, with the promise of not interfering in his love life. Ernie Jay Ilagan), Rosita’s companion and factotum, is rather peeved with his presence.

Rosita has bought a piece of land which she wants to develop as a resort like those in the Costa del Sol. Andy has developed the general plans and she wants to look over the finished units. They are to spend the night there. While Andy is enjoying his jacuzzi, Rosita comes in and tries to seduce him. Andy turns her down. This incident makes Andy decide to marry Elsa. He motors to Baguio where she is having a conference to propose to her.

Andy continues to work for Rosita but she is a woman scorned. She plots her revenge. Hearing that Elsa could have a difficult pregnancy, she recommends a physician, Dr. Mendez (Jaime Fabregas). She bribes him with a million pesos and the position of hospital director if he would steal the baby.

The day of child birth arrives. Elsa is given anesthesia. When she wakes up, she is told that the baby has died. She is a nervous wreck. When Andy reports to the office, he is told that Rosita has suddenly left for abroad for no apparent reason. Ernie is now the chief executive and one of his first duties is to fire him. Andy jumps the gun by resigning.

Six years later, Rosita comes back with a son, Adrian Monteverde. ‘There is a lot of speculation as to the identity of the father. Ernie thinks it’s him. When Elsa sees the kid, she experiences an unexplainable attraction to him.

Andy bumps into a friend who has been deported from the States. He tells him that he was with Rosita on the same flight out of the country. She was carrying an infant. Andy realizes that Adrian is his son. He accosts Dr. Mendez who refuses to admit to the switch.

Andy and Elsa file a suit against Rosita. In the trial, it is revealed that Andy and Rosita had an affair, much to Elsa’s chagrin. But Elsa brushes it aside. She is more concerned with getting back her child. She agrees to an out of court settlement. She gets Adrian in exchange for dropping the case. Elsa feels that Rosita’s money could prolong the court battle.

But Adrian cannot relate to Elsa as his mother. He still looks for Rosita. Rosita agrees to visit the child so that he would gradually accept Elsa as his real mother. But she asks for some nocturnal favors from Andy in exchange. Andy is exasperated but Elsa agrees to the arrangement.

The obsessed Rosita gives Andy all he wants. But Andy dismisses her actions as those of a crazy woman. In one board meeting, she announces that Andy would be the chief of the company. This angers Ernie who comes back with a gun. He aims at Rosita whom Andy tries to cover. Andy is shot and is rushed to the hospital. When he gets well, Rosita apologizes for all her misdeeds. She is going back to the States never to return. She has transferred all her belongings to the name of Adrian.

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


"Maging Akin Ka Lamang" (1987)
Viva Films
Release Date May 6, 1987
Serialized in Weekly Movie Specials Comics
Story Ric S. Aquino
Screenplay Jose Y. Dalsay, Jr.
Cinematography Rody Lacap
Production Design Egay Litalia
Music Willy Cruz
Executive Producer Vic del Rosario
Supervising Producer Tony Gloria
Produced by Raman Salvador
Direction Lino Brocka
Cast Christopher de Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Dina Bonnevie and Jay Ilagan



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